Now in its third year, David Lloyd Leisure has taken its Blaze Community Games international, as well as announcing the launch of a family version for next year.

The Blaze Community Games were created three years ago to drive deeper social connections at David Lloyd Clubs. It is a fun and competitive fitness challenge built around the Blaze HIIT workout, which was created six years ago and includes cardiovascular, strength and combat training in a boutique-style studio environment.

Each club runs heats over four weeks with the same workout. Scoring is based on technical and tactical ability, and the moves are straightforward, so everyone has an equal shot regardless of their fitness level. For the first time this summer, national winners had the opportunity to compete against international David Lloyd members with a final held in Madrid, Spain.

“Our goal was to make fitness more inclusive, attract more people to group exercise, and ensure workouts weren't just about being the fittest or fastest,” says Michelle Dand, head of fitness products and programme. “The Games emphasise both tactical and technical skills, with a focus on participation and fun, allowing everyone to feel a sense of achievement.”

“The Blaze Games foster a strong community, provide member support, and bring people together in a meaningful and fun way. Like parkrun, these events are welcoming and supportive, and encourage newcomers to join. We plan to continue running the games annually, growing the number of members participating in them each year, with the winning country each year hosting the grand finals.”

Next year a new class, Rebels Battlebox, will be launched, giving kids the chance to battle against their parents for the ultimate competitive family fun.