Husband-and-wife team Max and Ruth Wallace have turned a King Street health food store into a place to help local people
At 132 King Street, Hammersmith, a unique centre is redefining the meaning of health and wellbeing. Health Defence combines the principles of fitness, nutrition, and community spirit under one roof. The initiative encompasses Health Defence Organics, a health food store offering organic produce, and a gym that provides fitness training rooted in boxing and non-contact kickboxing.
Run by Max, a former professional boxer, and his wife Ruth, a former social worker, the centre aims to boost physical and mental health through a holistic approach. The couple’s mission is to provide services that not only improve fitness but also nurture confidence and mental resilience.
A Holistic Wellbeing Centre
Health Defence is more than just a gym or health food shop. It offers counselling, health checks, and healthy eating advice. The centre also hosts workshops and features a relaxing massage room for unwinding. For women, the gym runs dedicated training sessions—either solo or in small groups—that focus on self-defence, stamina, and confidence building.
Max, who turns 60 in May, has developed his unique health defence system that incorporates martial arts techniques “without the cuts and bruises.” With a storied past in boxing, Max’s credentials include ten professional fights and coaching three British kickboxing champions. “It all makes for a better world,” said Max, reflecting on his work and its impact on the community.
From Boxing Rings to Community Empowerment
The gym, accessed via Albion Place, W6 0QT, is adorned with punchbags, racks of gloves, motivational slogans, and pictures of Max’s hero, Muhammad Ali. But the story of Health Defence goes beyond the walls of this facility. Max has spent years mentoring at-risk youth and helping them find purpose.
“I realized I could make a difference to young guys who were at risk of going the wrong way,” said Max, recalling his years at a community centre in Shepherd’s Bush and as a market trader. “A lot of the guys I’ve helped have gone into the fitness business themselves. One even builds five-a-side pitches.”
Max’s journey has not been without challenges. At 21, he faced the tragedy of losing his daughter to meningitis. In 2013, he survived a life-threatening burst appendix, which he initially mistook for a stomach bug. Reflecting on these trials, Max said, “I thought I was going to die, but my core strength pulled me through.”
His resilience, combined with the couple’s faith in a higher power, fueled their determination to create Health Defence as a sanctuary for wellbeing.
Health Food and Community Spirit
The health food store at the front of the premises offers an array of organic produce, including packaged seeds, grains, nuts, and legumes, alongside fresh, chilled, and frozen items. Much of the stock caters to vegan, gluten-free, and wheat-free diets. The shelves also feature environmentally friendly supplements, vitamins, and minerals, as well as herbal and homeopathic remedies.
“Health is part of our religion,” said Ruth, 54, who manages the shop. The store continues the legacy of its predecessor, Bushwacker, an ethical, fairtrade outlet established 40 years ago by Chris and Sunita Shipton. Originally based in Shepherd’s Bush, the shop moved to King Street three decades ago.
A Hub for Creativity and Growth
Health Defence is more than a business; it’s a community hub. The centre screens films—its inaugural screening was a Muhammad Ali documentary—and offers plant-based cookery classes, healing courses, and massages. Max also shares his passion for art, teaching pencil drawing techniques and designing the business’ distinctive fist logo.
Recognized for his contributions to the local community, Max was awarded QPR’s Unsung Hero award in 2023. He credits Suzanne Noble and Mark Elliott at the government-funded Startup School for Seniors for helping him launch Health Defence. The program supports entrepreneurs aged 50 and older in starting new ventures, a service Max describes as “a godsend.”
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