Knockout Fitness Christchurch offers personal training, group fitness classes and martial arts across two private studios in Halswell (Knight Stream Park & Halswell Hub) and Woolston. The studios are sole-use and not open to the general public — training happens through booked classes or by-appointment personal training sessions, giving a more private, non-commercial-gym feel.
The core offering spans Personal Training, Boxfit classes (padwork, bodyweight exercises, kettlebells and battle ropes), interactive Virtual Training via Zoom for clients who can't get to a studio, Muay Thai Boxing through the in-house MSA Sitnarong club, and Self Defence training for individuals and workplaces. Boxfit and Muay Thai instructors bring genuine Muay Thai and amateur boxing backgrounds, and Muay Thai classes run at both Woolston and Halswell with a membership that covers training at both venues.
The studio also runs complimentary fitness testing roughly every two months to track client progress, and free nutritional seminars three times a year with an in-house registered nutritionist. Knockout Fitness is led by founder and director Dougal McKenzie, alongside personal trainer Callum Reid, and welcomes kids, kidults and adults across its various class formats.
Knockout Fitness Christchurch runs out of two sole-use studios — one in Halswell at Knight Stream Park and the Halswell Community Hub, and a full-time facility in Woolston at 102 Bamford Street. Neither studio is open to the general public; training happens through booked group classes or by-appointment personal training, which the team says means a higher level of service and workouts tailored specifically to each client, rather than getting lost in a crowded commercial gym.
At the centre of Knockout's offering is personal training, built around motivation, education and accountability rather than one-size-fits-all programming. Sessions cover weight loss or gain, general fitness, Muay Thai kickboxing, boxing skills and sports conditioning, and are conducted privately by appointment at either studio. For clients who can't make it in — whether due to a busy schedule, travel restrictions, or simply living further out — Knockout also offers Virtual Training via Zoom, with the trainer taking clients through a workout live and in real time, correcting technique as they go, rather than a pre-recorded or large group video session.
Boxfit classes combine boxing padwork and combinations with bodyweight exercises, kettlebells and battle ropes, run by instructors with genuine Muay Thai or amateur boxing backgrounds. Classes run at both the Woolston and Halswell venues, with four classes a week at the full-time Woolston gym and two weekly classes at the Halswell Community Hub. Boxfit is for ages 15 and up, though younger training partners sometimes join alongside a parent on a case-by-case basis.
For martial arts specifically, Knockout hosts MSA Sitnarong Muay Thai, a club teaching traditional Muay Thai Boxing, with a membership that covers training at both studios. Adult classes are for 16 and over, while MSA Sitnarong also runs kids classes for ages 5-15, with private Muay Thai lessons available on request.
Knockout Self Defence draws on over 30 years of combined instructor experience, offering both private self defence training and tailored workplace courses. Past clients have included medical centres, shift workers, ambulance staff, special needs teachers and caregivers — groups whose work carries a certain amount of risk that a needs-specific course can help address.
Knockout Fitness was founded by Dougal McKenzie, who holds a Diploma in Exercise Prescription (with distinction) and graduated as top student two years running from the NZ Institute of Sport. With 19 years of personal training experience and over 25 years in martial arts training and teaching, Dougal is also head instructor for MSA Sitnarong Muay Thai. Personal trainer Callum Reid, who holds a certificate in personal training from Ara, brings a newer-school approach that blends HIIT with resistance training and calisthenics.
Roughly every two months, Knockout runs a complimentary fitness testing module on a Saturday morning, designed by Dougal McKenzie, combining cardio and strength/muscular endurance challenges to help clients track progress — included in membership fees, with a small surcharge for non-members who want to attend. The studio also runs free nutritional seminars three times a year — in early autumn, winter and late spring — led by registered nutritionist Bek Parry, covering weight management and sports performance nutrition. These are free for current or former members, with a small surcharge for others.
Knockout Fitness encourages new clients to try a free week before committing, and offers a no-obligation complimentary chat for anyone considering personal training. The team can be reached directly by text, call or email, and recommends checking their Facebook page for short-term schedule updates, since class times occasionally shift.