Meet Jahkeen
Jahkeen, known by most as Jah, was born and raised in Harlem and now is a well known community figure and entrepreneur giving back to the neighborhood in every way he can. Jah is the founder of Harlem Kettlebell Club, working to provide quality workouts, encourage movement, and healthy/balanced living for people in the community.
One can say his path to fitness began when he was a kid. Jah grew up on 131st and Lenox Ave.. He was an athlete playing basketball at the YMCA, Milbank, and at school and went on to play college basketball in Connecticut with a scholarship. After working in finance for almost 10 years he transitioned to fitness, wanting to bring quality, affordable, and inclusive workouts. He says, “[Fitness] was more of a luxury for us because of how expensive it could be… And I want[ed] to do something a little different, something where I can help my community, but do it in a way that's not being highlighted. And so I… started to get into training.” He started by offering bootcamps in the park and developed a following starting with friends and building from there, cultivating a loyal base that would support him through his multiple endeavors including JTW FIT (Journey Toward Wellness and Fitness) and Harlem Kettlebell Club.
“I think it all still comes back to… that community vibe that we had. We knew we were supported, we were happy and we didn’t have much and that was the biggest thing... So you realize life is a lot simpler…”
The way he trains his clients today has been influenced by great teachers and coaches he had growing up. “...Between P.S. 92, St. Aloysius… I got really good support… I think we had teachers that actually cared… They wanted to see us do well… I learned a lot… from those experiences… I’d say going to Frederick Douglas Academy… was the best thing that I ever did… F.D.A. was almost treated like a private school, treated like a Catholic school. We were in uniform. We had an honor code. We had nonnegotiables… And so that's where… I've learned a lot of my principles and… time management and having structure because it was just very regimented in that regard…” They would always encourage students and let them know what they were doing right and Jah carries this into his coaching style as a trainer. He aims to provide motivation, encouragement, and positivity to his clients and push them to be better.
His childhood in Harlem is filled with nostalgic and pivotal memories that have influenced the person he is today. “I had summer camp on the block. Like my mom couldn’t afford to send us away… But we made it happen right on the block… Initially we had a crate and then once… they got some money they actually bought us an actual hoop, so we had basketball tournaments on Lenox Ave., right on 131st St. We had other kids coming from other blocks to play us, we had our own tournaments. We’re talking roller skates with brooms, with a tennis ball.... We got hockey... We're playing tag, like those things I miss the most… The other people making sure that we were safe, we're having a good time on the block… My mom knew that I was right outside and everyone was paying attention to me. Whether it's looking from the fire escape or somebody outside on the stoop, someone was there... I think it all still comes back to… that community vibe that we had. We knew we were supported, we were happy and we didn't have much and that was the biggest thing... So you realize life is a lot simpler…”
Giving back is a core value for Jah, instilled in him by his mother. “... Just watching my mom being very community driven like she was always at the church… Always helping hand out food, always making plates of food for Thanksgiving and giving it out to people… who didn't have, even when we didn't have she made sure. So that's always been ingrained in me to be that type of person…” One of the ways he gives back is through his and his friends’ foundation, The Laurence B. Smith Scholarship Foundation, in honor of their friend Laurence, awarding scholarships to graduating student-athletes from Frederick Douglass Academy, a school that has given him so much. He looks forward to continued growth, building bonds within the community, doing what he can to support Harlem and collaborating with people with the same mission like Tammeca from Harlem Cycle and Tiffany from Harlem Pilates to help better the community. “I love being able to say I'm from Harlem. I think that's big. Like, that's what I beat my chest for every day.” He wants to continue bringing affordable workouts and activities to engage Harlem residents and supporting and encouraging the youth.