Kieran Guffick and a life of movement
Kieran Guffick is the founder of Modus and one of the athletes in Perspect's P1 programme. After years in London he moved to Asia for a more balanced life, then built Modus to give the same to others - a health platform for busy professionals across Hong Kong and Singapore.
A former Great Britain taekwondo competitor, he now trains across Hong Kong, Singapore and Phuket. Discover our short conversation with him about the move east and training where the air never cools.
You describe this as the next chapter in Asia. What did the last chapter teach you?
It taught me that I needed to take more risks. On paper, I had a great life. I had a solid job, I could travel a lot. But I was restless. I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere because I was always on the move. It taught me that I needed to find a place to call home.
Modus is built around health for busy people. Did that come from watching others, or from being one of them?
I’d integrated a lot of similar systems into my own life after a couple health scares. I knew Hong Kong and Singapore had traditionally prioritised career, with long working hours and less focus on health or training. I wanted to help make a difference in these people’s lives.
Walk us through a typical day out there.
"A little out of the norm of daily life. Up early before my wife would wake up. Log my miles - routes changing depending on the type of stimulus I'm looking for. Hydrate immensely. Protein and carbs roughly thirty minutes to an hour post-workout to refuel. Then beach and sunshine. Surfing and snorkelling are usually the go-tos."
There was a point where training stopped being something you fit around the rest of your life. When did that shift happen?
Sport was a huge part of my life growing up. I competed for Great Britain in taekwondo and at a decent level in football and hockey prior to that. It just took me a while to figure out a way I enjoyed to stay active once adult life and work took priority.
Most people treat health like another thing on the calendar. You talk about it giving time back. How does that work, in practice?
People often focus on their careers at the detriment of their health. At Modus, we’re building for longevity. We are looking to address underlying deficiencies that you might be ignoring. To improve your energy, so you can stay active, improve your health markers and hopefully live a longer, more active life.
Hong Kong has pace. Singapore has structure. Phuket has space. What does each one give you the others can't?
Hong Kong lights a fire in me. It has an inexplicable energy that few cities in the world can match. Singapore is seamless. Everything works as it should meaning you can execute and focus on the parts of life that matter with fewer distractions. Phuket gives me freedom. It’s where I feel most myself, my happiest.
You've spent months now training in real heat and humidity. What do you notice about kit when you stop thinking about it?
It’s already hot enough. The kit needs to keep up and adapt with the heat and movement. Perspect shorts do that perfectly. No chaffing and wicks the sweat away. They’re a go to for my outdoor training in Phuket in particular.
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Quickfire Questions
Favourite Perspect product?
"The Core Shorts in the Burnt colourway. Perfectly match my trainers."
Hong Kong, Singapore or Phuket to train?
"Hong Kong for Hyrox preparation. Phuket for everything else."
Training with music - yes or no?
"1000%. Not sure you’d like my playlists though."
Most underrated recovery habit?
"Sleep"
One health rule you never break?
"Never under fuelling. I love to eat! (Just not always the right things."
One thing London gave you?
"A belief that anything is possible."
What does Saturday night look like now?
"Oh, it can be anything. Life is about balance. Probably involves me trying to switch my brain off and forget about work in some way though."