My nationally recognised fitness concept helps improve children’s mental health

Frank Mangna

My name is Frank Mangna and I’m also known as Mr Funkyfit. I am a motivator, personal trainer, life coach and fitness writer with over a decade’s experience in the fitness world.

During that time I have made TV appearances as a health and fitness advisor, written articles for magazines and newspapers and motivated people at festivals. I’ve also opened my own successful gym, Studio Red in Southampton, as well as writing and publishing my first book, ‘Get Motivated’, and launching my own fitness concept, Funkyfit Boxing.

I’ve realised more and more that people’s health does not stop at the physical: a positive mindset promotes good mental health too, which is key to overall wellbeing and fitness. My mission is to ensure that everyone, particularly schoolchildren, has the knowledge and resources to take care of their health.

Southampton has been the centre of my success and I truly feel honoured to be supported and respected by my community. I strive to give back whatever I can, and I was proud to be nominated as a Community Legend in the recent City Reflections exhibition which showed in different locations across the city. It was an amazing experience and I was blown away to receive the highest number of nominations.

I’ve run and led many local and national charity events, as well as health and wellness campaigns alongside the city council, universities, festivals and the NHS. My gym, Studio Red, is known to be a spinathon gym – we’ve held some amazing charity spinathons over the years.

Among my major fitness campaigns have been ‘Beat the Bulge’, organised by the Daily Echo, ‘SO-Fit Southampton’ – my initiative which involved the city council and BBC South – and ‘Fitvent Calendar’ with the Daily Echo and BBC South. There have been many more, but these stand out as we had thousands of people taking part.

I devised Funkyfit Boxing to help children combat mental health issues while having fun and getting fit in a safe, effective way. Everyone loves to punch! Punching releases pent-up stress, aggression, frustration and anger, and improves overall mental health and fitness. The concept has really kicked off and is very popular with parents and schools across Southampton.

Funkyfit Boxing is a fun, energetic and versatile exercise-to-music fitness concept that’s anyone can take part in. I created, designed and patented the Funkyfit Boxing pads which are small, portable and can be secured to a brick wall. Protruding just 11.5cm from the wall, they allow plenty space for other classes to operate, as opposed to larger, awkward, free-standing or hanging punch bags.

Funkyfit Boxing is currently the only boxing concept that allows direct punching without the need for a training partner to hold pads, which can often be dangerous depending on people’s levels of experience and the effects of random partnering during a fitness group session. 

Although it’s aimed at children, Funkyfit Boxing is for everyone, no matter what their ability or fitness level. We’re rolling it out into schools as the first fun and effective non-contact boxing activity for PE lessons. It’s now in seven schools and community centres, and we’ve trained 15 alternative provision settings too.

Funkyfit Boxing allows stress and frustration to be released in a fun, safe and effective way. The health benefits are huge; it improves physical fitness, emotional stability and mental wellbeing.

It’s now a nationally recognised concept with a teaching qualification endorsed by EMDUK, the national governing body for group exercise. This stamp of approval provides reassurance for members of the public and employers that the knowledge and training delivered by an EMDUK-approved course provider has met an established industry standard. As we roll it out into schools, we’re providing a training package for PE teachers too.

We also run a six-week Motivation Education Course designed for young people to help them develop a positive mindset, make good decisions and motivate others. I believe that turning young people into motivators will help give them a sense of responsibility and a positive outlook on life. We provide everyone who takes part in the course with a Level 1 Motivator certificate on completion.

Because Funkyfit Boxing allows pent-up stress and frustration to be released in a fun, safe and effective way, I believe it can help combat violence, knife crime and mental health issues, targeting and addressing emotional instability and aggression, and I’m excited to see it take off throughout the UK.