Team
Our Team of Specialists
Alex Backhouse
Founder
Alex first qualified as a Personal Trainer in 2005, after giving up a career as a professional musician. He travelled the world for a few years in search of and working with some great coaches.
He opened Encore in 2015, and has watched it has grow from strength to strength. The mission has become to create a space that’s the opposite of everything that’s wrong with most gyms… somewhere friendly, happy, fun, and with the best possible levels of coaching.
Alex also has an MSc in Strength & Conditioning from St Mary’s in Twickenham.
Marshall
Head Coach
Marshall has spent nearly a decade building his knowledge through internships, mentorships and education from around the world and is a student of world renowned powerlifter and strength coach JM Blakley.
He has trained alongside Olympic and Commonwealth Games Athletes as a Weightlifter and with coaches such as Andy Bolton and Dan Green after transitioning to Powerlifting.
Marshall has coached internationally including Seminars and Head Coach positions.
Ralf
Coach
Ralf graduated with a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences from the University of Portsmouth in 2021 and quickly established himself in the fitness industry.
He developed his coaching skills at PureGym Portsmouth before expanding his expertise as an Adult Weight Management Practitioner with Gloji in Brighton, leading group seminars with a holistic approach to health transformation.
He now coaches full time at Encore Strength & Conditioning where his smile and infectious energy are an asset to the team.