About Sleeping Tiger Fitness North Shore
#stfstrong
Training With Nathan Zimmerman
Move better, feel better, and carry yourself with confidence with our growing ninja family. Locally owned & operated.
Whether you’re looking for fitness classes, martial arts, or a blend, we have plenty of programs to choose from and getting started is easy.
Your first class in any program is free. We can’t wait to meet you!
About
Meet the Team
Nathan Zimmerman MS, CSCS
Owner and Operator, Krav Maga 2nd Degree Black Belt, BMT Brown Belt
Nathan is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, a certified level 2 Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, a certified a Strong First Girya Instructor, and a G3 certified Krav Maga Global Instructor.
He holds a MS in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, SLO. Nathan assisted at a SFG (certification) for the first time in November, 2015. His experience includes working as a physical therapy aide at the Body and Balance Center in San Luis Obispo and as a volunteer aide at Bell Trace in Bloomington, Indiana. At Bell Trace, he treated shoulder, knee, hip, and back injuries. Nathan also had the privilege of interning at Athlon Elite under Ryan Joiner.
Since then he has gained experience in the fitness field through working at the Cal Poly Rec Center as a personal trainer, as well as helping with strength and conditioning for a local kickboxing team. Nathan has trained with and learned from the likes of well known and influential trainers in the strength and conditioning community including Dan John, Pavel Tsatsouline, Doug Nepodal, Brett Jones, Jeff O’Connor, Max Shank, Kelly Starrett and David Whitley.
Martial Arts Background:
Nathan started his martial arts training in 1995, training Taekwondo in South Korea. He participated in worldwide competition at Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Center. Nathan really started getting serious about his martial arts training in 2006, training Hawaiian Kempo and Grappling at SLO Kickboxing in San Luis Obispo California. In 2007 he transitioned to Krav Maga and Muay Thai and fell in love with both systems.
In 2009 Nathan passed his Level 1 Krav Maga Instructor test with Krav Maga Worldwide and competed in his first Muay Thai bout, which he won. While pursuing his Masters Degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly, Nathan continued his Muay Thai and Krav Maga training, continuing to compete in Muay Thai all through college and added boxing training with boxing coach Darby Evans.
After graduation, Nathan opened his own Krav Maga school in 2013 and made the transition to training with Krav Maga Global under the tutelage of Alan Predolin and Eyal Yanilov.
Nathan is currently a Second Degree Black Belt with 360 Krav Maga under Alan Predolin and a Bang Muay Thai Brown Belt under Sensei Duane Ludwig. Nathan continues to train with and learn from some of the best Krav Maga practitioners on the planet. He’s currently training and coaching boxing at Sonny’s Boxing and Fitness. In 2025 Nathan became a New England Master’s Champion competing out of Sonny’s Boxing and Fitness.
Paul Benincasa
Krav Maga and Kickboxing Instructor, BMT Purple Belt
Paul has over 20 years of experience in the Martial Arts with a focus on Self-Defense and Third Party Protection. He has advanced ranks in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has been teaching Krav Maga since 2009 and is committed to helping his students develop confidence on and off the mats.
“I feel too often those who are most in need of this type of training rarely seek it out. It is my sincere hope that every interaction I have with students fosters a safe, fun environment for learning.”
Phyllis Paul
Kickboxing Instructor, Boxing For Parkinson’s Instructor, BJJ Blue Belt, BMT Purple Belt
With over 10 years of experience as a dedicated CrossFit and weightlifting athlete, Phyllis brings a well-rounded and disciplined approach to coaching. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt and Bang Muay Thai purple belt, she has spent years developing both physical strength and mental resilience. Her martial arts journey began at Sleeping Tiger Fitness, and this is where she also began coaching the Punches for Parkinson’s class, helping to use movement and boxing-based training to improve quality of life. As a coach, Phyllis loves empowering people, building confidence, and helping individuals discover their own strength—both inside and outside the gym.
Destinee Palosaari
Kickboxing Instructor, Heavy Bag Instructor, BMT Purple Belt
Born and raised in Arizona and a mother of 2, Destinee started her martial arts journey in 2015 studying Muay Thai in Tempe, Arizona. After moving to Gloucester nearly 8 years ago, Destinee continued her journey studying Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Krav Maga. Though never fighting competitively, Destinee has experience training in fight gyms with other fighters as well as those just looking for fitness and self defense skills giving her the ability to train people at different levels of experience. Her strengths include Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Strength Training.
foundations. partnership.
growth. results.
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