ELITE Sports Performance Training for NYC Youth Athletes.
Seeking completely customized one-on-one programming and laser-focused attention from an elite-level certified coach to achieve big goals? That’s our jam. As athletes progress with us, they’ll improve speed, strength, explosiveness and toughen their mental game. Guidance on nutrition and mental prep are also available.
The Ironworks: Strength, Speed, AGILITY & Injury Prevention for Every Sport
MONDAYS + WEDNESDAYS @ 4PM OR BY REQUEST
Our foundational strength and conditioning program, The Ironworks, builds resilient, confident athletes by focusing on technique, movement quality, consistency and mindset. The fundamentals they’ll gain are relevant to every sport — and they’ll have a blast doing it. These group workouts are kept intentionally small for maximum attention to form.
Athletes can expect to improve coordination, balance, body awareness, mobility, cardiovascular fitness and movement mechanics as well as gain strength, speed and power through circuit training. They will improve their economy of movement and mental game, leading to better performance. Work smarter not harder.
We focus on laying a brick foundation for lifelong athletic success. If they make it to the next level, but they’re chronically injured or their hips/ankles/shoulders don’t move well — how long do you think they’ll last? We’re solving and preventing that now.
Have a group of teammates or friends of similar age/fitness/ability? Contact us to set up small group sessions around your practice and game schedule.
WE Build Stronger, Faster, explosive, More Resilient Athletes — The Right Way.
LEVEL UP with NYC’s Top Coaches for Youth Sports Performance
Coach Ken Szekretar
With two decades of experience as a leader in the fitness industry, Ken has helped hundreds of athletes heighten performance, achieve dreams and improve their lives. His unique “Ken-ergy” style and holistic approach to coaching set him apart and keeps athletes coming back to him for the long haul.
Through proper nutrition and highly customized programming, Ken meets his clients where they are, and helps them reach new levels of fitness and confidence. He's been sought out by many media channels for his expertise in the field, particularly in triathlon/multi-sport, including the New York Times, Men's Journal and Well & Good. Ken stays ahead of trends and is constantly expanding his knowledge base of innovations and methodologies to best serve his athletes.
Now raising two young athletes of his own, Ken’s on a mission to help developing talent understand the importance of movement quality and technique over adding weight to the bar. His special sauce is that he cares deeply about his athletes’ goals and dreams, and gets them where they want to be.
USAT Level 1 Triathlon Coach
ACE and NASM Certified Personal Trainer
ACE Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist
UESCA Certified Running Coach
NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist
ACE Sports Conditioning Specialist
ACE Senior Fitness Specialist
ACE Youth Fitness Specialist
DR. ADRIAN CLARK, PT, DPT
Adrian is a graduate of Columbia University, completing the Advanced Track in Orthopedics and graduating with ACAPT National Honors Society distinction. At Columbia, he participated in research with the school’s rowing team, volunteered at the NYC Marathon finish line medical tent, and lead the CanWarriors program for youth cancer patients.
Prior to earning his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Columbia, Adrian graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in Biology and was a two-time All-Ivy League goaltender with the Men’s Ice Hockey NCAA Division 1 team.
In two seasons as the full-time starter, he posted 28 wins and a 2.77 goals against average. He graduated tied for the program's career lead in shutouts and was named to the Ivy League All-Academic team four times, 2017-2020.
Upon graduation, he played professionally in Florida with try-outs for the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators of the NHL.
After hanging up the skates, Adrian transitioned his passion for hockey into physical therapy to share his knowledge about rehab, training and performance. He has extensive experience working with athletes through clinical rotations at Clutch and HSS where he has cultivated a deep understanding of the healing process and what it takes to get his patients out of pain and back doing the sports they love. His clinical interests include return to sport testing, running biomechanics, ACL rehab and developing next gen athletes. Outside of the clinic, Adrian enjoys running, traveling, reading, and occasionally even straps the pads back on for men’s league games at Chelsea Piers.
Coach CHRIS MATTINA
Born and raised on the Upper East Side of New York City, Chris Mattina attended Xavier High School, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete, competing in basketball, football, and rugby. He also played soccer throughout his youth at Asphalt Green. He connects deeply with young athletes in the neighborhood because he knows firsthand what it’s like to live and train in this fast-paced, competitive environment while juggling academic demands.
Chris went on to the University of Delaware where he graduated with a degree in Exercise Science and double minor in Strength and Conditioning and Coaching Science.
Following graduation, Chris was selected for the USA National Rugby 7's Olympic Team and trained at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego. He competed with Team USA in the World Rugby Sevens Series before moving to the domestic competition Major League Rugby. For six years, he played at the highest level of rugby in the US and earned selection to the US Men’s National 15’s Team.
After his playing career, Chris founded CM Rugby Academy, which focuses on youth athletic development and helping athletes elevate their opportunities in rugby. He also runs Rugby 4 All, a program designed to introduce rugby to schools in the NYC area.
Chris believes in training all of his clients like elite athletes, balancing mental health, physical conditioning, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, proper nutrition and discipline. These core elements mixed with his motivational personality build a solid foundation for his athletes’ success.
Coach Esme Hovekamp
Hailing from the Upper West Side of Manhattan and a graduate of the world-renowned School of American Ballet, Coach Esme is a classically trained ballerina turned Olympic weightlifter. Specializing in dynamic sports performance and kettlebell training, Esme is a powerhouse of knowledge, energy and enthusiasm. She is passionate about sharing her skills and teaching young athletes to TAKE UP SPACE and move with intention.
USAW Olympic Weightlifting Coach Level I
RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certification) Level II
Dynamic Sports Performance Certified Coach Level II
Kettlebell Coach University Foundations
NASM CPT