Hard Work is Fun.
Jahkeen Washington and the Rise of Harlem Kettlebell Club - Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Harlem Kettlebell Club, a thriving fitness community in Upper Manhattan, is more than just a gym; it's a testament to the vision and dedication of its founder, Jahkeen Washington. His journey from the world of finance to the forefront of Harlem's fitness scene is a story driven by entrepreneurial spirit, a grounded training philosophy, and a deep commitment to his community.
Finance to Fitness
Jahkeen's path to becoming a fitness entrepreneur was far from linear. As he recounts, "I never wanted to be a trainer.” Born and raised in Harlem, he was an athlete, playing sports throughout his youth and continuing into college as a four-year starting point guard at Connecticut College. Fitness was a personal pursuit, not a career aspiration.
After college, Jahkeen entered the world of finance, working for nine and a half years. His focus was on financial technology. “I worked with investment banks to manage IPOs. We designed their software along with developers so that they could bridge the gap between the use of paper and systemizing the workflow,” he explains.
Despite a successful career, Jahkeen felt a void. "I wasn't happy,” he recalls. “The money didn't do it for me and I wasn't really making an impact in the way that I wanted to.”
This realization sparked a significant change in Jahkeen’s routine. He returned to working out, and organically, his passion began to intersect with a burgeoning entrepreneurial drive. "I started working out again and some friends asked me for help and helping two people became three and three became five and those five became a boot camp in the park in Riverbane State Park.”
This grassroots growth demonstrated a clear demand for his approach.
Outside to Inside
"Demand got really high,” Jahkeen explaines. “In the winter time it's cold, you know. You got rain. You got snow. People wanted me to continue training and I had nowhere to do it inside. It got the wheels turning. Should I open a space or should I look for some indoor locations?”
This led to renting dance studios and eventually the opening of his first studio. "Harlem Hit...affordable classes, $10 a class, big group boot camps and that's where things start to take off.”
This early venture laid the groundwork for Harlem Kettlebell Club, his third space in Harlem, reflecting a consistent drive to build and serve his community.
Now, as a father and business owner, Jahkeen's entrepreneurial spirit continues to evolve. "Being a new dad and entrepreneur is very hard,” he shares. “It's made me be a little more proficient and strategic around where I spend my time and energy; how I operate my business.”
Jahkeen understands the need to scale and delegate, recognizing that "I need to actually be able to focus at home on family but also be able to focus on the business from the outside looking in. You gotta work on the business not in the business.”
Fun, Hard Work, and a Human Touch
Jahkeen's methodology transcends mere physical exertion. It's built on creating an enjoyable yet challenging experience rooted in genuine connection. His primary focus is on making fitness fun. “Figuring out some way in every session to make this fun for people.”
Jahkeen believes in a lighthearted atmosphere in the gym, explaining, "I'm somebody who likes to joke when I'm in class. I like to make people laugh while they're in class although we are working really hard. That kind of takes everybody's guard down. It gets them to relax and actually just start to enjoy what they're doing, enjoy the process.”
This approach contrasts sharply with the often intimidating environment of traditional gyms. "I've seen classes that are very boot campish where the coach is yelling and screaming and that doesn't really do well for me because as somebody who lives in a high stress lifestyle. You're in New York and you already have all this stuff going on. You don't need to come into a space where you're trying to take that hour to focus on yourself and then you're dealing with more of that.”
Don’t take this kindness for a weakness. A fun atmosphere doesn't equate to a lack of intensity.
Jahkeen firmly believes in hard work. “I'm the guy who's going to push you,” Jahkeen reminds us. “I'm going to make sure that you elevate. I'm here to maximize your potential. I'm not going to let you coast.”
Jahkeen’s approach to pushing clients is nuanced and supportive. "I'm also going to do it in a way that you can receive it really well. I'll casually let you know that you might want to go a little bit heavier on something. Give you a chance to think about that and then you can make those decisions because some days you got it and some days you don't.” This personalized attention and understanding of individual capabilities are central to his coaching style.
While the name highlights kettlebells, Jahkeen has expanded the club's offerings to cater to broader fitness interests and needs. "We really focus on the kettle bell in our training but we do a lot of different modalities,” he explains, pointing to the other tools at the gym’s disposal. “Now we're adding in barbell, sandbags, boxing and kickboxing.” This evolution allows the club to provide a more comprehensive training experience.
Jahkeen emphasizes the importance of a well-rounded coaching team. “I have a group of people that are like-minded,” he shares. “We really enjoy coaching. We enjoy community and we enjoy the vibe but also I enjoy them being able to bring elements to teaching that I'm not necessarily skilled in because people get to learn a lot of different things. When you blend all that together the classes are amazing because every time somebody walks in here they feel they're learning something new. A different way of thinking.”
Everybody’s Welcome
For Jahkeen, the Harlem Kettlebell Club is deeply rooted in serving its local community while embracing the people that want to embrace getting fit while visiting New York City.
“Local clients are obviously going to be the majority of people that come to workout. Right here in Harlem,” Jahkeen says while pointing out the front window to his version of Madison Avenue.
Having grown up in the neighborhood, Jahkeen understands the need for accessible and welcoming fitness options. "I didn't have anywhere to go,” Jahkeen explains. “There was no boutique fitness studios uptown. I did calisthenics, you know, push-ups, but there was no way to learn structure: how to lift correctly, form, technique, designed for us. You always had to go downtown to find a gym and, quite frankly, we couldn't even afford to do fitness classes. That was a luxury for my family and a lot of families in the neighborhood.”
This personal experience fuels his commitment to affordability and community connection. "Being able to open my space in Harlem and being able to do it in a way where I can still manage it to be pretty affordable and really connect with the community?” Jahkeen considers with great pride. “It’s super important because it's still a fitness desert.”
"I lean into making sure that my space and the workout is going to be hard but making sure that you feel like people actually care about your well-being while you're here,” Jahkeen explains. “Those things make the fitness part a lot easier because most people are just looking for a place where they can feel safe.”
The club's welcoming environment fosters a sense of belonging for everyone. "They all come in with the same intention of just getting better,” Jahkeen explains. “They push each other and we promote people talking to each other - knowing each other's names while you're here because we do a lot of group work where you actually are forced to meet somebody new.”
This camaraderie is important because the club's reputation even extends beyond New York City. "People see our social media presence and they love the work that we're doing,” Jahkeen continues. “We get people visiting from all over the US and even other countries because NYC in NYC.”
This widespread appeal underscores the effectiveness of Jahkeen's vision in creating a truly special and inclusive fitness community. His journey embodies an entrepreneurial spirit fueled by a desire for meaningful impact. His training philosophy prioritizes enjoyment and personalized support while demanding hard work.
Ultimately, the Harlem Kettlebell Club is a reflection of Jahkeen Washington himself: a welcoming, diverse, and community-centric space where individuals from all walks of life can pursue their fitness goals and feel like they belong. His dedication to his Harlem roots and his forward-thinking approach position the Harlem Kettlebell Club as a vital and growing part of the neighborhood's landscape and business in New York City.