Client Stories

Dean

I worked with Josh for the best part of 5 years and over that time he has helped me achieve things I never thought possible.

His knowledge and experience set him leagues above any other coach I have worked with which is why I chose him to help me become the best I possibly could.

Over the years he has helped go from zero running experience to running a 35-mile ultra marathon to Deadlifting my dream poundage of 300kg.

Josh didn't just coach me through these difficult challenges, he wrote my training plans, kept me motivated and most importantly helped me stay injury free by training correctly and smart.

Faye & Thomo (aka Fomo)

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Sarah

I began training with Josh at the start of 2021 after a recommendation from another runner. I had been plagued by hamstring issues for a couple of years and would just start to get quicker again and another issue would appear. Josh has worked on strengthening all the muscles I need to support the level of activity that I do as I run, cycle, ride horses, play golf and dance. He has also helped me with balance and confidence to do exercises that I would previously have been worried about trying.

Since I began training with him my running has gone from strength to strength, including competing in several Ultra marathons and getting my first sub 50 10k in about 8 years. When I started training with him, I was struggling to get under 57 minutes. I had also had an injury previously and been told by health professionals after trying to increase my distances unsuccessfully for a long time that I would probably never race further than 10k again without issue.

Prior to that injury I had been running marathons and ultra marathons and I used to train with a personal trainer in a gym. Although his training helped me to achieve better times through strength and fitness, I think that Josh’s knowledge of running distance and the supporting muscles needed for it have made a big difference, with the bonus of improving times too!

I have particularly liked the flexibility of training to fit in around what I am doing, sometimes just going running but mostly training in his gym to target events I am working towards. The increase in core strength has helped with the horse riding as well and the confidence to try new exercises has helped with my confidence show jumping, the upper body exercises have also helped with my golf swing as I am much more level and have better joint movement.

I would recommend his training to anyone wanting to improve for any discipline and reduce the risk of injury.

Jack
(Gaelic Footballer)

I started working with Josh in August 2022 after coming back from a serious injury which had kept me out of my sport for 2 months.

I was immediately impressed by Josh’s attention to detail in learning the intricacies and skills needed in my chosen sport which he then applied in our one to one training sessions.

All of the sessions I did with Josh were tailored to be performance driven which is exactly what I wanted and needed. Within six weeks of working with Josh I achieved the biggest win of my career, helping my club to win a county championship for the first time in 17 years.

I would recommend training with Josh to anybody regardless of their fitness but particularly to any athletes who want a PT who will match their commitment to training and performance.

Piravina

I initially discovered Josh through Instagram, where his clients consistently shared his approach. What truly stood out was his genuine and down-to-earth demeanour, showing a clear dedication to helping others on their fitness journeys. He didn’t come across as a trainer seeking recognition or aesthetics, Josh was a coach driven by his passion for training. My primary goal was to improve my overall fitness and break free from a sedentary lifestyle. Coach Merrett introduced me to a new perspective, and even though I'm no longer a client, I continue to embrace his strength and conditioning methods. Despite my initial reservations about online training, working with Coach Merrett was a rewarding experience I'm eager to return to.

In the past, I had worked with a trainer who solely focused on weight training. While weight training can be stimulating and satisfying when achieving personal bests, my experience with Coach Merrett was significantly different. His emphasis on consistency and movement yielded better progress and transformation than months of my previous training regimen.

One of the most enduring benefits of working with Coach Merrett is that I am now better informed and in tune with my fitness needs. My choice to work with him goes beyond achieving specific goals; it was cultivating a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, which is valuable to me, and coach led me significant steps closer to it.

What I truly appreciated during our time working together was Coach Merrett's kindness and understanding. He recognised that progress wouldn't be 100% from the start, and even during moments of guilt or setbacks, he offered unwavering support and reassurance. The only aspect I wish I had improved upon was being more interactive with him throughout our online training.

George

I was introduced to Josh via my friend who is a professional MMA fighter and has worked with him for years as her Strength and Conditioning Coach.

My significant other, who is an Amateur MMA fighter, also began working with him and recommended him to me.

I’ve always had a lot of anxiety around working out as well as the gym environment but I know that it’s essential for my long-term health. Private sessions with Josh removed a lot of the fear of looking bad, not knowing what to do, and not being able to meet unrealistic expectations I set for myself.

With that being said, by focusing on a few basic things regularly, I have been able to make massive leaps in how much I can lift as well as my awareness of the muscles I am using. I have previously worked with a coach who seemingly wanted to “gas me out” every session which didn’t suit my needs in terms of being able to lift things at work later that day or do Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing.

I also knew those sessions were going to be hell and would make me feel sick to my stomach. Josh responded to this with the phrase “any idiot can make someone puke”.

The aim of our sessions is always to get better while keeping in mind our needs in terms of function outside of the sessions, and Josh keeps meticulous details in terms of exercises and numbers but it doesn’t feel like he’s doing it and he rarely brings it up. Josh also has quality taste in music and knows how to use it to get the best out of me.

I couldn’t recommend Josh highly enough. If you’re an athlete he’ll spend a long time going over the needs of your specific sport and in general cater to anyone’s goals, no matter how specific they are.

Liam

I came to Josh for help when I had an injury in my back but still wanted to compete in my upcoming powerlifting competition.

With Josh’s knowledge of how the body moves, he was able to come up with a mobility routine which helped me train pain free and with 3 months training I was able to break my long standing deadlift PB.

I would certainly recommend Josh for any sports specific needs.