Blogs - KING STRENGTH

The KING of Newsletters - May 2026

4/26/2026

Dearest gentle reader,

May is here. This month also carries deeper meaning. Since 1990, the United States has recognized Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI), a time to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
At KING Strength, this is personal. We’re proud to be an AAPI-owned business. Gerrick is Chinese, with his family rooted in the Philippines, and Monica is Vietnamese. Since COVID, they’ve been strong advocates for cultural awareness and standing against Asian hate. Those experiences shape the values we bring into the gym, discipline, resilience, and community.
That same mindset carries into our training. We continue refining our semi-private model to keep sessions personal, focused, and aligned with what each member needs. Real progress comes from doing what matters, consistently, over time.

APRIL 2026 CONSISTENCY CLUB

What is the Consistency Club?
It's KING Strength's Honor Roll. The Consistency Club is all about rewarding the real secret to results: showing up consistently. It’s not about perfection, it’s about building habits that last.
Here’s how it works:

Train 12+ times in a month at KING Strength.
Everyone who hits that mark is entered into the monthly Consistency Club raffle.
Winners receive 2x/week Semi-Private Training the following month

Consistency pays off, both in the gym and in life. The Consistency Club celebrates your effort, your wins, and keeps our community motivated to show up, support each other, and get stronger together.

Mahawish Zaidi
Kelli Goldenberg
Maureen Speckin
Natalie Lay
Ashish Deccannawar
Lisa Lew
Deepika Bangia
Shreya Patel
Suyog Pathak
Cheryl Ricci
Hitesh Bangia
Barbara Eisdorfer
Lio Alvarado
Sandra Flannery
Kate Machisi
Raj Singh
Scott Lau
Surabhi Karambelkar
Vanja Pejovic
Bryan Ong
Sophia Yang
Meaghan Kung

Whitney Guhin
Paul Ojugo
Nitish Verma
Dinesh Dacharia
Tatiana Allen
Margie Thomas
Nirmal Anburose
Lorraine Matthews-Antosiewicz
Jyoti Patel
Jordan O'Donnell
Nicholas Makar
Christina Vollmann
Rajvi Patel
Marisa Scinto
Michael Serrano
Cecilia Stern
Joseph Dandola
Regina Borriello
Vamsi Anamaneni
Aiyana Jones
Linda Kokoski
Dan Scotto

Stephanie Yoshioka
Nancy Moran
Katherine Wu
Jackie Wu
Jiaqi Fang
Chris Del Monico
Swati Pathak
Stephanie Makar
Seth Rubin
Aisha Muslim
Nicholas De Maio
Michael Levi
Ed Hyman (NEW)
Tina R
Jacob Hausman
Paru Patel
Chris Montalvo
Arupama Sridharan (NEW)
Kelsey Moty (NEW)
Sameer Dewani (NEW)
Jennifer Wang (NEW)

NEW RECORD: 68 MEMBERS CAME MORE THAN 12X IN APRIL
GOAL: LET'S AIM FOR 75+ IN MAY

MAY RAFFLE WINNER: KATE MANCHISI

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY

June Summer Sprint 4-Week Challenge kicks off June 1st.
30 days built to turn up your consistency, intensity, and momentum heading into summer. This is your chance to push a little harder, stay a little tighter, and finish June stronger than you started.
More info on this coming soon — stay tuned.

MOTHER'S DAY GIVEAWAY

LEARN MORE

THE SPRING 2026 MERCH DROP HAS ARRIVED!

SHOP NOW, LIMITED SUPPLY

THE BRAINS BEHIND THE BLOCKS

Learn the exercise science breakdown behind KING Strength's group training class programming.

STRENGTH THEME: Submaximal Strength ( Wendler 5/3/1)
May is about building strength you can repeat. Submaximal Strength, using the Wendler 5/3/1 method, focuses on controlled percentages, steady progression, and high quality reps to develop real, lasting strength without burning out.
This phase shifts the focus from chasing max effort lifts to building consistent performance. By training just below your limit, you improve movement efficiency, bar speed, and force production while staying fresh enough to recover and progress week after week.

Primary lifts: Percentage based progression with a structured 5 week wave
Accessory work: Full body balance, unilateral strength, and joint support
Training focus: Submaximal loading, clean reps, and repeatable performance

Why it matters: This block builds a stronger foundation without excessive fatigue, allowing you to progress steadily, move better, and maintain strength long term.

FULL STRENGTH BLOCK BLOG POST

BASE THEME: Structured Recomposition (Hypertrophy & Core)
May is about building a stronger, leaner, and more capable body through structured recomposition. This phase combines hypertrophy and conditioning into a clear system that develops lean muscle while improving overall work capacity and performance.
Rather than chasing random intensity, this block focuses on consistent, repeatable training. By using controlled volume, submaximal loading, and intentional movement, you build muscle, improve conditioning, and reinforce how your body performs under load without burning out.

Primary focus: Upper body hypertrophy, lower body hypertrophy, and conditioning integration
Accessory work: Unilateral strength, structural balance, and joint stability
Training focus: Controlled tempo, time under tension, breath integration, and bracing under load
Movement approach: Single-arm and single-leg work, core pressure management, and stability under fatigue

Why it matters: Body recomposition comes from consistent and structured training, not extremes. This block builds your ability to produce force with control, sustain effort under fatigue, and recover efficiently between sessions. The result is a stronger, leaner, and more durable system that performs as well as it looks.

FULL BASE BLOCK BLOG POST

NEW EQUIPMENT UPDATES

As our community continues to grow and more members join the KING Strength family, we’re able to consistently reinvest back into the gym. That means upgrading our space, adding new tools, and improving the overall training experience so you can keep progressing in a stronger, safer, and more effective environment.
Here's what's new:

LEVERAGE SQUAT MACHINE

A game-changer for lower body training, this machine allows you to load heavy squat patterns with added stability and joint support. It’s perfect for building strength in the quads, glutes, and hamstrings while reducing spinal stress. Great for both beginners learning squat mechanics and advanced lifters pushing intensity safely.

BANDBELL EARTHQUAKE BAR

This unstable bar setup uses suspended resistance to create constant shaking during pressing and pulling movements. It forces your stabilizers, shoulders, and core to work overtime, improving control, balance, and joint integrity. Don’t let the simplicity fool you, this is brutally effective for building resilient strength.

NORDICTRACK T 6.5 S TREADMILL

A staple for conditioning, warm ups, and incline walking work, our treadmill adds another option for building cardiovascular fitness and lower body endurance. Whether you’re pushing intervals or getting extra steps in post lift, it’s a simple but powerful tool for overall health and performance.

NORDICTRACK RECUMBANT BIKE

Designed for low impact conditioning, the recumbent bike allows you to build your engine without stressing the joints. It’s especially useful for recovery days, injury friendly cardio, or longer steady state sessions while still getting quality work in. Perfect for those returning from knee injuries.

MAY MEMBER BIRTHDAYS

May 3 - Paru Patel
May 4- Lorraine Matthews-Antosiewicz
May 15 - Robert Busch
May 15 - Jay Ghosh (New Member)
May 20 - Roc Du
May 20 - Geisha Tiburcio
May 21 - Emeril Huang
May 21 - Swati Pathak
May 22 - Michael Serrano
May 26 - Saoirse O'Hara

NEW Birthday Perk: Celebrate with 25% Off Merch
Enjoy a special birthday month perk on us. Receive a 25% off discount code to use on any KING Strength merch order during your birthday month. Use it or lose it.
Email [email protected] to claim your birthday promo code. Expires 5/31/26.

VIEW OUR MERCH STORE

SUPPORTING GISELLE & LEO

We want to take a moment to support Giselle Canino and her son Leo (Leandro “Leo” Canino Prestol), who recently lost Shady after her courageous battle with cancer.
Shady was truly amazing and brought so much love, energy, and joy to everyone around her. We miss her deeply.
Leo is just 4 years old, and Giselle is now navigating the heartbreaking task of raising him while grieving an incredible partner and mother. A close friend, Emilie Faro, has started a collection to help support them with daily expenses, childcare, and stability as they move forward.
Leo turns 5 on May 16th, and support will continue through the year as they adjust to life without Shady.
If you’re able to contribute, anything helps. If not, sharing and keeping them in your thoughts means just as much.

DONATE <3

NITISH IS DOING HYROX NYC

RACING FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
Nearly 10% of the world’s people live in extreme poverty, trapped in cycles of hardship and poor health and surviving on less than €2 a day. Malnutrition, lack of clean water, disease and inadequate maternal and child healthcare lead to millions of people falling sick or dying prematurely. Tragically, most of this is preventable.
Access to basic healthcare, nutrition, and vaccinations should not be a privilege, yet for many, these life-saving interventions remain out of reach.
Our Global Health fund combines charities with the highest-performing interventions that improve health outcomes and prevent deaths in the parts of the world that need the most help.
Charities the Global Health fund supports: Taimaka, Evidence Action, Against Malaria Foundation, Helen Keller International, and New Incentives.

DONATE TO CHARITY, GLOBAL HEALTH

FUCE 5K

Join us on Father's Day, June 21st at 8:30 AM to participate in this community event.

It Takes A Borough (ITAB) is honored to host the annual FUCE 5K Family Fun Run/Walk in Mike Fuccile’s memory. On September 4, 2008, Mike Fuccile was murdered on his way to work in Jersey City where he served as a chief compliance officer for Merrill Lynch. Mike left behind his wife of ten years, Nancy, and their three children; Michael, Jack and Brooke. In 2009, The Fucille Foundation was established to help local families impacted by tragedy and it continued to do so until the end of 2023 when it passed its torch to ITAB. ITAB, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to encouraging community solidarity, relies on financial contributions and tangible donations to create meaningful, positive impacts on members of its community affected by tragedy or unforeseen circumstances.
The tradition continues this year in dowtown Metuchen! For a preview of the certified course, please visit ittakesaborough.com.

HELP US GROW OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER

Ways you can support:

1. Refer a friend, family member, co-worker to join the gym!

If you know someone who would benefit from training here, bring them in. Referrals are the backbone of our community and help us keep growing with the right people. As a thank you, you’ll get $100 off your next month, and they’ll get $100 off their first month. It’s a simple way to support us while helping someone you care about get stronger too.

2. Leave us a 5-star Google review!

REVIEW US!

Your feedback goes a long way in helping us grow as a small business and reach more people who are looking for the kind of training and community we’ve built here. Reviews build trust, tell our story better than we ever could, and help someone new take that first step through the door. If you’ve had a great experience, sharing it can genuinely make an impact.

3. Apply to join our team! We're growing!

AVAILABLE POSITION: Part-Time Office Administrator / Scheduler
This role helps keep our member experience running smoothly by managing schedules, maintaining calendars, supporting coach communication, and helping track member consistency (aiming for 3x/week attendance). You’ll also assist with basic reporting using Excel and Google Sheets.
This is a great fit for a high school or college student, retiree, or stay-at-home parent looking for flexible, meaningful part-time work in a professional fitness environment.
We’re looking for someone who is organized, dependable, a strong communicator, and comfortable with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

What we offer:

Flexible 5–15 hours/week
Supportive team environment
Free access to 2 semi-private training sessions per week
$16.50/hour starting pay

If you or someone you know is a great fit, we’d love to connect.

APPLY NOW

JOIN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNITY

Stay Connected with KING Strength! Join our Members Only Group Chat and Broadcast Channel on IG!

Join our Instagram community group chat if you love connecting with others. Not super social? No worries—tune into our Instagram broadcast channel for updates, shoutouts, and gym news. Click the button below to join!

JOIN OUR GROUP CHAT

BROADCAST CHANNEL