Rokman’s real and raw message cuts through the noise of a health and fitness industry obsessed with visual aesthetics, quick fixes and fluffy words of wisdom. We speak to Rokman Founder, Terry Rosoman, to find out why true happiness and self-fulfilment is not found through peace and comfort but through the pain and suffering of physical pursuit.
"I understood first-hand the power pursuing a physical goal has on improving health and wellbeing and I thought that was a message worth sharing."
Rokman is a South Wales based mental toughness fitness brand founded in 2018 by challenge enthusiast, Terry Rosoman. Their mission is to inspire a deep inner resilience within as many people as possible to help them overcome the most intimidating challenges, not just in running or fitness, but also in life.
“We believe that mental toughness is the bedrock to an individual’s ability to maximise their physical performance and improve their health, wellbeing and overall quality of life” says Rosoman. “One of the most effective ways to increase your mental resilience is through the undertaking of physical fitness challenges. By setting the most intimidating goal possible, and working to achieve that goal, we not only improve our fitness but we strengthen our minds and increase our ability to deal with the stresses and pressures of everyday life.”
"At Rokman, we provide people with the information, inspiration and opportunity to build their mental resilience through physical challenges. Open to all people of all ages and abilities, our running and fitness challenges are designed to test and build your physical and psychological resilience. They're also also completely free to sign up and take part."
"I don’t profess to be the best athlete in the world or even the most resilient, but because of that, I feel my personal story is relatable to most people."
Talking about why Rokman was created, Rosoman said “In recent years, I noticed an increasing number of people around me suffering from varying degrees of mental health issues, anxiety and stress. After overhauling my own health through fitness challenges, I understood the power pursuing a physical goal has on improving health and wellbeing first-hand, and I thought that was a message worth sharing."
"Many of the corporate fitness brands I saw out there operate on a superficial, surface-level capacity. They are more concerned about looking good and peddling self-indulgent words of wisdom. Rokman is a straight-talking brand that promotes a message of real substance and value that has the power to genuinely improve people’s lives.
"I don’t profess to be the best athlete in the world or even the most resilient, but because of that, I feel my personal story is relatable to most people. In 2014, at the age of 29, I found myself in the worst shape of my life. After too many years of going-out, drinking and eating too much junk food I was left massively unfit, obese and unhappy. I was lacking focus in my life. I needed a goal so intimidating it would shock me into action. So, that year I signed up to the Cardiff Half Marathon. After 12-weeks of brutally intense training, I lost almost 3-stone and even set a time of 1hr 32mins, a time that I have been unable to beat to this day! However, my biggest achievement was how I had changed how I had turned my life around. I was much happier within myself and I credit that to the focus, purpose and toughening the challenge gave me.”
“I think people are looking for that calling and there's something about our message that is resonating with them."
“The idleness of civilised life and the growing culture of mollycoddling individuals can deny people real opportunities to develop and grow. Humans are natural risk-takers. Without meaningful trials of strength and courage we stagnate, weaken and never truly flourish in life. There’s copious amounts of scientific research to back this up.
“I think people are looking for that calling and there's something about our message that is resonating with them. In little over a year we have gone from a tiny bedroom start-up to a thriving community of hundreds of people. In fact, it is this community I am most proud of. Our online network provides an excellent system of support and inspiration to help people achieve their goals and improve their lives.”
“At Rokman, we are always rooting for the underdog, so much so, that our name is actually a combination of my surname, Rosoman, and the ultimate underdog story, Rocky. Whether you’re seasoned pro or have never set foot off the couch, we are all capable of so much more. You don’t have to run a marathon tomorrow, you could start with just one mile, everyone’s limit is different and personal to them. The important thing is to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. You have to welcome the pain and embrace the suffering."