Cathy McAleer

Biography

Cathy McAleer is the founder of NIKA ( Northern Ireland karate Academy) and also runs two clubs in Queens Leisure Complex Holywood and Stormont Pavilion. She has number of world, European, British and Irish champions in the clubs - both junior and seniors.

2:1 BA HONS DEGREE in sports marketing.

Qualified: Sports massage therapist /hot stones and sweedish massage

3rd Dan Karate Instructor and national coach for Northern Ireland.

World karate champion 2005 Serbia. 3 European karate medals and undefeated Northern Ireland champion for 10 consecutive years.

I left university and worked for Amazon.com for a year then started in Virgin Active where I worked my way up from a receptionist to membership manager, sales manager, assistant manager to general manager of the club. I have worked in Virgin for 12 1/2 years and managed the Belfast club for 7 years. I am highly involved in health and fitness and love my job even though its very pressurised with targets to meet but it's also rewarding when my team and I can make massive impact on people's lifestyle and change lives. Many people who enter the gym have never been a member before, or done sports before but may need to for health reasons, weight, social or getting ready for a massive event in their life. To help that person achieve their own individual aim and goals is very rewarding.

It was tough at start as it’s predominantly a male dominate role (general manager of health club) and I was very young going into role at 28. However I worked hard and proved myself. Very similar to martial arts and kickboxing, a lot would say male dominated sport - however one that's massive benefit to females for self-defence, fitness and confidence, even if you didn't want to compete.

Very similar to coaching karate the impact on confidence, self-esteem and discipline with children is massive and very rewarding, especially when you see them grow, develop and learn. Having the ability to pass down my experience and knowledge gained from travelling all over world to future stars, and seeing them improve and learn, is what keeps me involved in coaching.

Many people ask me How do you fit it all in and also have energy to compete and train? I suppose when you love what you do then you find time. I really look forward to getting  down to Prokick after work or coaching for a tough session myself. To switch off and have someone tell me what to do, and break away from work targets and pressure and distress is amazing... I also find the more I train the more energy I have and the better I feel, making my concentration, alertness in work, and managing my team far better. Health body, health mind is a truestatement and my motivation and enthusiasm seems to rub off on my team in Vrgin – every single one of them train hard, talk about nutrition and are constantly interested in my training programme asking for, progress about September, how sparring went, how fast my runs are, what's my nutrition and supplements etc.. As a leader/manager it's important to lead by example and a healthy happy team gets results and increased customer service faster than a negative team that are unhappy.

The build-up to the Sept event has been massive so far and the training with Mr Murray and the other 6 fighters has been brilliant. A really close-bound team and we are all in it together.. No matter what: who's injured, tired, having an off day, etc  we all stick together and help each other. It's hard to explain the atmosphere but its lead by Mr Murrays approach and warmth towards us ( not to mention his brutal training to prepare us for the worst in the ring) All seven fighters are putting 100% effort in and working non-stop from 6am boot camps, to 4pm runs, to class in the evening. This is what it takes at world level training and when you want it bad you will put the work in.Synergy Health sponsor my supplements and have been brilliant to me, helping me to maintain the energy levels needed to get me through each gruelling day.

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