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F45 Training (Functional 45) is an international fitness community that has over 1,750 studios in 45 countries across Australia/Oceania, North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. It is currently the fastest growing fitness franchise globally, with over 550 in Australia and over 650 in the United States. The fitness franchise was launched in 2011 by Rob Deutsch, former banking investor at Deutsche Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland Group, as part of a move to modernise gym participation.

About
F45 offers 1,000 exercises, 10 customised training systems, 10 different circuit movement patterns, 15 timing modules and workouts that change on a daily basis. Each F45 studio has access to these training systems and are able to modify in order to create individual branding. Integrated technology is a key aspect of the systematic aesthetic — with the same video workout demonstrations and F45 DJ playlists played across all studios. Its drawing capacity is its 45 minute session that combines High-intensity interval training (HIIT), Functional training and Circuit training. The fusion of interval, strength and cardiovascular training is targeted at burning fat whilst building lean muscle.

Programs
Programs are constantly being created and changing, with existing ones including:


 * Firestorm: An advanced interval circuit made up of 54 stations with extremely short or no rest in between (for members with high level fitness).
 * 22: Intensive cardiovascular session done in pairs with longer sets and shorter rest periods, made to burn up to 1,000 calories.
 * Flamingo Athletica: An intensive team-based cardiovascular workout designed to build a strong aerobic base and burn off 820 calories.
 * Abacus: Quick and sharp cardio sets consisting of 6 stations. Working time increases and then decreases throughout the session.

Functional training technique
Functional training began as a popular fitness method in the early 2000's. Functional training aim's to build functional strength through using a variety of different muscle systems. It's techniques are often used as a way for athletes to apply strength to a sport skill, without actually performing the sport-specific exercise or movement. A drawing card of functional training is it's resourcefulness, using minimal equipment within a large space. It emphasises movement rather than equipment — as conventional gym's tend to do.

Functional movement patterns
There are nine human movement patterns involved in functional training: • Squat

• Lift

• Press

• Pull

• Rotation

• Smash

• Moving and carrying load

• Gait and locomotion

• Fighting

High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
HIIT refers to the repetition of brief intermittent exercises with high levels of energy, followed by quick resting periods. HIIT or anaerobic interval training aim's to burn calories both during the intense workouts, and post-workout due to the elevated metabolism that continues hours after the workout. The body also expends energy after the workout as it continues to rebuild and repair body muscles and body fibres and replace the energy levels. The short intervals of high intensity exercise require high levels of oxygen, which also increase the total caloric expenditure. Little or no equipment is needed to perform the exercises making it an attractive financial option for many.

Circuit training
Circuit training is a workout comprised of 6-12 exercise stations that target multiple body parts, performed consecutively with little to no rest. There are two common types of circuit's — muscular strength and endurance, aerobic and strength. Circuit training aims to provide an overall body workout in a short amount of time, whilst being customisable to the individual's level of fitness through the selection of exercises and weight levels. It has benefits of both weight training and cardiovascular training - but does not duplicate either one specifically. Depending on the endurance levels and goals of the individual, the circuit can be completed one or more times until the session ends.

History
In 2012 the first F45 studio launched in Sydney's Paddington, New South Wales, charging people $65 AUD a week to attend the group circuit sessions. It was here that Deutsch took the time to work on the fitness model within the store each day. After the success of it's first store Deutsch enlisted the help of franchisee expert, Adam Gilchrist, who quickly became his business partner when they decided to franchisee the F45 business. In 2013 Deutsch and Gilchrist sold their first F45, and in 2014 they began a franchise roll-out in Sydney with 15 franchises bought by members of the original F45 studio in Sydney's Paddington, New South Wales.

Off-shore expansion
In 2015 the duo sold their first off-shore franchise in New Zealand. This marked a 2 year milestone of 250 franchises in the Oceania region. In 2015 Deutsch and Gilchrist sold their first F45 studio in the United States, sparking a rapid US expansion. That same year, F45 also launched in India, with the help of Australian cricketer Brett Lee and Indian cricket legend VVS Laxman. The first store opened in Hyderabad — the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. This triggered an expansion with many more studios opening in major Indian city's such as Bangalore, Chennai, Raipur and Gurgaon.

In 2017 Deutsch and Gilchrist entered the United Kingdom with 50 franchises sold — 35 of which opened in London, and 15 across Brighton, Bournemouth, Birmingham and Manchester.

Between 2017 and 2018 F45 launched the beginning of it's European growth strategy, opening studios in Finland, Switzerland, Czech Republic and Germany. Simultaneously increasing it's US presence through it's Collegiate Program, which entailed a partnership between F45 and U.S. colleges. A marketing effort to permeate the young influential group of individuals.

In 2018 Jobe Watson, former AFL player, opened an F45 studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. In the first half of 2019 the fitness franchise secured a deal to open studios in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in Kenya and Mauritius in Africa — taking their presence to over 40 countries.

In June 2019 the fitness franchise launched Prodigy, a new training program for kids/adolescents.

Investment: global expansion
In 2019 Mark Wahlberg Investment Group and FOD Capital announced that they were buying a minority stake in the F45 business. It is reported that this investment will facilitate further global expansion for the company. The deal values the company at $450 million USD ($672 million AUD). This is Wahlberg's third, and largest investment to date.

In 2017 he invested $6 million USD in StockX, an online marketplace that primarily sells premium in-demand sneakers. Previous to that, he invested $10 million USD in performance water brand AquaHydrate.

Rob Deutsch (founder)
Rob Deutsch, founder and CEO, grew up in Sydney, Australia and attended Cranbrook School from 1988 to 1997 before graduating from year 12. In 1998 Deutsch began his studies at the University of Sydney where he studied a Bachelor of Commerce, Marketing — graduating three years later in 2001. The following year Deutsch began full-time work as a Manager IPV (Independent price verification) at Deutsche Bank, London where he managed a team of risk analysts in the IPV risk management team. Four years later he undertook a job at Royal Bank of Scotland Group in Equity Structured Product Sales. After being made redundant in 2012, he invested his $100,000 AUD redundancy cheque into his Paddington gym.

Products and services
There are a number of different products and services that make up the F45 brand:

Team training
The 45 minute group workout classes are F45's main offering, claiming to burn up to 750 calories per session. Each workout is led by 2 trainers who are there to offer correctional support or modifications. The number of training sessions conducted on a daily basis vary across the different franchises.

F45 Challenge
The F45 Challenge is based upon a holistic model that encompasses fitness, nutrition and lifestyle. It goes for eight weeks and offers it's members in-class training, nutritional coaching through a digital app that includes daily meal plans and calorie tracking. There is also an option to receive delivered meal plans to your doorstep. It's drawing card is it's rapid physical transformation, as well as the $1,000 AUD cash prize for male and female challenge participants (each F45 studio conducts it's own challenge).

Body scans
A key aspect of the challenge involves a body composition scan ideally at both the start and end of the eight weeks. The scanning device measures different body parameters such as skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat levels, bone mineral content (bone density), total body water, protein, B.M.R, segmental analysis and total energy expenditure. This technique is a tool which is used to both measure and monitor the human body, and can influence daily nutrition and lifestyle routines in order to achieve desired weight change.

Body transformations
The before and after challenge photos have become a notable aspect of the fitness brand, showcasing images of the member's physical progress from the beginning of the challenge and at the end of the eight weeks. Their circulation on the web and around social media have been a key aspect of F45's marketing and engagement efforts.

Prodigy classes
Prodigy is an additional, more recent service offered by F45, designed to provide adolescents with greater strength, mobility and increased well-being. It is a group based exercise class that caters for kids (between 11 and 17) of different fitness levels and capabilities. Through teaching functional movements it aims to increase motor skills to develop coordination, balance, and muscle strength, and to promote bone density and muscle development.

Equipment
F45 utilise a number of basic functional equipment within a relatively small space, with equipment varying day to day depending on what type of session it is. Common equipment includes: Yoga mat, resistance band, bench, bosu balance trainer, exercise ball, kettlebell, dumbbell set, medicine ball, sand bag, battle ropes, weights, barbell, exercise bike, indoor rower, sleds. Heart rate monitoring equipment during training is also offered at an additional cost.

Membership
Weekly membership varies from club-to-club, however it usually costs between $60 to $75 AUD a week for unlimited access to training sessions. A one-off class is usually between $30 and $35 AUD. Some clubs offer reduced prices for lock-in contracts or if you pay several months up-front.

Awards
The franchise ranked 68th on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 in 2020, and 297th in 2019.