We are a functional strength, boxing and personal development gym located in Bayswater, Melbourne.
Our training is designed for adults who want more than just a workout — people ready to build real-world strength, improve conditioning, and develop confidence that carries beyond the gym.
If you’re looking to train with purpose in a supportive, coached environment, you’ll gain practical strength, resilience under pressure, and a deeper sense of capability in your body.
About Jo
I found kickboxing as a way to manage stress — and it quickly became a doorway into a lifelong fascination with movement, the nervous system, and how we meet pressure in our bodies and in life.
I’ve always loved to work hard. I’m someone who thrives right on the edge of my limits. But my own growth has taught me that intensity alone isn’t the answer. Strength that lasts has to be sustainable, intelligent, and responsive to what the body is actually asking for.
That shift shaped how I train and how I coach. My work now blends strength, martial arts, and personal safety with a deep respect for nervous system regulation and real-world demands. I’m endlessly curious, always learning, and driven by a genuine desire to help people understand themselves better through their bodies.
I love a good challenge — and I also love disappearing into a good book. Both matter. Both inform the way I work.
If you’re looking for training that meets you where you are and supports both strength and longevity, you’re in the right place.
Lauren
“Joining Breaking Barriers has been a life changing experience for me. I've gained not just physical strength and kickboxing skills, but also mental resilience."
Sarah
"Jo is a highly experienced and professional Trainer. She listens to you and your concerns and is easily able to adapt the training to work with your body."
Christine
"I recently attended a personal safety course with my 19 year old daughter and 2 of my friends. I learnt so much in just 2 hours and have already put so much of it into practice.....Thanks so much to Jo and the girls for such a valuable and life changing experience. This should be something that everyone does."
Why We're Here
We are here to help people feel steady, capable, and at home in their bodies — especially in moments of pressure, change, or uncertainty.
At Breaking Barriers, we combine intelligent movement, martial arts, personal safety, and nervous-system-aware training to build strength that translates into real life. This isn’t about punishment, performance, or pushing through at all costs. It’s about learning how to access strength with awareness, choice, and self-trust.
We meet people where they are, work with the body they have today, and support confidence that grows from within — not from ego or bravado. The result is training that develops physical capability, emotional steadiness, and a sense of grounded confidence that extends far beyond the gym.
This work is for those who want more than fitness.
It’s for those ready to move differently, feel safer in their own skin, and build strength that truly lasts.
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