How many people do you take in a group environment?

If there is one coach on the floor, sessions are capped at 4 and if there are 2 coaches on the floor, sessions are capped at 6.

I noticed that the price per session is $50+tax. Is that $50/person or $50 for up to 4 people to split?

Group sessions are $50/person+tax per person regardless of group size.

Do you have any morning groups that already exist to join or do you have to come with a group already?

We actually don’t have fixed groups. Clients book on a first come first serve basis. You can join as an individual or coordinate with friends to book in the same group.

How do you time your sessions? What's your schedule?

We open at 6:15am and book on the hour. Workouts are 1-hour long. In the afternoon, we book every hour starting at 1:30pm. The last workout starts at 7:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6:30pm on Tuesdays and 4:30pm on Fridays.

How much gym experience do I need to “fit in” with a group session?

None! We have many clients with minimal gym experience. We start teaching you exercises and cues in your Initial Assessment and continue to do so at all your future workouts.

Do I need to bring anything to write down weights, reps, etc. from my workout?

Nope. We have a folder with all your workout information. We track this info to safely and appropriately progress your workouts from week to week.

Do you only offer one style or workout or program?

No, we write workouts and programs for each client. We base our programming on your Initial Assessment, goals, current ability, interests and needs.

Can I just do 1-on-1 coaching or do I need to do a group?

No you can’t. All clients start with a couple 1-on-1 sessions but eventually all clients are moved to group workouts.

So you don't offer bootcamp-style workouts?

Nope. We offer traditional strength and conditioning with free weights, machine weights, bands and bodyweight. Each person in each group will have their own workout therefore it doesn’t matter who else is in your group.

I’m looking to improve my Olympic lifting/CrossFit/strongman, can you guys help with that?

Not really. We don’t specialize in this style of workouts and suggest you look for a different facility in the city for this type of training.

What can I expect at a “typical” training session? Walk me through a quick overview, how long it is, format, etc.

All workouts are 1-hour long. You’ll come in, get changed and jump on a piece of cardio equipment to start your general warm-up. Next, you’ll move to a couple dynamic stretches that will target tight muscles found in your Initial Assessment. After that, you’ll do custom muscle activation/isolation exercises to target weak muscles found in your assessment. Next comes the bulk of your workout which can include squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, pull downs and core exercises. Lastly, you can finish with a cool down and more stretches.

How many sessions per week does your typical client do?

We have clients train 1-3x/week at JKC and we also have clients train less often, like 1-2x/month but they’re working out on their own and come in for check-ins.

My private health insurance covers kinesiology services, can I get some of my training sessions covered under this?

Yes, all of our coaches are Certified Kinesiologists. We can provide you with receipts that you can submit for reimbursement.

My physio/chiro/RMT says I need to work on my mobility, is this something you can learn in a group training session?

Yes, we can prescribe mobility exercises based on findings/recommendations from your therapist.

Who would you say is your typical client?

Our niche market is the general population looking to improve their quality of life through fitness. Our clientele normally find themselves between 30-65 years of age and we’re almost 50/50 males/females.

Do the coaches at JKC hold any strength and conditioning certifications?

Yes, our coaches are Certified Kinesiologists with the Canadian Kinesiology Association and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

I'm worried that in a group session, I would get lost amongst the other clients. Is this something I should be worried about?

That’s understandable, but no, there is no need to worry. Our groups are small and kept small for a reason. We value quality coaching and smaller group sizes allow our coaches to keep a keen eye on you throughout your entire workout.

Do you guys offer memberships to walk in and use equipment?

Not at this time. Workouts are by appointment only.

I am not interested in weight training, just cardio. Can I just use the treadmill for my session?

No, this is not a service we offer at this time.

I noticed you have multiple trainers/coaches on your website? Does it matter who I see?

Nope. All our coaches are trained to have consistent knowledge and have the ability to coach you similarly through any exercise or any workout. Our coaches look after all our clients, meaning, regardless of who you see, you’ll still be coached through the next progression of your workout.

I want to train for a bodybuilding/bikini show. Is this something you can help me with?

No, this is not a service we offer. We suggest looking for a different facility/coach for this type of service.

Mike Noseworthy

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

JKC was recommended to me by my good friend Casidhe Dyke. Cas had been training with JKC for a while, and both he and his father had seen great results from the personal training that Jon and Thomas were giving them. I was and still am primarily a triathlete and I’ve always struggled with injuries. I was talking to Cas about incorporating more strength training in my program to try and prevent injuries going forward and Cas suggested that I give JKC a try. I reached out to Jon not long after, and the rest is history! After working with Jon and Thomas for a few months, I was getting stronger, faster, and most importantly, I was staying injury-free. I ended up being able to train the whole season without significant injury and posted a personal best at Ironman Copenhagen in 2018. A big part of that was due to the strength training and coaching I received at JKC.

lisa jumping onto a box

Lisa Dobbin

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

JKC was recommended to me by a fellow runner. I was experiencing injuries, and feeling weak and fragile. When I started with JKC, Jon asked me about my goals and my focus. I wanted to concentrate specifically on running, and preventing injury. Jon developed a program for me that has enabled me to focus on my form and strength and has been flexible enough to enable me to train for many different races. I have been training with JKC for six years, and during that time I have enjoyed Jon and Thomas’s expertise in a very warm and supportive atmosphere.

Craig Whittle

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I chose JKC because I row/coach teams in the St. John’s Regatta and was looking to add strength training to our program. My wife is also running friends with Julia, so I got to meet Jon a few times and heard lots of good things. I like JKC over other gyms because of the level coaching I receive and the gym atmosphere. The energy in the gym helps me through the tough workouts.

Joy McCarthy

Personal Strength Training by Julia Howard

I started at JKC because my colleagues that go to JKC all look and felt fit and healthy thanks to Jon and Thomas – if JKC helped them, I knew they could do the same for me! I think JKC stands out from other gyms because of their personal touch! They listen to you and help motivate and support. They always believe in my ability progress and learn new exercises. I’ve been training at JKC since January of 2019 and recommend them to anyone looking to learn how to lift weight properly, feel stronger, and improve their health.

Erin Squarey

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I had signed up for other gyms in the past and never went or rarely went. Something always got in the way or I was just too tired and lacked motivation to go. This way I’ve made a commitment to Jon or Thomas and I try very hard to keep my sessions once I’ve booked in. JKC is different from other gyms that I’ve tried in the past because no one is there to be “seen”. We are all there to get a good workout in and go on with our lives. And it’s a small gym so you get to know everyone and it’s like a big family. When I joined JKC, I couldn’t do a chin up with an elastic band, but I’ve slowly worked up to 10 free hanging chin ups. That was big because I hate chin ups.

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