JD and Gaylynn have wonderful, very useful equipment and respectful gym members. However, they are…read moreterrible humans in general and very much so less than professional. I was a member there from 07/2019 - 02/2020. I will detail my experience:
At first it was a great environment to be in, but it went downhill FAST. It started with Gaylynn being a gossip and sharing a story about a woman who no longer went to their gym. Knowing the woman today and having heard her side of the story, what Gaylynn said about her was absolutely cruel, slanderous, and potentially reputation-ruining.
It kept getting worse after this. I would regularly witness JD have full meltdowns directed at a few members, screaming and yelling at them. According to my records, the first time I saw this behavior was the end of August 2020 with him ending the argument yelling, "you'd be nothing without me". This member has since left, as well, and is at a reputable gym further north doing AMAZING. The yelling only continued and eventually made its way to the group of girls I trained with. (There is also a Yelp review chronicling this exact behavior).
My group of girls had a group chat on Facebook that we would regularly talk on about random things from clothes, to what time we'd be at the gym, to, and mostly notably, JD's meltdowns. I'm sure it's not the first time, but the first time I have in my own records, but at the end of December 2019, he screamed at a mother over the phone because he was watching the cameras and the child was out of the play pin. He has known the father for a much longer time and had a very good relationship with him when this happened.
I had heard previously that JD has a problem keeping women powerlifters in his gym, but experienced *why* for myself during this time. During the time I was there he offered scant coaching, from my perspective, to the girl group. I'm not sure if this was intentional or if he truly thought a group of very inexperienced powerlifters were coaching each other appropriately and offering good cues.
While I was there, I also experienced JD's constant conspiracy theory talk and hateful rhetoric. Although he does not post conspiratorial issues on his social media accounts for FSC, he does post about them on his own social media and frequently talks about them in the gym.
I'm glad I (accidentally) didn't sign a 12 month contract with him. When I left, I left a professional note (attached) about why I was leaving and the key. I paid him what was due. I was not disrespectful to him or his wife. I am way better off physically, and mentally since I left this gym. I have added over 200 lbs to my total and am at a gym that does not have these types of issues.
Even with what seems like the ideal way to leave a situation, JD still surprises me with his maliciousness.
I have been coaching a young girl (130 lbs soaking wet, happy, unassuming, and timid) who has become a friend to me for around 6 months. After her first competition, she, on her own volition, decided to put her trust in this man and join his "open gym" which includes bringing your own programming for $40 a month. She was on a 3 month contract. Spoiler, she only made it to a month and a half before he kicked her out:
We were in the process of switching her training from linear to a more conjugate-styled training. I am a new coach, she is a new lifter, so there are bound to be mistakes in set up which we tackle head-on as she sends me videos via text in real time. JD even helped her set up one day, which I was relieved about.
A few days later, my athlete texts me saying "he knows you're my coach. He's saying you're trash and good luck with my total" in addition to "he intimidates me" and "I'm pretty sure he hates me". I messaged him a very professional letter (attached) and he blocked me from both Insta accounts. The very next morning, she called me crying saying he kicked her out saying her "set up was dangerous" rather than finding a logical solution. He also stated that she was disrespectful which I've never known this girl to be.
