Ambition Athletics

When I walked through the doors at Ambition Athletics it was the first time I had been in any type of workout environment since high school. Historically I have been active enough to stay in the shape that I considered healthy and allowed me to do the things that I love like snowboarding. But gradually things started to slip and by the time I hit 35 I was what I would consider out of shape and stiff.
My turn around since committing myself to the process has been nothing short of miraculous in my opinion. I was never one to gauge things by metrics as my goal at Ambition was to «just be healthily» and I let the Ambition team guide that hand… they have made the process fun and I find my self-​surrounded by good people every day, definitely not your normal «gym» experience. There is something special going on here.
I after 18 months of classes I am easily in the best shape of my life and coming off of one of my best /​most aggressive snowboarding seasons ever. I am riding stronger and more aggressively than I did when I was in high school and living in Mammoth. The flexibility and mobility component that is incorporated into every class has been massive in this area and the strength benefits are obvious at the end of long powder days. In short it has allowed me to recapture a joy in my life that has become stale in recent years… the passion is back and I owe it all to the Ambition team.
I do realize that people like stats however so for those of you… with a a slight change in diet and regularly attending classes at ambition I dropped 35 lbs in seven months and 5 inches in my waist line. I have more energy and feel better every day.

Couldn’t be more stoked to have stumbled upon Ambition on a friends recommendation (Jackie Wu). The coaches are fun and friendly. And each have an unique offering. The group kettle bell classes are diverse, intelligently designed to improve strength and overall fitness without sacrificing stability for mobility. It’s all about balance. And they do it well in a playful way that makes you excited to hit the gym and reach your fitness goals amongst good company.
Private training is also available for those interested in achieving individual athletic wants and needs.
AA also offers a variety of literatures and workshop. Education. Strength. Community. If you are looking for a playful environment to improve your health, sport, or just simply stay fit and functional for a lifetime look no further.

Ambition Athletics provides a welcoming and super fun environment for training and working out. The classes are organized in a smart and multilevel fashion so that anyone at any level of fitness can enjoy a great workout. The classes focus on form, functional movement, mobility and camaraderie. You will get results without getting hurt and have fun at it too.

I feel so fortunate to have found Ambition Athletics. They have all the equipment you need but that’s not what makes this place so special. It’s the people. Each of the trainers are knowledgeable and fun. Every day they bring something different to the workout so that your body is challenged and you come away with a really solid experience. Brian worked with me as a PT when I first arrived last year. He helped he build up the flow and form I needed to do things I wasn’t doing at my previous gym like deadlifts, handstands and lots of mobility moves. Max brings a wealth of knowledge and a great attitude each and every day. His motto of Better Everyday fits with what I strive for in a workout. Holly, Mike and Carson bring really challenging and fun workouts each day. Great energy and always take the time you need to ensure you are using the right form. But for me the best part of training at Ambition is the people I get to workout along side. Max and the crew have created a really strong community. People are supportive, fun and are driven. If you want to get Better Everyday, get stronger and improve your flexibility, then come give Ambition a shot.

I can’t recommend Ambition Athletics highly enough. The quality of the coaching, combined with the effectiveness of the programming are what really make them stand out. I had surgery on a torn rotator cuff in late 2012 after doing almost three years of CrossFit. After that, I started training on my own at home so that I could gear everything around the limitations of my shoulder. This was OK, but eventually I found myself missing the group class dynamic. I found out about Ambition by reading about Max in various strength-​related publications. I joined in January of this year, and have been going consistently 5 days/​week ever since. I feel stronger than ever, but without feeling constantly stiff and sore like I used to. I’ve also become much more aware of how I move at all times, which I attribute to the inclusion of mobility and core work in every class. The coaches are all extremely knowledgeable and attentive to each member’s individual needs and/​or limitations. Regardless of how many members are in a class (10 would be the upper limit), it feels like you are in a private coaching session. Lastly, it’s a fun environment with great people.

Perfect gym for experts and newbies alike. The coaches are educated, approachable, and invested in their clients’ success. Classes are challenging, but manageable thanks to the coaches customization of each move depending upon the given client’s abilities.
The gym members are also fantastic– Ambition gives true meaning to the #fitfam as you’ll quickly be on first name basis with other members, getting to meet great people with whom you can work out.
Both the coaches and the members create a welcoming and supportive environment in which you can push yourself to be «better every day.»

This is an update to my 10÷5÷12 Review:
Shiny new clubs with eucalyptus-​scented saunas and high-​tech theories of fitness have popped up left and right, but this is still THE place to get strong. I had right side total hip replacement surgery two years ago and my recovery was amazing due to the great shape I was in going into the surgery – thanks to training at Ambition. Likewise, I made it quickly and easily through physical therapy and even left PT early and returned to Ambition instead. I am stronger than I have ever been and look and feel better in my skin. If you are the type of person who needs the shiny equipment, the juice bar, or the spa environment to work out, then disregard this review; you have plenty of new options for that. If you want real world strength and a fit body to match, then I challenge you to find a better place than Ambition Athletics.

I should start out by sharing my background and the journey we have taken (we= the couples that train together, stay together). I am a former college athlete that after college, started to do the basics to stay in some sort of shape. Once very strong, I am now in my late 30’s and have gotten cozy into my desk job and physically, I was just not very happy with myself.
To make a change in our lives, we started out taking Pilates classes at a nearby place, which was great to get us moving again, but after about a year or so, we got bored. We hit a plateau, and just weren’t getting any stronger or improving our physical ascetics. From there, we went to a «pilates on steroids» place. It was great to kick our workout into a higher gear, but felt that aside from the cardio benefits of their spin classes, the workouts were too sporadic and didn’t really give us a full body workout. You might go in and have leg day for 3 straight days… you just never knew and it got a bit frustrating.
We ended up back at 24 hr. Fitness which left us without direction or a plan. We were stagnate and frustrated to workout in a place that was too crowed with people that seem to just want to be seen, not necessarily workout. We decided to try something new in January 2015, Ambition Athletics, and suddenly things began to get a lot better for us.
Ambition had a special deal for 2 people to join unlimited classes for 1 month for $ 100 bucks. We figured, why not, lets give it a try.
I wasn’t sure what we were getting ourselves into at first. I figured we would be doing non-​stop kettle bell exercises, as we were unfamiliar with what a «kettlebell workout» consisted of. We came in to do our pre workout assessment class which was a chance for us to learn about Ambition Athletics, and for them to learn about our abilities. I think they use this as a chance to better understand what level you are at. We met Holly and a few of the other staff… Max and Mike. They were all really nice and we were excited to get started with our first class.
I had a lot of back pain whenever I would do things like deadlifts or kettlebell swings. My back had basically become very weak after not doing any of these types of movements for the past 10 years. This lasted for about the first 4 – 6 weeks, but I could tell it was gradually getting better. All of the trainers were on top of this and made sure I didn’t push myself into hurting anything. 6 months later, I have zero back pain and just deadlifted 400 lbs the other day.
This workout is great for the entire body. We don’t just use kettlebells, but use body weight exercises, kettlebells, dumbbells, exercise bikes, deadlifts, squats, ropes, some basic gymnastic work and probably a lot more that I am forgetting right now. The workout is always different, and you don’t get bored at all.
You don’t have to commit for a long period of time, and can go to as many classes as you want each month. It has been working out to about $ 13 per class when you divide out the monthly rate we pay, which is a lot better than what we use to pay at other gyms. They even started offering some yoga like classes to help with flexibility and mobility, which I can totally use. Its nice to get more than strength training under one roof.
All of the trainers are great. They each bring something different to the table, but honestly all really care. This is their career, so its not like 24 hr fitness where you have a bunch of people right out of college that may be doing personal training, and some other job at the same time. They make sure to watch everyone closely and not push anyone into injuries. Each trainer is certified as an RKC or HKC instructor and all seem to push for continuing education, which keeps our classes new and fresh. These guys actually train other trainers in the area, and around the country. We really feel like we are in good hands and after talking with any of them, you will quickly see that they are all incredibly knowledgable.
Obviously, you can see that we are happy with our selection. This is our new home for training and have made a lot of friends along the way. I would tell you not to be scared of this place. There are some amazing athletes that train here, but all are humble and very encouraging to help you along your own path. Its exciting and we have both made huge strides in increasing our strength over the past 6 months. I have actually lost 15 pounds as well, so that doesn’t suck.
I could go on all day, but just think that if you are not happy with your body, you should give Ambition Athletics a try. They have classes before work, after work, or even during lunch, which is what we do. One hour and your done. Its a solid workout and if you stick with it, you will see a big difference in your body and your life.

I received a voucher for this place as a gift and it was an awesome gift. I didn’t really know much about kb before I came in here and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I owned a 15lbs kb before coming here based on workouts 2 of my friends did on their own. I REALLY like kb now and wish I had an array of different weights at home!
Everyone is very nice and supportive. I had a hard time remember the order of exercises sometimes or did the wrong direction — always had enough attention to straighten me out and it didn’t feel awkward. Usually the classes are set up as: stretch, warm up (written on the white board), ice breakers (trainer gives a prompt and everyone one gets a turn to contribute and get to know one another), several rounds of 3 – 4 exercises at a time, stretch/​cool down. I was there for a month and felt like I got stronger and my form definitely finally got where it should be.
If you’re looking to take classes 7 days/​week and/​or more than 1 per day, you won’t be able to. (I can’t remember if it’s 1 after the other or just more than 1 a day) The way it’s set up is that you’re supposed to give around 80% of your effort and if you feel like you can take 2 in a row (or more than 1/​day) then you didn’t pick heavy enough weights. You can however go in 4 – 5 days a week. Give your 80% and you’ll get a great workout. Get ready to squat, cuz you’ll be doing that a lot — squats are awesome. Stick your butt out back like you’re gonna sit down on a chair that doesn’t exist! Keep your knees wide and over your toes! elbows go inside knees! Yes, master sensei. Yes.
**The kettle bells are not the only tool you’ll use; you’ll be doing a variety of things including: dead lifts with bar bells (?) or kb, pull ups, box jumps, flexibility drills, body weight exercises, THX bands, ropes/​bands, and those little sliding things you put your hands or feet that allow that body part to slide around.
Trainers are impressive. The members as well. I’ve seen a big age range in the members; from young teenagers to some older ladies and gents…60s maybe? Go at your pace and they keep you safe while you do it. I swear Max (owner) could balance his whole body on his thumb if he wanted. Brian is a trainer I saw a lot since the time I’d come in were mainly when he was running them. Also very nice and helpful. He and Max were a great support during my pull-​ups. Literally, support. they did most of the lifting of my body while I desperately tried to pull up with my arms. One day… one day I’ll do one on my own. Mike and Heather (?) are the other 2 I’d see sometimes and they also were very nice and helpful.
Bring your own bottle to refill with their deliciously chilled water, a towel, and weight lifting gloves. You’ll get callouses in the palm of your hands just below where your fingers start.

I just started a couple weeks ago. To be fair I have known of the gym and even know some people who work there.
I am not in great shape right now but I am not terrible either. I am naturally very big and pretty strong but I have knee, hip, back and shoulder issues. They have me doing bodyweight exercises with proper form while the girls next to me use weights and I swear I wake up feeling like I spent the day lifting but a good kind of sore with no pain.
If you want to improve your strength, mobility and knowledge there is no better place to do it. If you take advantage of the classes, this place is a steal for how much attention you get. I dont care if you surf, run, do mma, hike, soccer, rugby, hockey, strength lifting. You name it, these guys will make you a better athlete and prevent long term injuries.
You if you run for miles and constantly feel sore, come here and they’ll fix you. If you lift huge amounts but want more mobility, come here. If you have no experience and don’t know where to start, come here. If other trainers just try and beat you into submission, come here and they will make you better safely.

Whether you’re looking to get stronger, faster, and better at a particular sport, or you’re looking to lose weight, get in shape, or gain flexibility, this is the place for you. When I started training with Max, Mike and Brian at Ambition over two years ago, I was in constant pain — I’d broken my back in high school and suffered what seems like a million other sports-​related injuries, and the years hadn’t been very kind. Since then, with the help of the Ambition crew, I feel like I’ve made leaps and bounds in terms of strength, flexibility, and overall health.
The group classes are always the highlight of my day. Gyms can often be intimidating places (particularly for women!), but the atmosphere here is always positive and personal. Members are friendly and quick with a smile. Class sizes are small with an even mix of men and women of all ages, everyone receives a lot of personal attention and support, and all achievements are celebrated, whether it’s your first pull up ever or your first one-​armed pushup. Every class is challenging, and I always leave feeling better than when I arrived. The coaches take injuries and limitations seriously and work hard to tailor a program that’s best for you while still respectfully motivating you to make progress. They stress good form above all else. I feel so lucky to be able to train with such world class coaches, and I am eternally grateful for their expertise and guidance. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without Ambition!

I never joined a gym before until I started at Ambition Athletics as I never felt comfortable at other gyms and was always intimidated by other people, equipment, and trainers. The staff at Ambition Athletics are very well educated in fitness and movement and make classes fun yet challenging. Classes are small enough to ensure that members do exercises with proper form and technique, and they customize exercises based on individual needs and injuries. I would highly recommend Ambition Athletics to anyone interested in becoming stronger or looking for a good workout.

After quite some time struggling with losing weight and getting back into a healthier lifestyle (I tried it all, weight watchers, nutrisystem, the latest «get skinny fast» pills) Holly and Kandice introduced me to kettle bells and then this place and I feel a million times better and closer to my goal than I have before. Not just because of their great training techniques, advice, and small class sizes, but also the friendly atmosphere. The other clients and the trainers are all so helpful, even if I am not as strong or not at the same level of experience, I am never intimidated and it just all around makes becoming healthy a lot of fun.

If it were possible to slap a 6^th star on here, I would. The thing about Max and AA is they are ahead of the curve on everything involving your body from the inside out. I personally, really enjoy the group fitness. When you leave, your legs are wobbly, arms are shaking, not a dry spot on your body, and you FEEL GREAT! You also know, you have stretched properly, and been pushed in the appropriate ways. I dropped weight immediately and hit every goal. I have now moved, and beg Max to open a franchise in Denver!

5stars! If you are looking for a small gym where you get one on one training, and support while challenging your physical limits, look no further. I’ve trained at Ambition for 14 months and I’ve always been impressed with the quality of the staff as well as the variety of the techniques and skills taught in class. Whether we are working on power, speed or flexibility the classes always give me an amazing workout. The clientele are also pretty awesome. I love this place. My only negatives are that I wish there were 6:30pm classes every day and that it was slightly more affordable.

After 2 marathons, countless half marathons, and being deployed with Marines, Ambition Athletics still challenges me. You can join as a couch potato or an elite athlete and the staff will meet you at your level, then push you to get better. In classes I’ve been mixed in with people who can’t do a push up to people who ones who can do multiple muscle-​ups– and we’re all sweaty and smiling by the end. Good mix of guy/​girl with no intimidation, just fun supportive people! All your concerns will be heard– whether it’s recent knee surgery, concern with weight loss, or a specific goal you want to achieve. You will walk out feeling healthier, happier, and better about yourself, guaranteed!

My sons currently ages 18 and 15 work out at Ambition Athletics during the off-​season from their school sports. My boys usually train with Mike, but they tell me all of the trainers are excellent. We like Ambition Athletics because there is always a certified trainer present, and they are able to offer training specific to your sport, as well as injury prevention and strength training. Most importantly, the boys like the trainers, and are therefore more likely to get a lot out of it.
There are small group classes for men and women too, not just teenagers. The goal is to workout, have fun, and be healthy. This is a great place to train.

Chances are if you are reading this, you’re probably an American, and like all true American patriots regardless of gender or skin color, you probably have a beard, you probably adore bacon like it’s Bambi except you’re willing to eat Bambi, you have all of The Black Key’s albums, and you know that if you lift really heavy weight you can hopefully one day have a tenth of the strength that Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson possesses.
Ambition Athletics is true, good old fashioned ass kicking the American way. Pick up the damn weight, now put it down again, and if you bitch even for one second you’ll be picking it right back up again. Now I know what your saying, you’re like «Hey, King Of All Things Manly, I could totally do the same thing at any other gym» and then I slap you in the face with a turkey leg because that’s what Americans do who lift heavy weight and are American badasses. The trainers here are a true testament to using all muscles of the body to finely tune you in to a neck snapping, beer guzzling machine of manitude, but the biggest advantage that the trainers here possess is the use of the biggest and girthiest muscle they have (aw yea you know what I mean ladies)…their brain (Get that mind out of the gutter if you want to talk about huge shlongs flapping in the wind go to the Magic Mike thread on Unilocal!).
Max, the owner is one smart, strong Mother Trucker! His cool, collected demeanor only makes you want to train harder and impress him like how you wanted to impress your papa when you made that turkey out of a construction paper tracing of your hand but he barely noticed it because he was busy counting the asses shown on the Rumpshaker music video by Wreckx-​N-​Effect.
The person who trains me is 6“3 of bald headed, American Fury, Brian. He is my first, my last, my everything. Sometimes when I’m training with him I just think, I’m just a dude, standing in front of another dude, asking him to make me lift more weights, and then we just look deep in to each other’s eyes and then he throws me a 100lb sand bag and tells me to run around the building with it, and then I go back to hating him, and then my girlfriend walks in and it gets weird because Brian and I are close like that.

Many people do not realize that all personal trainers are not created equal. It’s like any other industry where you can either settle for ‘good enough’ and rely on people not knowing any better, or you can relentlessly pursue the perfection of your science/​art because you both want to be in that top 1% and because you want to deliver the best possible service to your client. Max is the latter. Aside from being pound for pound the strongest person I have ever met Max also has an innate talent for separating what is useful from what is a fad and putting it into action. Max is going to give it to you straight. I will tell you right now that you may not always like what you hear, but that is why you will make progress and not get hurt. In a culture of trainers blindly kicking their client’s asses without stopping to think if they should or if it’s what the client needs Max is the standout who will make sure you need your beat down before delivering it.
I have known Max since 2008 and believe him to be that top 1% of trainers, but if he ever brings up this review I will erase it immediately and tell him he sucks. :)

Thanks to Max and Brian at the Encinitas fitness studio, my butt (and arms, core, shoulders, etc) has been whipped into shape. Max, the owner of the very personal and private gym, makes everyone feel like a pro-​athlete– even if you can’t do a pull up to save your life.
Brian, our instructor, may as well be a personal trainer for the celeb crowd– always pushing everyone to do their best and keeping constant pump up tunes on the stereo.
Thanks so much for giving me that «good sore» feeling for 3 weeks now!!!