jon-erik kawamoto, fitness trainer
Well, I did not blog or write as much this year as I did in 2012 a) because I spent most of my time writing my master’s thesis and b) because I started personal training full time (since being in school) in June. But I did reach a few really awesome milestones though. I passed the 100 published article mark (since starting in 2009), had my first article published on BodyBuilding.com and was also featured on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s official website with a popular article I wrote on Hybrid Density Training.

Let’s get to the top 6 articles of 2013 shall we!

1. Hybrid Density Training: THE BEST Fat Loss Workout You’re Not Doing – This was an outstanding achievement for me that I’m super proud about. My Hybrid Density Training routine is super hard and not for everyone. As a side note, the best and only way to lose fat is to have a calorie deficit. Along with eating sensibly, this high intensity workout will ramp up your calorie expenditure and help get that energy balance equation to shift in your favour.

2. 5 Reasons You’re Not Seeing Results in the Gym – Written by my good friend and colleague Chad Landers, from Push Private Fitness in California, this article went viral and was shared by every person on the planet (sort-of). Even Yahoo Sports picked it up and published it (here). This article should probably be read over and over, especially since most will be looking to get fit in 2014.

3. The One Movement Pattern Everybody Does Wrong – More of a video than an article, this post gives you a step-by-step how-to on the hip hinge. Being able to move through your hips and not your spine is crucial for long term back health, developing lower body and core strength and for optimal athletic performance….and everybody performs it wrong.

4. 5 Tips on Getting a Badass Physique – The title is self-explanatory. If you want to look great naked, follow these 5 tips. Trust me, they work!

5. Why the Word Cardio Doesn’t Make Much Sense – This article was my first appearance on BodyBuilding.com. It went viral and was well received. People love to hate on cardio and coming from a middle-distance-runner background, I felt I had to stand up for it.

6. Russian Revolution: Enter the Kettlebell – This was my last training feature in Reps magazine. Robert Kennedy Publishing closed their doors in the summer and this was the last published issue. In this article, I give you a little history on the kettlebell, workout options and also quote kettlebell greats such as Pavel, Dan John, Steve Cotter and Brett Jones.

Here’s wishing you an amazing end to 2013 and to an even more successful 2014.

I was referred to JKC by my sister-in-law and had heard good things about it from many people in the running community. I also saw Jon’s picture on the wall at lululemon years ago! I really like the personalized training and the variety the guys provide. I started for strength training for running. I love cardio and do tons of it but wasn’t motivated to do much strength work on my own. Jon mixes up my strength work week to week so I don’t get bored but also lets me work in a hard circuit for the last 20 minutes of most sessions to get my cardio fix 

I originally chose JKC to help me rehab following back surgery. JKC was the first gym where a trainer took the time to help me identify my goals and tailor my workouts to achieve them in a safe and doable manner. 🏋🏼 Jon & Thomas are both highly professional and knowledgeable. 👨🏼‍🎓 With their guidance and informative explanations 🗣 they have enabled me to reach my ever evolving goals. At JKC I’m guaranteed fun 😆, interesting 🙃 and diverse workouts, with Jon & Thomas forever supportive and encouraging. 👏🙌👍👊

I had been struggling with work-life balance resulting in not exercising or playing hockey as much as I had been doing in the past. In addition to being out of shape, I was starting to experience some back/shoulder issues and realized I needed to make some changes. Around this time, a friend (who was also a client) recommended JKC and that’s when I started!

You really feel part of a community where everyone is welcoming and supportive. You get a program that is designed specifically to achieve your goals, with the ongoing coaching, progress tracking and support required to achieve them. The JKC team are very knowledgeable about fitness and conditioning, and very engaging with everyone to answer questions or discuss anything and everything training related. I also like the flexible scheduling and gym times that work for my schedule (I like early mornings and evenings).

I came to JKC through recommendations from my peers from lululemon. As a current ambassador, I’ve been introduced to legacy ambassadors, like Jon, and I knew a bunch of other people from the store were working out here so I wanted to give it a go. I often dread lower body workouts so I started coming here to do legs. I’ve had such great progress that I now come twice a week— and, I no longer hate leg day!

I’ve never experienced this sort of hybrid between group workouts and personalized service. Many group strength training services offer a sort of one-size-fits-all workout for the general population, which has never been of interest to me, because I want my workout tailored to my needs! I LOVE that you can be in a group setting while doing your own personal program; I love the camaraderie and community at JKC, and, I’ve seen incredible results thus far! Jon is always so attuned to what I need.

I saw an article in Men’s Journal that quoted Jon in about 2018 while traveling and was impressed that someone in St. John’s made that international magazine.  Jon spoke about an exercise called the Farmer’s Walk and I started working that into my routine at the YMCA. I tore that article out of the magazine and kept it, meaning to make contact, but got busy. Then I had lunch with an old friend Bruce Dyke. I hadn’t seen Bruce for a while and I remarked that he looked super healthy and fit. He told me about his, and his son Cas’, experience at JKC and then I remembered the Men’s Journal article! No coincidences!

The experience is unique on many levels – great people, camaraderie, passion, purpose, and dedication. Jon and Thomas are attentive, precise and understanding.  Their teaching has unlocked a new perspective for me with what our bodies are capable of. I still appreciate the YMCA, wonderful place, but I can’t imagine working out without Jon and Thomas now.

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