Him – THE FIT BOX

PAUL RUSSELL

(COACH MUSTARD)

I believe in hot custard on cold pudding and cold custard on hot pudding.

Founder of THE FIT BOX, CHESTAN ROCK & PROJECT TRULOCO

THINKER

I have always carried with a me a deep curiosity for things and people. As a small boy, I had so many questions that my mum would sometimes hide in wardrobes and under the bed to take a break from answering them, and I have definitely seen the expressions on friends faces change when I have asked one too many why's.

TEACHER

Teaching was never a goal, nor part of any plan. It was something casually suggested to me on a Sunday, that led to a phone call on the Monday, an Interview a few days later, followed by an audition, that lead to a weeks intensive selection course, that resulted in my being told to sign up for a teaching qualification at the University of Greenwich. Somehow.

EDUCATION

It has always been my strong belief that I have no right to teach if I am not prepared to learn, and have been a student enrolled in formal education for every year I have spent in the industry to date. I seek learning to deepen understanding, broaden perception, increase connection, and support my being of greatest sector & social utility.

MARMALADE

This is an old photo from an early adventure race and when I posted it afterward I was inundated with comments about being an intense pouting miserable ****. In fact, I had a mouth full of marmalade sandwich my dad had just given me and was laughing and joking with family. There is perception and there is reality.

ATHLETE

The ancient Greek word, athletes, means 'one who competes for a prize' but for me the prize has always been competing. To give, and even discover the best of yourself physically and mentally in pursuit of winning the moment. I have never been a talented athlete but I have always been a committed and hard working one.

BASKETBALL

When I wasn't playing streetball (every waking moment) I played a number of seasons for the Thames Valley Tigers before taking a long break after I turned 18. I returned to the sport in 2013, and was rubbish. But I don't give up easy, and in 2016, I became the oldest player in history to make the men's basketball team at St Mary's University.

FOOTBALL

Enthusiastic, would be the word that best describes my ability on a football field, but I've enjoyed playing Sunday League most of my adult life with close friends and family. I've also played in a couple charity games at the Broadfield Stadium against Crawley Town - on one occasion, in the midfield alongside a former winner of TV's Pop Idol.

ART

I found art via a friend a couple years into living with severe trauma and it's impact on me as been profound. I see art now as a critical component of humanity for the purpose of deep connection, communication, and expression, with self and with others, and without it I would certainly be lost (also I love shoes).

we can't water a seed we haven't planted yet.

COACH MUSTARD

FITNESSER

In 2004 I became a fitness instructor because I liked the idea of wearing shorts and t-shirts every day and was excited about the ongoing justification to buy new trainers. My simple, if not shallow aspirations, developed quickly into something more meaningful, as I met, was mentored, and inspired by exceptional colleagues, bosses, teachers, and coaches.

TEACHER

In 2006 I found myself at the beginning of a teaching qualification and mentorship programme. Assisting in the delivery of PT courses during the day, then working in the gym and training clients at night. To date, I have written and directed courses and workshops on multiple continents for both general public and the professional fitness population.

GYM OWNER

In 2010, I opened a gym, because the gym I wanted to work in didn't exist. The concept was instructor lead small group training. The goal was to support a culture of physicality, effort, and community; and make the benefits of fitness available, accessible and enjoyable to all. I had no idea what I was doing but actual people actucally turned up, and they kept coming back too.

EDUCATOR

In 2011 we ran our first public education event, an all day bootcamp with fitness, nutritional, and physical therapy professionals delivering. This became a full weekender in 2012, and in 2013 I wrote the UK's first small group training qualification, gaining accredited status as a registered academy for fitness professionals.

COACH

I've worked with semi-professional and recreational athletes since around 2005, including dancers, netball, football, basketball, kickboxing, cage fighting, military applications, and obstacle racing. In recent years I have furthered my professional interest in physical performance with a higher degree of education, to push the needle in athletic training outcomes.

MUSTARD

It occurred to me once, while making some lunch, that it only takes a little bit of mustard to change the nature of a sandwich. This observation remained inside me for a lot of years until in 2026, I realised I could bring all of my projects together under the umbrella of, The Mustard Club, in the hope that I might be able to offer some mustard to make other peoples sandwiches taste better.

MARTIAL ARTS

I convinced my mum to let me attend a martial arts class. I was 8 years old, and she came to watch my first session. It was also my last session, as she felt my being shown how to kill a man in three different ways wasn't appropriate. Later I found Taekwondo, and kickboxing (with mums approval), and draw from the wider philosophy of the martial arts to this day.

?

In 2017 life took a left turn, and in 2022 it ran out of road and fell off a cliff. I have always been a doggedly private man - my ultimate dream was always to live in a cabin, on a hill, by a lake, next to a forest, with a basketball court; with family, and friends not too far away, but anonymous, grey, invisible. However, things went a different way, and I want to use that to help others.

culture is the product of our behaviours whether we intend to create one or not.

COACH MUSTARD

FAMILY

& FRIENDS

There is nothing that means more to me in this life than the people I love.

They sit forever at the top of my list, underpin everything I am and do, and touch everything in-between.

We can't win if we are not prepared to lose.

COACH MUSTARD