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June 2023 by Ryan Ford
Florence barbell is what a gym should be. First time I came in I was greeted with smiles and treated like I was family. Doc’s knowledge is vast and his willingness to help even greater. A true gentleman and master of the craft. This is the best gym I have ever been in. Look forward to much more time spent here!!!
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March 2023 by Derek Knight
This is an awesome gym and J.D. the owner is on point. Everyone here no matter your size age or skill level is supportive of each other and has a great atmosphere!
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March 2022 by Adam McElhaney
*Specialty equipment you won’t find anywhere else*Knowledgeable coaches that go beyond and focus more on just your form*Environment that supports anybody whether you squad 100 pounds or 1,000 pounds.
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January 2022 by Scronic (Scronic)
Manger constantly makes questionable posts to social media from less than reputable websites. In today’s world inaccurately conveying information is a problem. It is in part why we have had the issues we have had today.
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December 2021 by Megan Wesdorp
Great gym! Lots of heavy equipment and great coaching. It’s a smaller community which makes it fun because you actually know everyone. Highly recommend!
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December 2021 by Kevin Foster
This place is awesome, staff is very knowledgeable and like family.
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August 2021 by GT: A Dark Saber (Scronic)
Manger constantly makes questionable posts to social media from less than reputable websites. In today’s world inaccurately conveying information is a problem. It is in part why we have had the issues we have had today.
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July 2021 by Cherish C.
JD and Gaylynn have wonderful, very useful equipment and respectful gym members. However, they are terrible 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 log
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February 2021 by GT: A Dark Saber
Manger constantly makes questionable posts to social media from less than reputable websites. In today’s world inaccurately conveying information is a problem. It is in part why we have had the issues we have had today.
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March 2020 by Dar D.
This is a great workout spot! All the equipment and expertise that any power lifter could want, group classes and individual training. Gaylynn and J.D. have created a safe zone where no one cares if your outfit matches AND they welcome everyone who wants to learn and grow. Fat old farts like me are cheered on for making progress and doing our best. JD was a Navy medic and has built on his expertise thru ongoing study and training. I'm always impressed by how he knows how much extra to load on me so that I'm working a little harder but not so much that it would crush me. They know what they are doing and all you have to do is show up and give your best.
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January 2020 by Samuel Partee
great powerlifting contest at FSC in florence had a great time
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October 2019 by Tisha Marie Newman
This gym makes you feel incredibly at home. Gaylynn and JD are devoted to this gym and the people a part of it.
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August 2019 by Chelsea Bolton
The amount of support in this place is absolutely necessary if you are trying to get anywhere with your progress. The programming and atmosphere makes it addicting! I love it and can’t wait until my next work out!!!
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June 2019 by Eric Revelli
Great atmosphere and great people. The guys welcomed me into their squat rotation and treated me like one of their own. I'll always be stopping by anytime I'm in the area
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January 2019 by Jon M.
At first the experience was good. Then over time it began to get worse. JD, the owner, never explained signing up for classes each day. I ask and he yells at me in the gym again. When I signed up, people told me they quit because of his yelling. I gave him a chance even though I saw a negative comment about his yelling on Yelp from a year ago. As he screamed at me outside, I was done. He told me to go enjoy my pizza. I told him,"F@$k you, I don't care, sir!" JD, the owner, runs to my car yelling and screaming wanting me to say it to his face. I don't know what he thought I said but I wasn't going to stick around to find out. The man knows his stuff, that part I will miss, his yelling, I will not. This is a place of business, I was a paying customer. This is not a judgement free zone.
