Meet The Team
Tommy R Matthews
Tommy is the Managing Director of The OLF Group, he has 7 years of experience in the Fitness Industry starting out as a Personal Trainer. Developing his own fitness company was always a goal. Realisation of this goal came in 2005 when, along with BJ Rule he launched the OLF Group. OLF now run educational courses across Europe, Australia and South Africa. As well as running the OLF Group Tommy still has his passion for training people and can still be seen on many of OLF’s educational courses, working hands on with personal trainers to further their development.
Tommy’s skills and knowledge in training have come from years of working with some of the world’s top fitness professionals, kettlebell athletes and strength coaches. He’s trained with arguably some of the greatest kettlebell lifters ever, master of sport Valery Fedorenko and the all time great Pantelai Filikidi, who is master of sport in 4 different sports. Tommy was one of the first 2 lifters in the UK to complete the AKC certification. Before his work with the AKC in Greece he spent some time with Steve Cotter, which is where he got his interest for kettlebell sport. He has now trained with Gregor Sobocan and was lucky enough to spend some time with Steve Maxwell. Tommy’s passion for learning from the best transfers to his own teaching where he expects only the best from his clients and students. His belief that the body is designed to move and lift translates to his style of presenting; fast, dynamic and exciting!
BJ Rule 
BJ is the educational director and along with his business partner Tommy Matthews the founding director of the Optimal Life Fitness Group. With over 13years of experience in the fitness industry BJ continues to advance his own learning as well as his ability to educate others in how to get the body performing better. He holds a BSc in Exercise Science, but also strives to ‘walk the walk’ and this is apparent in his own training where Weightlifting and Kettlebell Sport are his focus. As well as educating trainers BJ still trains clients who vary from executives to athletes.
BJ first came across Kettlebells when reading about old time strongmen. Back in 2004 a mate of his knew somebody who had one and he started throwing one around. Before long he started using kettlebells in training both himself and his clients.
In 2005 his education began, he spent a day interviewing and training with the Moscow State Circus’ resident strongman who was a master of sport in both weightlifting and kettlebell sport.
BJ then travelled to America later in 2005 to attend the RKC, headed by Pavel Tatsouline.
In February 2007 BJ was fortunate enough to have trained with Steve Cotter when Steve introduced BJ to kettlebell sport. Later that year BJ travelled to Greece with his business partner Tommy Matthews to work with the AKC under Valery Fedorenko and his coach Pantelai Filikidi.
BJ is drawn to kettlebells and combines kettlebell training with the Olympic lifts.
Bj has now competed in numerous Kettlebell Sport Competitions and still has further goals to achieve more!
Andy J Phillips
Andy is the head trainer for OLF and has been involved in the fitness industry for 8 years after obtaining his personal training diploma through Premier Training International in Leeds. Andy worked on UK mainland gyms as well as gyms on Jersey in the Channel Islands before joining OLF.
Andy has been involved in sport from an early age competing in a variety of sports including football, rugby and running. Andy followed his practical experience into secondary and tertiary education in the field of Sports Science.
Andy’s role with the OLF means he has become an excellent presenter and coach. He has worked tirelessly to perfect his Olympic Lifting, Boxing and kettlebell skills to the highest of levels. He has worked with pro boxers, competitive Olympic lifters and some of the worlds top kettlebell athletes to help pass on this knowledge to his students. Andy’s carisma and enthusiasm are clear to see on every course he teachea and the experience students get from him is in valuable. You’re always in for a treat when Andy’s teaching!
Mark Hill
Mark is our Olympic Weightlifting Coach and has been lifting for over 4 years; he’s been competitively lifting for over 2 years. At the tender age of 23 he still has plenty of years left in him! His knowledge for lifting is exceptional and the experience he has in coaching as well as lifting is immense. He’s passionate about improving peoples lifting technique and has a natural ability to pick up on the finer points of the lifts. Whether you’re just starting out Olympic lifting or looking to sharpen up your technique Mark brings a lot to the table and you’ll go away feeling confident and ready to implement Olympic lifting straight away.
Mark has trained out of the Woking Centre of Excellence and was coached by the great Brian Hamill for many years. He now works with David Woodhouse training out of the Twickenham Lifting Club. Lifting alongside some of Britain’s best lifters has helped Mark gather a vast array of fantastic anecdotes and stories which always amaze the trainers on our courses.
Mark has a great career ahead of him, just last year he finished 3rd in the British Under 23’s and in the early part of next year he will be competing in the English Nationals Senior Competition.
Fern-Adele Bayliss
As a dancer beginning to understand my own physical and mental capacity, I became fascinated with form and movement and how allthese factors, when working well together, improved my performance. As a Personal Trainer I added three key areas of nutrition, physiology and massage, which now gives my training a rounded holistic approach.
What inspires me is further understanding my craft. I challenge myself constantly, putting the time in to improve my way of working. I believe I am developing with and for my clients.
I enjoy the challenging process of creating bespoke training sessions, utilising my full range of skills. All, obviously, have specific needs, the similarity is to ensure sufficient and relevant variety making training fun!
Recently, I have started group classes and also training trainers with OLF. These use different disciplines again stretching my abilities to incorporate team building to achieve set goals.
I’m extremely excited after 7 years of FAB PT LTD(established training company in Hampstead) to join the Optimal Life Fitness team. Tommy and BJ have really inspired me, and my business has developed immensely since part taking in all of their courses.
I really believe in what OLF stands for (achieving excellence),therefore I cant wait to deliver my knowledge and experience in the industry. If you’re driven and passionate enough all you need is the knowledge and you really can achieve excellence!
Qualifications: Diploma in Personal training and Sports Massage Therapy,Effective Movement Trainer(1st trainer to qualify in England 2010), Nutritional Advice and First Aid, Outbox round 1 and 2- comprehensive skills in boxing and mugendo kickboxing instruction, Extreme Kettlebell instructor, bulgarian bag specialist see link www.ibbc.co.uk, advanced strap trainer, Olympic weightlifting instructor, Life Coach, Dance teachers examinations
Currently training: James Corden, Rachel Stevens , Lauren Gold(model)
Mayyah Shalchi
Mayyah is our wonderful Sales and Operations Assistant! You’ll see her most days in the OLF office chatting to our great customers and looking after all you people who have booked onto an OLF course.
Mayyah’s talents don’t just end in the OLF Office, she actively takes part in many of our Trojans training sessions and you’ll often see her helping out on our courses. Mayyah loves climbing, emailing, talking and making friends with donkeys in foreign countries (preferably hot ones!).
If you need to talk then contact Mayyah!
Ibby Adem
Sensei Ibby Adem has been with OLF since 2009, he’s also been training in the martial arts since 1987. So Don’t mess with our Financial Controller! Ibby looks after OLF accounts and finance and with a 2nd Dan Black Belt he means business everytime he’s in the office. As an accountant by trade and a martial arts coach out of the office, this lethal combination means he always get’s the job done!
If you need to talk invoicing, payments or martila arts then give Ibby a call!
Andy Marshall
Andrew has been in the fitness industry and personal training for almost 10 years and has been training with Kettlebells since 2001. He is dedicated to conditioning and functional strength training and helping people to understand and appreciate what their bodies are capable of. He has competed in Rugby union and league, martial arts, athletics and Kettlebell Sport, achieving overall male honours at the 2009 London Kettlebell Open.
Andrew’s background and experience in the Health and Fitness industry covers Health Clubs, 5 Star Hotels and Spas, Outdoor Training and Sports Conditioning. He has trained all manner of clients including athletes, celebrities, personal trainers, martial artists and fitness fanatics.
In 2009 Andrew opened his own training facility specializing in strength and conditioning for combat sports, working with some of Britans top Brazilian Ju Jitsu players, including World and European champions.
Andrew’s fearsome attitude to training means that anyone attending a course he is on is in for a real challenge! His raw talent and athleticism means you’ll not be allowed out the building without getting feeling like you’ve really worked!
