JAMES DABBS OF DABBS FITNESS MAYFAIR ON WHY TRAINING CULTURE MATTERS

Image credit: Dabbs Fitness

I was in Sydney over New Year, and what struck me most wasn’t the weather or the setting, it was the training culture. It was infectious, and I loved it.By 6am, people were already training. Not as a challenge or a statement, but as a given. They would train early, then continue to move throughout the day by playing sports, staying active, and living physically capable lives. Training wasn’t the focal point; it was simply the foundation. It showed, too. People are in noticeably better shape.

That experience reinforced something I’ve long believed. Environment shapes standards far more than motivation ever will. When you’re surrounded by people who prioritise training, your own expectations rise naturally. There’s no need for discipline hacks or bursts of inspiration. You adapt to the level of the room. Training becomes part of how you operate, not something you negotiate with.

This is where many modern ideas of health fall short. Movement is valuable, but it isn’t the same as training. Steps, classes, and gentle activity all have their place, but they don’t replace structured, progressive training that builds strength, resilience, and confidence over time.

Cultures of excellence understand this. In elite teams, whether in sport or military environments, training is treated as the minimum standard. It is respected, consistent, and non negotiable. That baseline is what allows everything else to function at a higher level.

Dabbs Fitness was created to share that culture. Not for everyone, but for those who want to hold themselves to higher standards and become the best version of themselves. When training becomes the foundation, everything else in life tends to improve with it.

That’s the environment we’ve set out to build.