Boutique HIIT studio operator Ritual Gym will open its first site in the US next month.

The Singapore-based company, launched in 2012 by professional mixed martial artist Brad Robinson and fitness coach Ian Tan, has secured a site in Santa Monica, California. The pair plan to open the studio in May.

Ritual Gym currently operates seven studios in Singapore, Brazil, Spain and South Africa.

Offering high-intensity, 20-minute workouts, the Ritual method focuses on free weights and bodyweight movements designed to build strength. There are four levels of progression to encourage participation from people at varied levels of fitness – from beginners to elite athletes.

There is also an emphasis on personalisation – programmes can be adjusted according to the specific needs of each member, and class sizes are capped at ten.

Training sessions run every 30 minutes, from morning until evening, with each Ritual studio offering more than 150 sessions each week.

“HIIT is one of the most heavily-studied fields in all of sports science,” said Ritual founder Ian Tan.

“All the research points to one key takeaway – it’s less about the number of hours you spend at the gym each week, and more about the quality of the training stimulus that you get.

"HIIT is far more effective than an hour on a bike or treadmill.”

Co-founder Brad Robinson added: "What people want is personalisation.

“Rather than going to a big gym in one of those chains where you're just one of 6,000 members and no one knows who you are, we try and stand out by making sure our service levels are exceptional and personalised.

"Sometimes all you need is just 15 or 20 minutes a day, and it can do wonders for your body.”