Malachy Friedman: ATT Fighter, NAGA Champion, and Now Personal Trainer

For anyone and everyone in the Boca Raton, Fla. area looking to get in great shape and have a whole lot of fun along the way, Malachy Friedman and his enlightened approach to personal training may very well be for you.

Friedman, a professional mixed martial artist and seasoned Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner who has trained with some of the sport’s finest coaches and athletes, believes wholeheartedly in his approach to his personal training that his client’s needs and goals are his No. 1 priority.

To ensure his clients reach their full potential, Friedman, who is a member of the world-renowned American Top Team training facility, draws upon both his experience as a professional athlete and personal trainer to hand-craft specific plans that are designed with his client’s needs and goals always in mind.

“I offer a different client-trainer relationship than most other trainers. I think it’s become a lot more about image and selling yourself as this hip trainer, than genuinely caring about who you are working with,” says a passionate Friedman. “At the end of the day, I’m thinking, ‘is my client happy’ and ‘are they coming closer to achieving their goals.’ I’m not going to take a dime from someone I don’t help.”

Friedman, who has been a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner for eight years and a professional mixed martial artist for the last six, has spent years learning the intricacies of health and wellness first hand and is more than ready to pass his extensive knowledge on.

“I’ve worked with some of the very best in the world in the sport of mixed martial arts. I’ve traveled and lived all across the country and have worked with some amazing coaches,” said Friedman. “How do you learn the really cool stuff, and the really cutting-edge things that work? You gotta live it, and I lived it every day of my life—eight hours a day for seven years. I know what works.”

Friedman, an AFPA certified personal trainer, prides himself on helping clients in all walks of life—regardless of age, experience or fitness needs.

“I do sports-specific training for athletes. I coach kids for sports—getting them moving and thinking, trying to help them improve so they can enjoy the sports they play more. I also work with adults for basic weight training and plyometrics,” said Friedman. “I run a pretty kick-butt boot-camp. It’s fun and they accomplish their goals.”

Friedman also prides himself in catering to even the most unique needs of his clients.

“I’ve been known to ballroom dance with older ladies to try to keep them moving and active,” said a proud Friedman. “It’s something I thought of one day for a client who had trouble walking, and it worked great! She could balance on me, and work on forward and lateral movement.”

In a field where the majority of personal trainers seem to be far more concerned about their bottom line then their clients’ well-being, Friedman’s approach to personal training is definitely a breath of fresh air.