What clients say...
“Prior to Joel’s management of my back injury I trained with multiple trainers and took advice from a wide range of professionals including doctors and chiropractors none of whom have been able to achieve anything approximating the results obtained by Joel.”
Denis Daly BA LLB LLM (Cantab) Barrister
“Training with Joel for the last six years has really been life changing. His approach to functional strength is innovative and lasting - He does not subscribe to fitness gimmicks or flighting trends. He puts variety into each session. Joel assists in building mental strength and resilience - it’s not just about muscle!”
Steven Frankel – Entrepreneur
“Personal training was just not my "thing", until I stumbled upon Joel. He is a master at the art of motivation for both the body and the mind. His dedication and commitment to his craft comes through his clients in the form of great trust. Joel has taught me the skill of 'focus' and patience, and I have never felt so motivated to succeed in any project I put my mind to. A definite 10!”
Sera-Hersham Loftus
Sera of london
“Training with Joel, you will be inspired by a professional who is totally committed to his career and his own continued learning and understanding of the latest developments in his field. Joel has prescribed a holistic program for my body, which works to achieve optimal muscular and skeletal strength and equilibrium; I felt a difference within 3 sessions. You are guaranteed to come out feeling exhilarated and rejuvenated!”
Jessica Cross, PhD
“Joel is always meticulously prepared and uses the latest scientific techniques. He is constantly educating me – not just how to do an exercise, but more importantly why each exercise is important and functional. As a result of training with Joel, there has been a significant improvement in my posture, core strength and overall fitness. Highly recommended.”
John LaMaster - partner, international law firm
“I started training with Joel a few months after having my third baby. Being self-motivated, I was sceptical of what he could add to my exercise regime. I have been blown away! Not only is my body is stronger then ever before, training with Joel has also allowed me to transfer what he shows me at the gym to all my other forms of exercise and even everyday movements, such as carrying babies! Best of all is the visible improvement to my physique which I attribute to him.”
Shelly Pamensky – artist
Joel Proskewitz
For over 2 decades, Joel Proskewitz has spent his time being totally committed to the health & fitness industry. As the first South African to qualify as a certified personal trainer with the world renowned National Strength and Conditioning Association (USA), Joel has trained a wide spectrum of clients which include rehabilitation patients, business executives, senior population and elite level Olympic athletes.
Joel has been a featured presenter at several health and fitness conferences and is affiliated to the UK Register of Exercise Professionals as a highest level member. A 3rd degree black belt in the art of Shotokan JKA Karate, Joel was one of the youngest Certified International Instructors with the SA JKA Karate Association. Joel is also a founding member of Action Film Company, a specialist film choreography business.
Awards & Achievements
- 2007: FreeMotion Fitness Master Trainer
- 2007: Recommended by Prof Stuart McGill for the implementation of his training protocols
- 2007: Consulting exercise specialist to Dr Alistair Neal, Harley Street physician, London UK
- 2007: United Kingdom distributor for LifelineUSA training products
- 2003: Sponsored by South African Olympic committee to attend the USA Olympic training centre in Colorado Springs
- 2002: Winner – South African State Lightweight Bodybuilding Championships
- 1999: Awarded International JKA Karate Instructors license
- 1997: Winner – South African JKA Senior Karate Champion, middleweight division
- 1997: Choreographed & starred in a major Human Movement Study Production presented by Professor Tobias – University of the Witwatersrand
- 1999: Achieved 3rd degree black belt – JKA Karate
- 1988: Achieved 1st degree black belt in JKA Karate at age 14yrs – youngest South African to attain this honour
- 1990: Achieved 1st degree black belt in Koga-Ryu ninjitsu at age 16yrs – youngest South African to attain this honor
- Appeared in 3 international Karate instructional videos
- South African National JKA Karate champion – 6 years
- South African State Karate champion – 6 consecutive years
- South African All Styles Karate champion – 4 years
Qualifications
- 2007: Freemotion Fitness Colorado Springs, USA
Qualified as FreeMotion Master Trainer for the United Kingdom
- 1996: National Strength & Conditioning Association Atlanta, USA
Certified Professional Trainer – First South African to receive the NSCA – CPT qualification.
- 1999: SA JKA Karate Association Johannesburg, South Africa
Certified International Instructor – The youngest SA JKA Karate instructor in the organization's history.
Experience
- 2002 - 2005: SA Olympic Rowing Team Johannesburg, South Africa
Appointed as one of the Strength & Conditioning coaches to the SA Olympic Rowing Team of Donovan Cech & Ramon Di Clemente. The team were bronze medallists in the 2004 Olympic Games - Athens
- 2006 to Present: Quest Fitness London, United Kingdom
Founder/owner – Quest Fitness is a professional personal training business, which specializes in rehabilitation, elite level performance and lifestyle training. Quest Fitness has been recommended by Prof Stuart McGill for the implementation of his training protocols. Quest Fitness is also a consulting exercise and rehabilitation practice for Dr Alistair Neal, a leading Harley Street physician.
- 1995 – 2006: Morningside Private Exercise Johannesburg, South Africa
Strength & Conditioning Coach, Personal Trainer, Rehabilitation Specialist
Morningside Private Exercise is a training facility geared toward sports specific training, rehabilitation, lifestyle management and personal training.
- Examiner for educational programs, explosive lifting and personal training qualifications
- Responsible for implementation of S&C programs to Athletes from high school to Olympic level.
- Orthopedic Rehabilitation specialist for three of the major hospitals in Johannesburg
- Implementation & structuring of rehabilitation programs for pathologies including; orthopedic, cardiac and neurological
- Examiner for educational programs, explosive lifting and personal training qualifications
- Consultant & co-owner of the corporate fitness facility at Anglovaal Mining – One of the top 5 Mining houses in South Africa (1995 – 2004)
- Consultant to Hollard Insurance co. (largest private insurance company in South Africa) on the installation and operation of the in house fitness facility (2004 – 2005)
- Consultant to Peregrine Asset Management on installation for the in house fitness facility (1999 – 2000)
- 1996 - 2006: SA JKA Karate Association Johannesburg, South Africa
Senior Karate Instructor, Strength & Conditioning Consultant
The Japan Karate Association is the largest karate association in the world. It has a total member base that exceeds 1 million members worldwide. The South African organization is headed by Stan Schmidt, who is the highest ranking non Japanese karate (JKA) practitioner in the world. The SA association has over 13,000 practicing members.
- Instructor of Karate to clients from ages 4 years to adults
- Implementation of Strength & Conditioning programs on a national level
- Appointed as Strength & Conditioning coach to the SA JKA national team
- Author of training related articles for the "SA JKA Today Magazine" – 12000 copies in circulation
- State Examiner for belt testing
Lecturing - Various organizations
- 2007 – Practical rehabilitation protocols for Portland Physiotherapy, a London based clinic
- 2007 – Benefits of functional strength training for women – London
- 2006 – Benefits of personal training – Stenham Asset Management, London
- 2004: Presented at the SA Sports Science Institute Annual Convention – subject: Explosive Lifting for Athletes
- 2003: Presented a two month course to the Pretoria University Biokinetics department – subject: Explosive lifting and power utilization training
- 2003: SA Fitness Professionals conference – subject: Applying Olympic lifting methodologies to your client
- 2000: Young Presidents Organization South Africa – subject: Benefits of strength training
- 1998: Reebok International convention – subject: Functional rehabilitation & training
- 1997: CEO Organization of South Africa – subject: Practical nutritional habits
- 1996 – present: SA JKA Karate Assoc. Annual Training conference – subject: practical application of S&C for martial artists
- 1995 – present: Biomechanics of martial arts for application in Tae-bo related classes
