Was visiting from out of town and took Brian's group class. Had a lot of fun, great workout, friendly peers. I would come back and definitely recommend for others! read more

I was seeking a balance of strength, conditioning, and mobility in terms of training, and this gym hits the sweet spot. Small (no more than 10 athletes) classes mean close attention from the coaches, who are knowledgeable and supportive. I'm so glad I met with Victoria for my initial session and decided to join Ambition Athletics. I'm looking forward to achieving my athletic goals with the coaches' guidance. read more

This gym rocks. You are guaranteed a solid workout and many laughs in a fun, friendly environment. It makes going on a regular basis easy. The trainers are super knowledgeable and helpful. Safety and proper form are huge priorities here. Usually you are given more basic and advanced versions of exercises to choose from and work your way up to. No matter what level of athlete you are you will be challenged here. The classes are 1 hour and consist of 3 rounds of strength training (kettlebell, body weight, hanging, medicine ball slams, crawling, pushing, pulling) and flexibility (particularly hips, back and shoulder) circuits followed by a 5-10 min intense cardio session. It kicks your butt in a very good way. In 4+ months at ambition I went from deadlifting improperly and unsafely to now doing 5x265 pretty easily. My flexibility and balance is slowly but surely improving. My clothes are starting to fit better and I'm a lot stronger. I also have noticed an improvement in my golf game which wasn't even a goal from doing this but a nice side effect. Anyways you should stop reading yelp reviews and just go to ambition :). read more

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. read more

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Awesome. The coaches here are all very knowledgeable and are more than eager to help achieve your fitness goals. I can't express my gratitude enough for Max, Anders, Carson, Brian and Victoria (trainers) along with all the people who join class . All amazing people along with being amazing trainers. Best gym ever! read more

I've been going to Ambition for about a year and a half now. I'm a pretty active person, but never felt confident enough to get into weight training. After meeting and talking to Brian, we agreed to meet once a week. We started really lite and have gradually worked up from there. I've sometimes been sore after a workout, but have never experienced any set backs or injuries like I've heard other newbie weight lifters talk about. We focused a lot on my form which was one of my main concerns. I sit a lot for work and had experienced some back pain, but as a result of working out (again, just once a week!) I have zero back pain and have gained a healthy amount of muscle and frankly have never felt better. I couldn't recommend Ambition more (especially Brian!) read more

I'm a big Ambition Athletics fan. Great community, knowledgeable (and fun) instructors and quality workouts in a small group setting.

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. read more

Asteya Fit - Trainers Near Me - Encinitas, California

I highly recommend Ambition Athletics! I was lucky enough to hear about the gym through a fitness podcast nearly 3 years ago. After hearing about Ambition's movement philosophy, I signed up that day. I haven't looked back since! Having been a collegiate athlete, in the fitness industry for nearly a decade and now studying movement and working in orthopedics and sports injuries with a doctorate, I believe Ambition Athletics is ahead of the game. They know how to help you move your body so that you are looking, feeling and living at your best. Not only that, you are guaranteed to have fun! Give Ambition a try, you will not be disappointed! read more

Friendly, caring and knowledgeable staff - small community feel - great and varied workouts every time.

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. read more

This gym may be the best gym I have ever been a part of. I have been working out for the better part of 23 years and been to multiple gyms in multiple countries. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and super friendly! They are very well recommended!! read more

I have had the pleasure of working out at Ambition Athletics for the last year and a half. I wasn't sure at first if I was going to like it, having come from a crossfit program. I absolutely love it! I am the strongest I have ever been. I can do an unassisted pull up and handstand. Even my yoga poses are better. And I'm in the best shape of my life. My stomach is flat and I have definition in my arms, back, and legs! I love looking in the mirror now. I'm proud of my body and I walk with a new level of confidence. They even inspired me to compete in a fitness competition. It's really more like a family than a gym. The comroderie is wonderful and everyone is so positive and supportive. The instructors are very knowledgeable and have also helped me with my diet and eating plan. I can't say enough about Ambition, Max, and his team. Give it a try. You'll be happy you did. read more

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. read more

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!!! read more

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." read more

Just 4 weeks of working out at the classes of Ambition Athletics and I have seen a massive improvement in my strength and conditioning. Class sizes are small which means you get great coaching and because it's Encinitas everyone is super friendly. There are lots of gyms but Ambition is the perfect training partner for me because you never get bored, they never force you to train too hard and they coach and motivate you to try new techniques and get great and sustainable results. Give them a try! read more

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 Yelp!). 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. read more

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. :) read more

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!! read more

I have done 3 Ironman Triathlons, been through Core Performance and numerous phases of P90X, but nothing has been as eye opening and challenging as training with the team at Ambition Athletics. I tried the class to break up my home workouts of P90X, now I don't think I can ever go back. Max & Brian have definitely pushed me to my limits and I feel stronger every day! Just try the class for a week and you can see the benefits of their coaching and their fundamentals. read more

Great place to work out. I have been going there for the last 3 years and it has something for everybody. The classes are small, less that 10 people per class. Each class gives you a great workout including cardio, stretching and movement. Looking for something more personal? The trainers are great too! read more

I have know Max Shank for about 5 years and every year I can sincerely say he AMAZES me with his skill and knowledge level as a personal trainer. As a trainer myself, I am highly critical of others in my profession because frankly there are tons of crappy trainers out there. Max is an excellent trainer and coach and his ability to get ordinary people to do the extraordinary is impressive. Lucky for me I am just down in La Jolla which means I get to come up and train with Max and pick his brain on how to improve many of my athletic goals. I highly recommend Max Shank and the training staff at AMBITION ATHLETICS. Life is short, GET GOOD COACHING and become super human read more

I started training with Max at Ambition Athletics a couple of months ago. I have had 2 children in the last 3 years and I am also an athlete. In the last 2 months my strength has increased by leaps and bounds. I am doing things now that I didn't think were possible, and my body is moving so much better. I highly reccommend training at Ambition Athletics. read more

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! read more

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. read more

Great staff and facility! Brian continues to help me recover from an injury and provide outstanding attention to detail during my training sessions! read more

Great community, great place to train. Varied workouts, focus on quality of movement and mobility. The Ambition Team's background make this a fun and challenging place to put in work. read more

I've only gone to a couple of kettlebell classes at Ambition Athletics , but already feel like this is exactly what I need to get my booty in shape! Mike and Max are awesome and make you feel comfortable and never make you feel like a loser for not being able to do everything on your first try. I'm hooked on these workouts...trust me, you will feel muscles you never even knew you had! :) read more

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. read more

I love this place! Carson is the best. I can't believe getting stronger could be so much fun. His French accent coupled with his world knowledge make my mind expand as my body shrinks. Perfect Balance read more

I love being a part of Ambition Athletics. Everyone is super friendly & welcoming, and the trainers are incredibly knowledgeable. I always get a good work out in, and since joining I've felt myself getting stronger every week! read more

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. read more

I started working with Max and Mike a couple of months ago when it became apparent that I needed help to overhaul my training regimen. The last couple of competitive seasons for me have been cut short by a series of nagging injuries, which cut into my training, which in turn left me out of shape and more injury prone. The detail oriented training at Ambition Athletics broke this cycle, went right to the cause of many of my problems, and I felt the results almost on a weekly basis. Am an winning competitions again and getting ready for Nationals in Oregon in April - but more importantly, I am feeling strong and pain free while getting ready for it. Can definitely recommend this place. read more

Awesome Place I have been going for 2 years +. I was a bit intimated at first but Coach Mike is great he showed me the ropes and made me feel comfortable! He always makes sure to give positive feedback and keeps an eye out to make sure you are doing everything correctly. The whole team and even members are great they really make you feel like family! I am a marathon runner and this is a perfect addition to balance my training. I highly recommend to anyone interested in improving their health, strength, flexibility and overall well being. My arms now have definition and my legs and glutes are much more toned! Thanks Ambition!! Go check them out they have a free intro class Saturdays at 10am! sign up online. read more

My girlfriend and I were in Encinitas for 6 months. We were very happy to find such an amazing place to train. The staff at ambition are extremely knowledgeable and will help push you to achieve your goals. I lost 10kg over 6 months and am the happiest I have ever been with my body. I now have core strength and can do handstands like a boss haha. Every day was different which made it enjoyable to attend. And the staff are fun, where else can you walk out with a smile ready for the day ahead. I really hope to find one in Australia just like this. Thank you ambition athletes and the friends we have made while being there. You will be missed read more

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. read more

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. read more

Excellent gym with excellent trainers. Small classes and personalized coaching and motivation. Highly recommend

I started training with Max to increase my conditioning for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. After 2 months, 2 hours per week, I've noticed a big difference in my overall strength and conditioning. I find the kettlebell work very effective in strengthening the joints, especially the shoulders. I've also noticed increased strength in my grip, glutes, hamstrings, and hips, which transfers over perfectly for Jiu Jistsu. Very knowledgeable trainer, can spot your weaknesses and push you to develop them. read more