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 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.

I chose JKC because I was looking for something different. I’ve seen and done the trendy workout programs before, I was looking for something that I knew I could see myself still doing a year from now! JKC has a lot of clients that have been going for years. That was a huge motivator for me! The small group coaching sessions are great and I really enjoy the format. It’s nice having 2-4 people working-out with you during your session. The camaraderie is great, everyone is very upbeat and positive – zero gym judgment!

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. 👏🙌👍👊

Not having much if any experience with professional gyms I though it would be along the lines of going to a facility and doing your own thing, getting some instructions from time to time, if you asked for it, and for most part working out on your own, in a large impersonalized setting. I was a bit apprehensive as I figured I’d be standing around a lot looking at all this equipment wondering what to do with it, or worst doing something to hurt myself. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong. Both Jon and Thomas are very attentive, professional trainers, who lay-out an exercise program, from start to finish, for you. They demonstrate the exercise they want you to do and then watch you do it to make sure you got it right. Jon and Thomas are very thorough, patience and non-assuming.

I’m 40 years old & started training at JKC in 2015. The gym I was working out at closed and my husband recommended JKC. JKC meets you where you are in your fitness journey and tailors the work to help achieve your goals. I’ve trained with Jon & Thomas pre pregnancy, while pregnant and now post baby and they have helped me enormously to stay fit through all life phases.

I joke with the guys often that I’ve seen no change in my fitness level since joining the gym, but the reality is I’m in far better shape at 40 than I ever was at 30 thanks to them.

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