CrossFit Martell

CrossFit Martell is a CrossFit gym in Gżira that sets out to be as welcoming as possible to people who have never tried the sport. It sits at 92 Triq Moroni, just off the Strand, on the harbour-side route between Sliema and Valletta. Every class is led by a coach rather than left to a whiteboard, groups are kept small, and each workout is adjusted to the person doing it. The gym is listed with the other gyms in Malta on VisitMalta.co.uk.

For UK readers, think of it as a coached, class-based alternative to a conventional gym floor, closer to a small studio than a big leisure centre. You book into a session, a coach warms the group up, teaches the movements and runs the workout, and nobody is expected to arrive fit, experienced or already familiar with the terminology. Because the movements are taught before you do them, a first-timer can follow along from the very first session, and a seasoned athlete will find plenty to work on too.

A gym built for beginners

The pitch at Martell is simple: show up as you are. Most members started out nervous and unsure, and people have joined after years without exercise, after injuries, or after feeling lost in a larger gym. You do not need to lose weight first, and you do not need to know anything about CrossFit.

Co-owner and head coach Vitaly leads with that message, and the tone of the whole operation follows it. The aim is a community of people of different ages, backgrounds and fitness levels who support one another and turn up together week after week. Many people arrive hoping to feel stronger and more confident rather than to win anything. Goals vary widely: losing weight, building strength, keeping up with children, moving without pain, ageing well, or simply feeling like yourself again. Its own tagline is Malta's most beginner-friendly CrossFit gym.

The gym is also international. Members and coaches speak English, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Greek and more, which suits Gżira's mix of Maltese residents, long-term expats and newcomers. If you are thinking of moving, our Malta relocation guide explains the practical side, and a class community is a quick way to meet people.

What happens in a CrossFit class

Before you ever touch a barbell, the first step is a conversation. A coach asks where you are starting from, what you have tried before and what you want, and you are encouraged to mention any bad knees, backs or shoulders so that the session can be built around them. By the time class starts, your coach already knows you.

Groups are capped at twelve people. Each session follows the same shape. A purposeful warm-up prepares the muscles and movements you will use that day. Next comes either skill work or strength, where the coach watches how you move and gives individual cues. Then comes the workout of the day, often shortened to WOD, which changes every session: sometimes a few heavy lifts, sometimes a fast circuit. Weights, movements and target times are adjusted for you before the clock starts, and every movement has easier and harder versions. After the workout the group cools down together and chats.

Every class is coached throughout by CrossFit Level 2 coaches. The gym recommends that beginners start with two to four classes a week and build towards five over the first few months, listening to the body along the way. Most people notice more energy and less stiffness within the first two to three weeks. The focus is on coaching and scaling, not on intensity for its own sake, so you will be challenged but you will finish.

Olympic weightlifting

A dedicated weightlifting class teaches the two Olympic lifts, the snatch and the clean and jerk. It is open to complete beginners, to CrossFit athletes who want better technique, to people who tried lifting and stopped, and to anyone who would like to compete one day or simply move well.

Sessions run in four parts. The warm-up covers mobility and activation for wrists, shoulders, hips and ankles, with barbell drills that reinforce the positions you will use. Technical drills break each lift into positions you can feel and repeat, using a PVC pipe, an empty bar or a moderate load. The main lift follows, with working sets at a weight that suits your level that day. Accessory work then builds supporting strength through overhead, front and back squats, pulls and deadlift variations.

The coaching principle is technique first, always. Weight goes up only once the movement is solid, and nobody is handed a loaded barbell on their first day. Starting with a pipe and adding weight when the body is ready is how beginners have gone on to lift personal bests within weeks.

HYROX training

HYROX is a global fitness race with the same format in every city: you run one kilometre, complete a functional station, then run another kilometre, eight times over. Martell runs HYROX classes that prepare you for it, whether you have never heard of the event or you already have a race entered.

Each session has a clear purpose. A focused warm-up is followed by skill or strength work on the race movements, pacing practice or targeted strength development, and then a structured workout of running intervals, stations or mixed work scaled to every level in the room. Classes are capped so that the coach can give real feedback to each athlete. The classes suit first-timers who want to build running endurance, station technique and pacing, athletes chasing a faster race time, and anyone who wants structured conditioning without ever racing.

CrossFit Teens

The CrossFit Teens programme is for young people aged 11 to 17 and is led by a certified CrossFit coach. Sessions combine games, challenges and foundational movement skills, with a dynamic warm-up, skill development and a workout of the day scaled to the age group. Technique and safety come first, classes are small and every teen is known by name.

The aim goes beyond fitness: confidence, teamwork, discipline and healthy habits that last. No experience is needed, and a teenager can try a session before committing. That makes it a useful option for families living in or visiting Malta for an extended stay, especially in summer when our Malta weather guide shows how hot the island can be and indoor activities become popular.

Other ways to train at Martell

Beyond group classes, the gym offers personal training, a one-to-one On-Ramp programme for new members, a Move Better, Age Better programme, engine-building and gymnastics sessions, private fitness events, and weekend classes. Members also have open gym time, outdoor workouts, nutrition support and a members-only app for class reservations.

Outdoor sessions are a good reminder that training in Malta is not confined to the gym. After a class you can explore Gżira's seafront, or head further afield with our guides to the best beaches in Malta and the things to do in Malta. If you want a day in the capital, the Valletta guide shows what to see, and Gżira's position makes the trip straightforward.

Trial week, location and getting started

The easiest way in is the trial week. It costs €30 and covers three real classes with real coaching, designed for people in Malta who have not tried CrossFit before. You message the gym, tell them about your goals and worries, try a week of classes, and decide when you are ready. There is no pressure to sign up, and you are welcome to look around and ask questions before you decide.

The gym is conveniently located just off the Strand in Gżira, easy to reach from all of the town. If you are visiting and want to stay close, our page on hotels in Sliema covers the neighbouring stretch of coast, and where to stay in Malta compares the main areas. Planning a longer trip from the UK? See our Malta holidays overview and flights to Malta for the basics.

To ask about classes, availability or your first session, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the gym.