This was my second time dropping in and the environment and energy is indescribable! I've been doing crossfit for 6 years and it's a breath of fresh air to see coaches really care about technique, proper warm ups and good programming. All the members so so welcoming and each coach, Sara and Taylor came up to say hi to me even though they were just doing class, they went out of their way to make my friend and me welcomed. Michael was teaching class and he was very accommodating in letting us do our programming. The coaches all look badasses and it just makes you want to workout haha! Can't wait to drop in again! Thank you for the hospitality! Side note: we misplaced our phone and two of the members helped us look for it when they didn't have to but that just shows what kind of community they have! Thank you again read more

Sadly, I had to pull out of this exceptional gym for a while, which is now rebranded as Karhu Strength, secondary to my crazy work schedule. However, I was a member for a little over two years and my body never looked better...even if I was consistently last on the scoring board. It doesn't matter if you are a retired athlete (lots of legitimate athletes in this place. Just randomly ask someone, 'so, what was your sport', and you'll get an answer ranging from 'i'm a trainer for UT Longhorns' 'I was a swimmer in college' 'i was in the CrossFit games'.) or just a shmo like myself, the coaches/leaders treat us all the same. Sara took me under her mama wing from the start. They are all great at spotting your weaknesses and working with you. And the community is exceptional...just good people all around. I hope I can get back someday, but you really need to be in the zone when you go in and my head is presently consistently occupied somewhere else (healthcare). read more

I was looking to change up my fitness routine and add some gymnastics and barbell work into my routine so I came to check it out a few months back. I've now been a member for about 4 months now have seen some big changes since coming here. Karhu is owned by some passionate people who are amazing athletes that genuinely care about your progress and well-being. Being new to CrossFit there have been so many new skills and movements that I had never done before, but my main coaches Orion, Jessica, and Sara have all been patient with me and given me good advice and coaching. Once you get into your mid-30s stuff starts breaking down whether you like it or not, so I appreciate the fact that all coaches do a thorough total-body warmup before class to get you ready for the day. I really do love coming here every morning for the expert coaching and the people. I love that people here can be pretty competitive but it's all in good fun! read more

I was in town for work and decided to drop in to Jaskarhu. It was great everyone was super friendly and made me feel welcome right away. If you're traveling from out of town and need a great workout I highly recommend checking out this box! read more

CrossFit Jääkarhu - Thanks for the great T-shirt and great workout! - Interval Training Gyms Near Me - Austin, Texas

Once you go here, any other place seems like a downgrade, making it the best crossfit facility in Austin in my opinion. It's located in a massive warehouse with plenty of space for activities and multiple classes running at the same time, has a staff of extremely knowledge coaches who have been in the biz for quite some time, multiple fitness options depending on what you want, and an extensive amount of equipment. read more

Great community that was so welcoming when we dropped in from Oklahoma! Loved the programming!

I will start by saying that I have been meaning to write this review for a LONG time. I started at Crossfit Jaakarhu at the beginning of January 2017 so, at the time of this writing, I've been going there for about 13 months. I was, at the time, about to turn 35 and work and life had just generally been beating me slowly into submission. I was a competitive, multi-sport athlete when I was younger and I've usually managed to stay in pretty good shape but I had been finding it really hard to stay motivated and stick to a program. I started at Jaakarhu with the goal that I would just show up to class every day and put in the work. And that's what I did. I sucked pretty bad at first. I was a decent runner but pretty weak and clumsy at lots of the other movements. The coaching staff is AMAZING. They are all athletes and Crossfit competitors so they are not just bullshitting or regurgitating stuff they heard in a Crossfit seminar. They live it. Not only that, but they are all good motivators and communicators. They know their athletes and are good at knowing when to push you and when to encourage you to scale a weight or exercise down. I've managed to accomplish all sorts of things I didn't imagine possible, from PR's on virtually every lift there is to getting my first handstand, handstand pushup, and muscle-up. I should also mentioned that I gained 20 lbs of muscle in my first year there. Crossfit Jaakarhu has 3 levels: L1 - Fitness, L2 - Sport, L3 - Competitor. Most people will end up in Fitness or Sport (I am in Sport). If you have been putting off trying Crossfit because you're afraid you'll end up in a class with all the crazy fit Crossfit Games type people, don't worry...those people are all in L3! Seriously though, all levels are welcome as long as you bring the right attitude and do plenty of stretching. This gym has quite literally changed my life. My time at Jaakarhu is my meditation. It is the one thing that I do just for me and the one time when my phone, my email, and my brain are all quiet. It is wonderful. So let's talk about the price. Crossfit is expensive. If you've never been a member of a Crossfit box before, you will probably be amazed at how expensive it is. What I think most people miss is WHY it costs what it costs. Without going into the deep financials, it basically boils down to the fact that there are considerable resources directed to each member. During a class, you are using a decent amount of real estate and you have a top-rate coach (who is probably making less money than you) focused intently on helping you get better. At the time of this writing, the Sport program is in the realm of $250/month. That includes 4 classes per week, plus 1 open gym, plus 1 optional Saturday class. Even if you didn't go to the open gym or the Saturday class (I will admit that I don't workout on Saturdays) you are paying less than $16 per class. Compare this to what you would pay a personal trainer. It is NOTHING! It's basically FREE!! ...Just kidding, it's not free. The last thing I want to put in this review is what to expect and what NOT to expect. Things you CAN expect: -Great equipment - Crossfit famously just uses functional equipment, but theirs is all clean and top-notch. -Amazing coaches - I already said this, but I'll say it again. Best. Coaches. Ever. -Amazing classmates and probably lots of new best friends - SO many new best friends. -Incredible fitness gains - strength, gymnastics, endurance. You got this. -Options for extracurricular activities almost every week - All the members also happen to be pretty great people. -Clean bathrooms and showers - when you need them. Things you SHOULDN'T expect: -Child care/Saunas/Giant locker rooms - This is NOT Lifetime Fitness. -Lots of open gym time - Crossfit is class-based no matter what gym you're at. Expect to make your schedule around their class times. -Central heat/air - Another Crossfit norm is that all the gyms are unconditioned warehouse space. Be prepared to be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. In conclusion, I challenge you to challenge yourself to a month of Crossfit Jaakarhu. I would be surprised if it doesn't change your life for the better! read more

I could go on for days about the coaches that own and run this gym. It is far and away the best Crossfit gym I have been to and I have been to A LOT of them! The heart, passion, and energy they have is unmatched. I love it. The community is stronger than any other because of them. Ingrid Kantola, Michael Winchester, Jessica Estrada, Karen Pierce and Ben Flores are incredible people, coaches, and athletes. This is crossfit at its best and then some. read more

This place is excellent. I dropped in on a Tuesday night for a 6:30 class. The coach and the community were super welcoming. Couldn't say enough good things about this place! Would definitely recommend for a drop in! read more

I dropped in this morning while I am in town for work. The staff and members are so welcoming! I was a little worried since the Open is going on but I was able to pick if I wanted to do RX, scaled or an alternate workout. The coaches were really helpful giving me great tips on kipping and strategy for the workout. And while I was doing the workout everyone was cheering for me, so friendly! The space is big and clean, overall very impressive. I will definitely be coming back soon! read more

The best of the best. Come in during a community workout and see for yourself. What sets this gym apart from other gyms is the facility is amazing and they cater to individuals' abilities in a way I have never experienced. I feel they really care about your growth as an athlete and the community is really welcoming. Even if you live further away, it's worth the trip each time! read more

Dropped in on a Monday 5:30 class. Atmosphere was super welcoming and the programming great. Couldn't have asked for a better experience and would recommend to anyone visiting Austin. Shout out to coach Orion. read more

I have watched my husband and his family work out at different Crossfit gyms over the years. He has always begged me to come and join. I've always politely declined, trying not to make my eye rolling too obvious, as to hurt his feelings. When he joined Karhu, he went on and on and on about it. He told me how great the coaches are. He was literally giddy with excitement at night for his workout the next morning. It was almost as if a light switch went off in my head and I wanted to try it out. I'm not athletic. Actually, I'm quite the opposite. I need to lose a lot of weight. I was always scared that I'd feel judged going into one of these gyms to work out. I always felt that way when I would go watch my sister in law compete in Katy. Her gym was snobby and definitely looked down on me for being so out of shape. I will never forget how warm and welcoming Karen was when I went to my first 5:30 am class. She didn't laugh at me when I literally couldn't run more than 50 feet without almost dying from lack of oxygen. She didn't point and stare when I fell from having such terrible balance. She is literally the most real and motivating coach/mentor I could have ever imagined. I wouldn't say that I'm giddy with excitement each night. I still get a little nervous. But I'm actually loving every second of it. Karen, Jessica, Taylor, Orion, Ingrid, Michael, and the rest of the gang are not only elite athletes, I can honestly say they are nice, genuine people. I'm working hard to transform my body and I'm loving doing this at Crossfit Jaakarhu. I would recommend this to anyone no matter where you're at in your journey. read more