Murad Zaidi’s strict fitness regime (including a dark workout space) has made him the go-to person in the industry, writes Nadia Badarudin
THE walls of the 2,787sq m fully-equipped Xclusive Fitnesz gymnasium are painted black, with dimly-lit orange lights. The nooks and corners look rugged and deliberately unfinished, resulting in an ambience that reflects total privacy and space.
One of the feature walls reveals “The 10 Commandments” — the gymnasium’s rules and regulations, written in a direct and “in-your-face” manner that reflects the aggressive vibes and concept of the place.
The gymnasium is located in a secluded and unexpected space inside Stadium Shah Alam, Selangor.
Some may find the darkness and ambience of the hidden gymnasium, aptly named The Batcave, intimidating. But its privacy has made it the “it” place for celebrities and VIPs such as Diana Danielle, Juliana Evans, Joe Flizzow, Nadine Ann Thomas and Datuk Wira Dr Maznah Hamid (Securiforce Group executive chairman) to get fit and toned.
And the one personal trainer these people go to is none other than Xclusive Fitnesz founder himself, Syed Muhammad Murad Syed Naseem.
ENTER THE BATCAVE
“The Batcave is just a metaphor. Remember how the truest, darkest night can lead to a beautiful morning? Well, the concept here is like that — you walk in here in the dark, not knowing what it will lead to, but you will leave with good results.
“Somehow the name just fits. I mean, did you ever think there would be a ‘cave’ inside this stadium?” asks 29-year-old Syed Muhammad Murad, fondly known among fitness buffs as Murad Zaidi.
Born in Malaysia and raised in Queens, New York, Murad is the chief executive officer and strength and conditioning specialist who founded Xclusive Fitnesz in 2010. He was certified by the International Fitness Association (IFA) as a personal trainer and nutritionist and holds a master’s degree in high performance (strength and conditioning specialist) from the University of Catolica de Murcia in Spain.
The former fitness model is a man of many talents and also known as a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter mainly in the European circuit. He develops and coaches athletes in boxing, and trains and motivates aspiring fitness trainers at his Murad Zaidi Academy. He is also credited as an advisor for fight scenes in movies and dramas.
Murad says he established Xclusive Fitnesz to create an avenue that covers the whole spectrum of being fit and healthy. “My main mission is to make people realise that going to the gymnasium is not a trendy thing or to feed one’s ego or social status.
“Why do I say this? Well, I find it strange that we have so many gymnasiums around and more people are practising an active lifestyle yet Malaysia is still the fattest nation in Asia and we see higher statistics in heart attacks and all.
“Based on my research, people go to the gymnasium for the wrong reasons. We also lack qualified trainers. I want to change that. I want people, especially the young, to make exercise an important part of their lives. It should be a life-long thing,” says Murad, who started going to the gymnasium at 15 when he played American football for his school. He received his professional IFA certificate at 18.
BACKED BY SCIENCE
Murad says one of the significant mistakes people make when it comes to exercise is wanting to see instant results without trying really hard and taking advice from non-qualified, Insta-famous personal trainers and so-called health gurus who measure the so-called recommended food intake based on the size of the palm.
“All the crunches in the world, fat burners or herbal drinks will not get you there on its own. What you really need is a customised training programme that suits your needs and goals.
“At The Batcave, there is no generic programme copied from the Internet, no guesswork and no cookie-cutter programme. Everything is calculated, progress recorded and backed by science. Results only come with science.
“In fact, my customised training routine and personal training programmes have been proven to help clients lose significant weight in as quickly as a week. People can expect 100 per cent results and nothing less,” claims Murad, adding that his success stories include a 16-year-old obese boy who got into shape in three months and a female stroke patient who managed to get back on her feet and is now leading a healthy lifestyle.
Xclusive Fitnesz offers a complete training programme focusing on strength and conditioning. Integrating both old school training (e.g. deadlifts, full squats, bench press, etc) and new methods, each programme consists of weight training, functional training and other explosive movements.
Its personal training has three packages which are goal-oriented, for total body transformation and sports specific. The duration varies from one month to six months.
The total body transformation programme is for anyone who wants to transform his physique such as an overweight person wanting to lose fat and lean up.
The fitness centre’s bootcamp is also a favourite with clients. Held every Saturday, it is for anyone who wants to improve his or her total fitness and wellness levels, says Murad.
“The programme is a combination of body weights and functional training followed by some basic boxing and strength and conditioning. It’s very popular among those who like to do their workouts in groups, especially women. Our gymnasium is also women-friendly and we have Ladies’ Night every Wednesday where they can work out for free,” he says.
Clients are recommended to go for a thorough health screening before starting any training programme. They will also be advised on a customised dietary plan based on blood type later on.
“I am strict and take training very seriously. I learn everything about my clients. I want to know their health conditions and lifestyles. And based on my experience and training, I will find the actual trigger factor such as personal childhood experiences that can push them to better achieve the desired results,” he says.
On food and diet, Murad says his approach is to make clients understand and change their perception of what they eat. He also gives real and practical advice on how to choose healthier options or alternatives (e.g white/refined sugar to brown sugar etc).
“When they train under me, I make sure they follow the exercise routines and the diet. Yes, they can eat whatever they like once in a while, but I make sure they burn all those fat and calories after that,” he says.
SHORT-TERM GOALS
As a fitness coach, Murad says one of the toughest things to get people to do is to change their mindset. “Many think that being fit and healthy is the same thing. But the truth is you can be fit but not healthy, and you can be healthy and not fit.
“Most people go for short-term goals like wanting to look slim and trim before their wedding day or whatnot. But when they train under me, I will make goals come second. What they need to do first is to realise that they have a problem that needs to be addressed.
“To do that, go for a health checkup first. From there, they will realise that going to the gymnasium is more than about looking good or becoming slim. Sometimes it’s more like a do or die thing. And only from there can I help them to go for more relevant targets and goals,” he adds.
Murad says besides a change in mindset, dispelling myths is also important for anyone who is keen to lead a healthier lifestyle and is hitting the gymnasium for the first time. “For instance, among the common workout myths is that women shouldn’t do weight training because they will get bigger, or that if you want to burn fat, just run on the treadmill.
“Research shows that our bodies react better to something we have never tried. There are many other effective methods to go about if you want to burn fat, lose weight and keep fit.
“The most important thing is to understand what your body needs. The common problem is you know you have health issues and you know you want to get in shape, but you don’t know how and are not willing to pay for the best and proven options,” says Murad.
He adds that one is never too old or it is never too late to start practising a fit and healthy lifestyle.
“Your body gets weaker and slower as you grow older. So if you have the slightest intention to get in shape, just do it and do it now!
“For some strange reason, many wait for Jan 1 to start working out and keeping fit. Keeping fit and healthy should not be a New Year’s resolution. You don’t need a new resolution to be healthy and get in shape.”