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welcome
'From The Ground Up School Of Wrestling' or FTGU for short, is a 4000sqft wrestling facility, ran by head coach Gareth Harris in Leicester.
Established in 2017, the school quickly grew from five simple gym mats, to hosting its very own 16ft wrestling ring, surrounded by a large, expertly laid professional matting area. Offering several classes a week, ranging from Childrens sessions to the more advanced lessons and everything in between, FTGU school of wrestling offers a whole host of options, in a safe and professional environment, suitable for all ages and abilities.
Since 2017, FTGU School of wrestling has also sucsessfully hosted several of its own shows in and around Leicestershire and the Midlands, allowing the students to showcase and partake in a live wrestling show setting, allowing them to experience what its like to work a live audience.
meet the coachES
Gareth Harris
Head coach/owner
Gareth began his wrestling training at the age of 15, before meeting British wrestling legend and now WWE/NXT performance centre coach, Robbie Brookside, who ingrained the British style of wrestling in him that Gareth favours today.
For close to 6 years, Gareth trained with Robbie and travelled up and down the breadth of the UK for promotions 'All Star Wrestling' and 'Premier Promotions' which allowed him to expand his vast knowledge from other wrestlers, such as Danny Collins, Johnny Saint and Darren 'Thunder' Walsh to name but a few.
2008 also saw Gareth having a tryout for the WWE at the 02 arena in London and worked as an on screen extra for both RAW and Smackdown.
In 2017, Gareth was called upon to help train Hollywood stars Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh and Jack Lowden, alongside stunt co-ordinator Paul Herbert, for the Stephen Merchant /WWE produced film 'Fighting with my family.'
Also in 2017, Gareth opened the doors to FTGU, and has since gone on to develop talent that have worked for some of the biggest wrestling promotions in the world, such as All-Star Wrestling, European Wrestling Promotions and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Gareth Harris
Head coach/owner
Gareth began his wrestling training at the age of 15, before meeting British wrestling legend and now WWE/NXT performance centre coach, Robbie Brookside, who ingrained the British style of wrestling in him that Gareth favours today.
For close to 6 years, Gareth trained with Robbie and travelled up and down the breadth of the UK for promotions 'All Star Wrestling' and 'Premier Promotions' which allowed him to expand his vast knowledge from other wrestlers, such as Danny Collins, Johnny Saint and Darren 'Thunder' Walsh to name but a few.
2008 also saw Gareth having a tryout for the WWE at the 02 arena in London and worked as an on screen extra for both RAW and Smackdown.
In 2017, Gareth was called upon to help train Hollywood stars Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh and Jack Lowden, alongside stunt co-ordinator Paul Herbert, for the Stephen Merchant /WWE produced film 'Fighting with my family.'
Also in 2017, Gareth opened the doors to FTGU, and has since gone on to develop talent that have worked for some of the biggest wrestling promotions in the world, such as All-Star Wrestling, European Wrestling Promotions and World Wrestling Entertainment.
KEIR 'C.K LIGHT' WATSON
COACH
Keir has been wrestling for two decades, working for local and national promotions.
He met FTGU owner and head coach Gareth while training under British wrestling legend Robbie Brookside, who is now a coach at the WWE performance centre.
Keir coached alongside Gareth at Brookside's School of Wrestling and has been a coach at FTGU since the school was opened in 2017.
Keir is heavily influenced by traditional British wrestling but also incorporates elements from other styles.
JAMES MASON
PRO WRESTLER
"I can certainly vouch for Gareth. Maybe not the most well known of wrestlers, but extremely knowledgeable and I would put complete faith in him at any wrestling match school."
JAKK SELLSTROM
former wwe nxt superstar
"Gareth has done a phenomenal job on creating such a great space for students to come and learn the art of professional wrestling. There are very few schools left in the country that are this well versed in the traditional British wrestling style."
Darren Walsh
PRO WRESTLER
"Gareths technical wrestling knowledge is second to none. Many of the trainees coached by Gareth, Robbie Brookside and myself have gone on to work shows all over the world, including WOS and WWENXT."