The power of community

Progress, not perfection. It’s a motto and core value that has kept Fukumoto Fitness growing strong for 15 years.

“We’ve got everyone, from folks who have never done anything in a gym to former college and pro athletes. They can all co-exist together, working on their own thing, if they have those values,” said Johnny Fukumoto, founder and CEO of Fukumoto Fitness (50 Burnett Ave.). “If you’re someone who is concerned about aging well, who wants to maintain strength and mobility to continue doing the stuff you like to do or maybe try something new, we’re a very family-friendly place with a history of producing those results.”

After graduating with a degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. in 2006, Fukumoto worked with patients with chronic disease while providing personal training services on the side.

“That was an eye opener and made me want to work in prevention,” he said. “It became clear to me that the way groups of adults were being trained was super-random with a low level of safety. I felt there was an opportunity to make things safer, especially for people in their 30s to 60s, to have a longevity piece as a focus, which is super-popular now. That’s what we were thinking from the beginning.”