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A new gym in Mayfield West will help men build strong bodies and minds, while providing mentors and free classes for young males. Login or signup to continue reading Bro Fit Newcastle, which opened on Monday, will help males with their physical and mental health . Owner Rich Fogarty said "there's a million gyms in Newcastle".

"It's the mental health awareness, education and support that I'm bringing into the gym that makes this different," Mr Fogarty said. "Us men don't like to talk about our feelings too much. I'm passionate about changing that.



" He aims to create a positive environment at the gym that helps males open up and make healthy connections, while getting a workout. "We'll have education and guest speakers on Sunday mornings before we do sessions." He aims to get "older blokes out of the pubs and house" to focus on their physical and mental health, while inspiring them to be "better men, fathers and husbands".

The idea is that these men will improve their wellbeing and then "give advice and help the youth coming through". Mr Fogarty had a 12-year fighting career in combat sports - including boxing, muay Thai and ring karate - before going into coaching. He did much of his coach training at Jackson Wink MMA [Mixed Martial Arts], a renowned academy in Albuquerque in the US.

"I've been in the fight game for 30-plus years now," he said. Mr Fogarty learned self defence after being abused and bullied at school in Islington in the 1970s and '80s. "I had red hair and freck.

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