La Familia
Founder/ Director
Daniel Brinkley
Raised in West Auckland I grew up surfing and in fight gyms.
Martial arts taught me that if I was rubbish at something if I drilled it insanely and stuck at it I could become good at it, at least not as rubbish anyway.
It taught me things don't happen overnight and anything good and worthwhile would take time, that there was sometimes a direct correlation in how hard a thing was to how rewarding it was.
Teaching Karate then starting my own strength and conditioning gym in 2013, Strong Factory, which evolved into The People's Gym I sold it in 2020 in between Covid lockdowns and moved to Mount Maunganui.
I work for Tauranga City Council managing a team of champions who look after all the tracks and walkways from the Mount to MClaren Falls, they do a bloody awesome job keeping the city I love beautiful.
I am super stoked to call this place home.
Art Director
Dominique Vogler
Born and raised in Venezuela I spent half my life training and performing in the circus as an acrobat, I travelled the world with the circus, free diving and surfing before moving to Raglan, New Zealand then settling in Mount Maunganui
I have a bachelor in fine arts and work for Tauranga City Council at Baycourt Theatre
In my spare time I am growing my freelance design business The Paper Vector.
I love training ariels and handstands, cooking all my foods from scratch and road tripping, adventuring and camping in my converted van with my boys
Secretary of war
Rambo
I grew up rumbling in the gym car parks, beaches, parks and anywhere else I could find a willing, or unwilling participant
I have an annoying amount of endurance and a surprising amount of agility for such a stout build
My specialty is wearing my opponent down through willpower and never, ever giving up
Qualified in breath work and pain tolerance expert
"Nothing is over" - Rambo.
Secretary of peace
Gizmo “Gizzy”
A local lad I was raised on a farm in Bethlehem surrounded by other dogs and puppies, I am super social and love running and playing with other dogs, the beach and the bush are my happy place
Highly experienced in beach and water rescue I earned the nickname Mitch Buchannon for my fearless dives into waves and swimming to rescue, or claw and drown those I was concerned about.
Qualified in Nutrition and Recovery. Eat and Sleep.
"Let's be friends" - Gizzy.