Gym Jones

[brainstorm]

Dream, you gotta check this thing out. Lots of marketing nuggets...

http://www.gymjones.com/

[Dreamliner]

Hey, thanks. I've heard of it but never investigated. I'll check it out.

As an aside, group training very definitely seems to be the wave of the future.

[brainstorm]

I just love the name.

Plus, online memberships - thought it might be of interest to you.

[BossaGator]

Gym Jones is a crossfit spinoff, IIRC. I think Mark Twight and Greg Glassman had a falling out at some point and Twight went off in his own direction to establish Gym Jones.

[Dreamliner]

I just love the name.

Plus, online memberships - thought it might be of interest to you.

I'm definitely looking into that. Other thoughts: exclusive forum and/or modest fee to set up program and email accountability.

[Dreamliner]

I'm pretty sure these are the guys who did the training for The 300 actors.

[brainstorm]

Russell Crowe is a fan. I saw a tweet from him. He uses the term "weighted objects" when referring to resistance training.

[StrangeGator]

Gym Jones is a crossfit spinoff, IIRC. I think Mark Twight and Greg Glassman had a falling out at some point and Twight went off in his own direction to establish Gym Jones.

Not surprising. Crossfit is too big a concept for just one brand. "Gym Jones" is a great brand name, but it doesn't overtly suggest the Crossfit concept.

There seems to be a fitness boomlet going on with some niche opportunities. Most of it is upscale and driven by enthusiasts. Big fitness club chains are struggling up here, but the small places with high-end trainers seem to be doing well. Crossfit seems to be doing very well here, with 38 locations throughout the metro area. That's about double what they had two years ago.

[mulls130]

Just read Twight's book, Kiss or Kill. He is maniac. Much respect for Mark and training he puts together there CO.

Yeah crossfit is blowing up, as a competitive crossfitter it is great for our sport to have sponsors like Reebok. But just like Twight was kicked out of crossfit for doing some critical thinking about training, so was Mark Rippetoe, Greg Everett, and James OPT Fitzgerald.

Anyway, Gym Jones is awesome would love to go train there for a weekend or so. Just get ruined.

[StrangeGator]

Love the concept. There's now a Crossfit affiliate in the neighboring village. It's closer than my current gym, but damn they're expensive. No way I can keep a dojo membership and do something like Crossfit, even if I had a job.

[Dreamliner]

Just read Twight's book, Kiss or Kill. He is maniac. Much respect for Mark and training he puts together there CO.

Yeah crossfit is blowing up, as a competitive crossfitter it is great for our sport to have sponsors like Reebok. But just like Twight was kicked out of crossfit for doing some critical thinking about training, so was Mark Rippetoe, Greg Everett, and James OPT Fitzgerald.

Anyway, Gym Jones is awesome would love to go train there for a weekend or so. Just get ruined.

Rippetoe was kicked out of Crossfit ? I thought he worshipped Crossfit.

[StrangeGator]

The more I think about it, the more I love the Gym Jones concept from a marketing stand point. They should do radio commercials touting the The People's Temple of Fitness and they could brand the workout itself as the Gym Jones Massacre. On-premise marketing gimmicks could include post workout refreshments from a communal punch bowl.

[jdrgator]

Group training is terrific. As someone who used to train others and was deep in the fitness field for awhile, but subsequently stopped nearly completely as my new career took off, I can say that group training sessions have been a real motivator for me.

I found a gym (which calls itself a "health institute") a few blocks from my house that offers group combined lifting/cardio classes every day. You actually start with a cohort of others and then can move on to more advanced classes after 10 weeks. The beauty of it is that even for someone who has a lot of experience with weight training, my classes really help with the motivational aspect of it. It's also flexible enough for people to move up in weight at their own pace, according to their own needs. It might not work well for the serious body builder, but for most who just want to stay or get in shape and improve strength and health, these classes rock!

[LeafUF]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/11/fashion/gym-jones-preaches-the-cult-of-physicality.html?_r=2&ref=health

So it is a cult

[Dreamliner]

Everything has to be militarized these days I guess.

[jdrgator]

Everything has to be militarized these days I guess.

At least on tv it might be. But the gym I belong to is not. Actually, it caters to well to older populations (I am quite young at 42), and those with health problems, particularly associated with obesity. I think for them it's about getting people moving and keeping them motivated to lose the weight/build some muscle.

The classes I think are more about motivation. One-on-one training in this environment is not as necessary though they do have a strong educational core to their programs.

[Dreamliner]

Regarding group training, the only reason I ever recommend it is as a means of saving money. Otherwise, needs are so individual that I prefer to focus on an individual.

Now, yes, there are people who thrive on the sort of comraderie that a group provides. I understand that and would not refuse to train two or more who wish to train together for precisely that reason. Still, I explain to them that I cannot deliver the sort of personal attention that I would to an individual.

[jdrgator]

Regarding group training, the only reason I ever recommend it is as a means of saving money. Otherwise, needs are so individual that I prefer to focus on an individual.

Now, yes, there are people who thrive on the sort of comraderie that a group provides. I understand that and would not refuse to train two or more who wish to train together for precisely that reason. Still, I explain to them that I cannot deliver the sort of personal attention that I would to an individual.

Of course many people could use personal training. And having a good trainer and taking ones training seriously can get results that trying to do it on ones own rarely can.

Personally, I don't even know if I necessarily thrive on camaraderie, but the way in which these group classes are set up at my gym certainly has benefits. But again, this is not a regular gym (like a Golds) and there are no body builders in the place at all. It's geared toward education and exercise so the programs people join they aren't just getting led by an exercise instructor through cardio but multiple trainers during weight training portion. So it's sort of one-size-fits-all but not...

In more advanced classes, there are personalized training regimens though still in a group setting (they have two weight sections, one for classes and one for those lifting on their own). They also have weekly two hour educational seminars taught in the classroom throughout the 10-week sessions. And you have access to weekly personalized sessions with a trainer to talk about your training and food intake.

I see it as sort of a hybrid but with the goal of educating people while getting them to lose weight or rehab (which are the dual main thrusts of this place).

For me, once I reach my goal, I'll probably hire a personal trainer for at least 1x a week sessions through my transition. Having that guidance can really be a boost too.

[StrangeGator]

I can't even fathom a gym like that. Most of the people at my gym don't even speak English. Between the language barrier, gang and prison tattoos, I don't even ask people to spot me.

[LeafUF]

Spots are for pussies anyway

[jdrgator]

Spots are for pussies anyway

:)

[Dreamliner]

Of course you could crush your windpipe bench pressing alone.

But that's what neck exercises are for.

[BossaGator]

I regularly bench w/o a spotter. Of course, I can't come close to failure that way.