About Deniz Ates

Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, I was surrounded by a pop culture of action heroes, martial arts, and combat sports. I remember the excitement around Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno, the impact of ‘When We Were Kings’, and the gritty inspiration of Rocky Balboa. I was mesmerized by fighting games like 'Mortal Kombat', Bruce Lee films, and even martial arts books, like 'The Art of War’ by Sun Tzu.

In 2005, 'The Contender,' hosted by Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard, sparked a new level of inspiration. For two years of university, I dedicated myself to boxing training alongside my studies, though academic responsibilities eventually led me to set boxing aside.

After graduation in 2008 and a few years of work, I resumed training at a local boxing club. In 2012, I seized an opportunity to volunteer as a trainer, pursuing certification under England Boxing. Obsessed with improving my padwork, I soon advanced to head coach after employment.

What began as a hobby became my career, and I consider myself fortunate to have found a path in the fitness industry. It's a privilege to be part of someone’s personal development, and I'm excited for what the future holds.

My career came full circle in 2025 when I met Mike Tyson at an event in Ireland. It was a surreal milestone that linked my early passion for the sport to my life’s work in the boxing industry.

My previous role as head coach of a boxing gym ended during the pandemic. I learned a fundamental fact: true security cannot be given to you; you must build it yourself. For me, becoming self-employed was the right path. I learned to reflect on my experience, re-think my values, and take a new course of action.

Thankfully, I had the knowledge and skills to contend with the uncertainty. I was highly experienced in the fitness industry, having worked as a boxing coach since 2012. The source of my resilience was my academic background in Literature and Philosophy, which taught me to think critically about all narratives and arguments. I also had a reliable network of friends and family.

I decided that I no longer wanted to rely on a gym. I thought, "If anyone can work as a mobile trainer, I can." I had the experience to rebuild myself. So in 2021, I packed my pads into a bag and did exactly that.

What started on the streets of London quickly grew into something much larger. By stepping away from traditional industry structures, I was able to compress over a decade of coaching experience and thousands of hours of floor time into a comprehensive digital curriculum. Today, that vision has grown into a global community. I don't answer to a corporate system anymore - I answer to my community and the standards I set for myself.

What I like most about coaching is the opportunity to make a positive impact on someone’s life. I enjoy seeing people shift from 'I can't do that' to 'I can do that'. This shift while learning movement skills inspires, I believe, success in other areas of life.

I also enjoy the continuous learning that coaching provides. Every learner develops in their own way, making them teachers in their own right. This mutual process of teaching and learning has been fundamental to my growth as a coach.