ABOUT | davehedges.net

ABOUT DAVE HEDGES

dAVE hEDGES

Freedom in movement, strength in function.

I didn’t become a coach because I was talented.
I became one because someone believed in me before I believed in myself.

I wasn’t an athletic kid.
I got into martial arts at eleven because I lost a fight and didn’t want to feel that helpless again.

At sixteen, my sensei said something that quietly changed the direction of my life:

“Dave, you need to get stronger.”

So I picked up weights for the first time — and never stopped learning.

What actually matters to me as a coach

I’m not interested in collecting sessions, counting reps, or keeping people dependent on me.

I’m interested in:

helping people understand their body
identifying what’s actually limiting them
rebuilding strength on top of clean, confident movement
and giving them the tools to manage themselves long-term

Coaching, to me, is a conversation — not a prescription.

I listen carefully, observe how someone moves, and help them make sense of what their body is telling them.

Sometimes pain is the problem.
Often it’s information pointing somewhere else.

Knowing the difference matters.

How I came to do this work

Over the years I’ve trained, travelled, and worked across many disciplines:

Martial arts.
Strength training.
Kettlebells.
Security work.
Movement therapy.
Rehabilitation.

But far more important than the methods were the people.

I’ve spent thousands of hours coaching real humans — not fitness models, not elite professionals — just people who want to move without pain, feel capable in their own body, and trust themselves again.

That experience shaped how I work far more than any certificate ever could.

I look at how your whole system moves — joints, gait, mechanics, breathing, habits, history.

Then I guide you through restoring what’s missing, building strength that actually transfers to life, and staying consistent long-term.

It’s practical.
It’s adaptable.
It’s grounded in experience, not hype.

How I think about movement and change

Most people don’t need another programme.

They need:

clarity
direction
context
and someone who can explain things in plain English

I work from principles, not dogma.

Movement patterns tell a story.
Breathing, habits, history, injuries, and stress all leave fingerprints on the body.

My job is to help people see those patterns, understand them, and take responsibility for changing what can be changed.

That’s where confidence comes from.

Who I tend to work best with

The people I work with best are usually:

willing to ask questions
prepared to do the work once they understand the path
more interested in progress than shortcuts
happier with honesty than hype

They don’t all look the same.
They don’t all have the same goals.

What they share is an attitude.

Why I still do this

I coach because I remember what it felt like to be unsure, awkward, and unsure of my own capabilities.

I remember what belief from the right person can do.

And I get immense satisfaction from watching someone:

regain confidence
trust their body again
and realise they’re more capable than they thought

I don’t step into the ring for my clients.
I stand in their corner.

If you’ve read this and recognised something of yourself, you’re in the right place.

The next step isn’t a commitment.
It’s a conversation.

Nothing more than that.