Pumping Iron Sports Club prides itself on being the Home of Champions. It has many members who, through hard work and dedication, have reached peak levels of fitness and have competed (and won) at the highest levels of the bodybuilding arena.
Their friendly and approachable staff offer advice and encouragement at all levels of fitness.
The sports club is situated on the New Southgate roundabout and offers free parking.
The owner is Dr Zak Pallikaros. Zak was born on 6th April 1970 in London, UK. His family moved to Cyprus when he was 2 years old where they lived until Zak turned 13.
It was in Cyprus where he fell in love with martial arts; he idolised Bruce Lee and spent years learning Shotokan Karate, Zak wanting to learn as many different martial arts styles so he then moved on to JUDO.
On his return to the UK as a young teenager, he joined a Shaolin Kung Fu school where he studied for many years until one day he noticed a small bodybuilding gym situated next to his Dojo, where he noticed a few big guys training. After watching the guys train for a few months, he decided that’s what he wanted to look like and Zak’s passion for bodybuilding started.
Being a skinny teenager Zak decided to turn his parent’s garage into a home gym where he trained for many years before he built up enough muscle to feel confident enough to join a proper bodybuilding gym.
He became a member of Tower Gym in Edmonton (in North London, UK).
Zaks first bodybuilding compe-tition was “Mr Tower Gym” where he easily won 1st place in his class (of which the average age of contestants was 29) earning him free membership for a year.
The following year he re- entered the same show again winning the title for the second time. He was subsequently told he wasn’t allowed to enter that show again, so he decided to compete at the “Mr London and south-east EFBB” which he won and qualified for the British Title (Zaks full contest history can be seen below).
Zak is academically qualified with a BSc Degree in Medicinal Chemistry, an MSc in Biochemistry and a Doctorate PhD in Endocrinology.
He worked as a Scientist for over 9 years as a Team Leader for GE Healthcare (previously Amersham PLC), before he deci-ded to follow his dream and passion and open his own gym, Dr Zak’s Pumping Iron Gym.
Zak is married to Emily and has 2 boys, Nicholas and Johnny. When asked if his boys will follow his footsteps he replies:
“A bodybuilding lifestyle is a sacrifice and takes a lot of commitment and dedication to be successful.
“You have to love the sport so much to be able to live this lifestyle. If my boys want to follow me in this, I am here to encourage and help, but I will not push anyone into this.”
He is happy to see that his older son Nick (now 22) has taken more of an interest in his training and nutrition.

Dr Zak’s Pumping Iron Gym 31 Oakleigh Road South
N11 1LD
Tel: 020 8368 5367
Open 6 Days a Week.
All Day Pass £5 for
non members.
Website: www.pumpingironfitnessgym.co.uk