EVIDENCE

CONTROL THE OUTCOME.

CONTROL THE BEHAVIOR ,

These are stories that began with tough questions and ended with meaningful results. Decisions were made to embark on a path to recompose who they were by getting rid of the part of themselves that got in the way. They are a consequence of their capability and the community that supported them along the way. It'll take time and if it's meaningful, more than your comfortable with. Punctuate the process with failure, reflection and a relentless pursuit to the task at hand.

TACTICAL ATHLETES

MILITARY. FIRST RESPONDERS. LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ANTHONY

I have known of Stronghold for some time, however it took an injury requiring surgery to get me in there. I needed a place where I would be pushed to get back into the shape required of my job. Stelios and Dave are solid guys. There is always a thought process behind their programming. I’ve done CrossFit, & followed Mountain athlete among others, but nothing compares to Stronghold. My validation came two nights ago when I had to help carry an unconscious woman down 4 floors in a tenement and still be able to continue operating right after.
If you are serious, this is the place you have been looking for....

CONCETTA

I’ve been going to this gym for quite a while and it has been the best experience ever. Stelios is an amazing trainer, and before I went off to a military college (The Citadel) I needed to get in shape for a rigorous military training. Stronghold is the best gym I’ve been to and I’ve never been so happy to be a part of such a great gym and family. I highly recommend this gym for anyone who is looking to lose weight, get in great shape, or are seeking to pursue a career in the military.

AMELIA

With a background in crossfit and law enforcement- including the Secret Service and CBP, I've been through my share of intense training - but nothing compares to what I've found at Stronghold. Stelios' programming is smart, challenging, and built with purpose. It’s helped me become more adaptable, focused, and stronger—both physically and mentally. The community here holds you accountable and pushes you past your limits, so when it matters most, you don’t break - you respond. I’m beyond grateful for the strength, confidence, and mindset that has been built through training with Stelios. I’d recommend him to anyone in any field, but especially a demanding one where staying ready means everything.

PROFESSIONALS

BLUE COLLAR. WHITE COLLAR. BUSINESS OWNERS.

JEANETTE

Stronghold is amazing !! Workouts are intense push you every time. And when you feel like you can't Anymore Stelios is right there pushing you where you never thought you could go. I have had several trainers but Stelios is by far the best. He is filled with so much knowledge and makes every workout challenging. He and his staff really care about all their clients. They truly want to see you achieve your individual goals. I stated in February 2017 and I have lost at Around 90 lbs. which was not easy at all I started training 2-3 days a week now I train 5-6 days a week it’s so addicting you want to go and feel guilty when you have to miss a day.then you look on Instagram and see what you would be doing and it ruins your whole day because you missed something great. This is not your adverage gym it’s a lifestyle with likeminded people that have the same passion to try and be better than they were the day before. We are a family. If your looking for a gym to change your life and your body STRONGHOLD and Stelios are the best!!! Come train with us and you will never go anywhere else..

ANNALISA

I have been a part of the Stronghold family for almost 10 years and Stelios and his way of training has helped change my life and my outlook on health and fitness! He is so patient with his training, he helps you with form, building strength and endurance and really listens to what your goals are. His support doesn’t end with the 4 walls of the gym. He has helped me transform my eating and my overall health mentally and physically. With his support, I have gotten stronger, healthier, and lost 50 pounds along the way and have kept it off for over a year and could not have gotten here without stronghold!

CIVILIANS

ROOKIES. PARENTS. FRIENDS.

PRANAV

When I first joined Stronghold back in 2019, I was 25 years old and completely lost, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I wasn’t in shape. I had no structure, no discipline, and no real direction when it came to fitness or even life in general. I was just showing up, hoping something would click. I didn’t realize at the time that walking into that gym would be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

That’s when I met Stelios. From the very beginning, he saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. I was weak, out of shape, and had no athletic background, but he believed in me anyway. He didn’t care where I was starting from, he cared about where I could go. And he pushed me sometimes past what I thought were my limits because he knew I had more to give.

It wasn’t easy in the beginning. In fact, it was humbling. I remember struggling through workouts, finishing dead last, and wondering if I was ever going to improve. But Stelios never let me give up. He kept showing up for me and taught me how to show up for myself. He didn’t just train me to be stronger, he taught me how to be consistent, how to fight through discomfort, how to stay locked in when things got hard.

Over time, I started to change not just physically, but mentally. I got faster. I got stronger. I became more focused and confident, inside and outside the gym. And now, at 31 years old, I can truly say I’ve become the best version of myself. I train hard, I compete, I’ve run multiple races, and I’ve qualified for the NYC Marathon all because Stelios never gave up on me, even when I wanted to give up on myself.

One thing he always says has stuck with me: “Endurance starts when you want to stop.” That mindset has gotten me through some of the hardest training sessions and toughest moments of my life. It’s a quote I carry with me in every run, every lift, and every challenge life throws at me.

Stelios is more than a coach, he’s a mentor, a friend, and someone who truly cares about helping people become better. And Stronghold isn’t just a gym, it’s a place where people transform. It’s where I found discipline, purpose, and community. I truly believe if you give this place your all, it will change your life too.

If you’re thinking about joining Stronghold, don’t overthink it. Just start. I was once exactly where you are, uncertain, intimidated, and unsure of what I could become. Now, I’m living proof of what’s possible when you commit, stay consistent, and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Stronghold changed my life. Let it change yours too.

KARL

To start, I was someone who avoided fitness whenever possible . I wasn’t confident and I was afraid to fail. This didn’t change until curiosity got the better of me, near my late 20s. I would have, “What if…?” scenarios running through my mind. I kept thinking about the possibilities of how I could look and feel good, and how I could obtain confidence. As luck would have it, I would relocate in an office close by the gym Stronghold.

After considerable research and gaining enough courage, I filled an application and sent it. While I had doubts that I would make it, one phone call from Stelios changed everything. I showed up and was introduced to a place I now call my 2nd home. I was warmly welcomed by an amazing community, then came the program. These workouts truly made me feel pain and soreness in unfamiliar places. Still, despite the soreness, the thoughts of quitting, the uncertainty of gaining results, I told myself to trust the process and kept going. As I continued to show up, the soreness became manageable, I looked forward to coming, my progress would improve time and time again. I started with nothing, but committed myself to consistently and gained plenty as a result.

You see, I never understood how people could fall in love with fitness, but now I truly get it. What I once considered evil, became a necessity for my life.