Yo Poznan!
Maciej Dudek is not here to sell you a “summer body.” He’s a certified personal and medical trainer who understands joints, muscles, and the long-term consequences of sitting like a shrimp for 10 years straight. He knows how bodies work — and more importantly, how to un-break them.
His mission is simple and refreshingly unsexy: move better, hurt less, and get strong enough for real life. You know, like carrying groceries, picking up your kid, or surviving IKEA without needing a nap.
Think physiotherapy meets strength training, sprinkled with just enough tough love to make you stop lying to yourself. We met with Maciej for a chat and this is how it went…
Poznań Daily: Alright Maciej, first things first. If Next Level had a theme song when someone walks in — what’s playing?
Maciej: Trend Setter by Connor Price. Something with energy, but not so aggressive that people want to leave immediately.
Be honest — how many people flex in the mirror when they think you’re not looking?
Maciej: All the time. And the funny part is, most of them don’t even try to hide it. Half the time it ends up on social media anyway.
What’s the fitness myth that instantly makes you roll your eyes?
Maciej: That you need to train every single day to be fit. And extreme diets. If suffering worked that well, everyone would already be in perfect shape.
Why open a gym far from the influencer jungle of downtown and plant your flag in Górczyn?
Maciej: The gym I worked at before was nearby, my clients live here, and I wanted people spending energy on training — not wasting it commuting across the city just to take mirror photos.
If you could ban one exercise from the fitness universe forever?
Maciej: The air bike. I hate it, but I also love it. It’s like a toxic relationship — terrible while you’re in it, but you miss it when it’s gone.
Most underrated movement everyone should be doing but nobody does?
Maciej: Squats. Always squats. Everyone wants shortcuts, but the basics are still undefeated.
Wildest client request you’ve ever had?
Maciej: Someone wanted to lose 20 kilos in two months. I had to explain that this isn’t Netflix.
How often are you more therapist than trainer?
Maciej: Honestly? All the time. Sometimes we talk more than we lift — and that’s usually what people actually need.
If you could teach everyone just one thing, what would it be?
Maciej: The world’s greatest stretch. It fixes more problems than most people’s entire training plans.
Biggest mistake you see when people come in with pain or movement issues?
Maciej: Way too much cardio and almost no strength training. Running away from your problems doesn’t really fix them — physically or mentally.
If you could bring in one more specialist to expand Next Level — who would it be?
Maciej: At this point, no one. We already have a medical trainer, physiotherapist, clinical dietitian, psychodietitian, and motor preparation trainer. It’s basically a full subscription plan for your body.
What does your own training look like?
Maciej: Strength, endurance, and mobility. Three to four times a week. Nothing fancy — just consistent and honest.
How much do you squat?
Maciej: Around 150 kilos. Enough to stay humble and remind myself not to skip leg day.
After a brutal day of back-to-back clients — how do you reset?
Maciej: Sauna, or board games with my girlfriend. Both involve strategy, patience, and accepting defeat sometimes.
Your worst habit?
Maciej: Instant powdered soups. Not proud of it, but they’ve saved me more than once.
What do people usually want to change visually?
Maciej: Men want bigger arms and chest. Women want glutes. That part of the fitness world hasn’t evolved at all.
How long until I get a Cristiano Ronaldo body?
Maciej: A couple of years with perfect training and nutrition — but people forget he’s been building that body for 10–15 years. There’s no fast-forward button.
Is muscle memory real?
Maciej: Very real. Your body remembers strength and movement patterns, which is why coming back after a break is easier than starting from zero.
Can sit-ups alone give you abs?
Maciej: No chance. If it worked, everyone would already have them.
Can you give me a Bruce Lee body at my ripe age of 54 in 2026?
Maciej: For that, you’d need a plastic surgeon, not a fitness instructor.
Alright, last question. Arm wrestle before I leave? I need to test my current strength.
Maciej: Sure. But don’t worry — I won’t post the results online.
Final Word
If you’re based in west Poznań and tired of flashy gyms that promise everything and fix nothing, Next Level Studio might be your place. Maciej is sharp, calm, sarcastic in the best way — and yes, he speaks English fluently, plus fluent common sense.
Just don’t tell your gym bros.
Some places are better kept off the map.
Next Level Studio
Kopanina 28/32, kl. B, lok. 5, Poznań
+48 724 136 624
kontakt@nextlevel-studio.pl
nextlevel-studio.pl
Instagram
