The New Year is here. And we’re seeing some big sports coming through.
No matter if you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting out, these sports are for everyone to get involved with.
Padel
Heard of it? Course you have.
Back in 1969, Mexican businessman Enrique Corcuera set up the first-ever padel court at his holiday home in Acapulco in 1969.
Ever since, the sport has become a worldwide sensation.
The Rules Of Padel
It’s actually pretty simple.
Padel is played in doubles, with play beginning using an underarm serve diagonally to your opponent with the padel racket.
It’s like a mix of tennis and squash, but padel players can let the ball bounce off the walls after the first bounce.
If the ball bounces twice or hits the walls before the ground, it’s then out.
You can return the ball after it has bounced and hit the glass wall, but don’t let it bounce again.
It can also be used to hit the ball off to try and return it.
How do I get started playing Padel?
Padel is easy for anyone to start.
All you need to do is find your local court, grab some friends and start learning all the rules.
It’s also a good idea to warm-up first. Start with stretches focusing on your legs and shoulders. Then, you can have a few rallies to get ready to play for serve.
Pickleball
A mix of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Pickleball is seriously taking over in the world of racket sports.
Starting back in the ’60s, it’s since made the move from the USA over to the UK and Europe.
It’s played by either two players (singles) or four players (doubles).
The ball is served diagonally from the right-hand side of the court to the left, then the other way round for the second serve.
It has to bounce on the ground before it can be hit back. Points are scored when the other team can’t return the ball or it’s hit it out of bounds.
The first team to reach 11 points wins the game.
Hyrox
So, what is Hyrox?
Hyrox is an indoor fitness race. It combines 8 x 1km runs with 8 workout stations.
Since starting over in Hamburg, Hyrox events have made their way across the world.
The workout stations explained
SkiErg
A 1000m workout focused on aerobic capacity and upper body endurance.
Sled push
Push a weighted sled over a set distance.
Sled pull
Pull the same sled towards you using a rope.
Burpee broad jumps
Burpees followed by a long jump forward, then repeat.
Rowing
A 1000m row focusing on the full body.
Farmers carry
Carry kettlebells over a set distance,
Lunges
Walking lunges (usually with a sandbag over your shoulders).
Wall balls
Squat followed by throwing the ball to a target above your head, then repeat.
Fancy your chances this year?
You can practice before you take one on at a Hybrid Class at JD Gyms.
Pilates
In 2025, we saw Pilates continue to take over the world.
And this year, we’re feeling the same energy.
Pilates is essentially a low-impact, full body workout.
What does Pilates do?
It focuses mainly on core strength, posture, flexibility and body awareness through controlled, precise movements and breathwork.
The exercises are performed on a mat, usually using just body weight for resistance.
Heard of Reformer Pilates? It involves using a machine with a spring and straps that provide resistance and assistance.
It’s gonna be taking over again in 2026, so make sure you’ve got your Pilates set ready.
There are loads of Pilates classes at JD Gyms. Have a look and see if there are any you fancy.
That’s a wrap
Ready to try out the latest sports? We’ve got loads of training essentials this way.
