Five Rings Strength & Conditioning

02/26/2025

📢 Important Announcement: Five Rings Strength & Conditioning Update 💔

It is with a heavy heart that we share this news: Five Rings Strength & Conditioning will no longer operate as a standalone gym, but we are not going anywhere.

For over a decade, this community has been our home. From our early days as Charlotte Uptown Weightlifting in the corner of a Reebok CrossFit gym, to our time in NoDa (where Seoul Korean Barbecue now stands), to navigating the challenges of COVID and finally spending the last three incredible years in the University area—this journey has been unforgettable.

For those who have supported us through it all, we truly appreciate you. Your dedication has built something special, and we are beyond grateful.

The Future of Five Rings & Training at This Gym 🏋️‍♂️

We are excited to announce that our space will continue as a functional fitness & weightlifting facility under Dell and Eternal Strong.

➡ Five Rings will still be in this space coaching and training athletes.
➡ All gym memberships will now go through Dell at Eternal Strong. Please reach out to him to transition your membership so you can continue training here. February is the last month you will be billed through Five Rings.
➡ In-person coaching and personal programming will remain. We will still be here coaching you, writing your programs, and traveling to meets with you—because this is what Five Rings has always been about, and we’re not letting go of that.

Please reach out to Rusty or Jak with any questions during this transition.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in us, trusting us, and being part of this incredible community. We are still here, and we’re excited for what’s next. ❤️

.sensei

02/26/2025

02/27/2024

I’ve been churning over some thoughts in my head lately. Articulating my internal beliefs and feelings.
As gym owners we always see turnovers. Turnover rate is pretty high subjectively compared to other businesses. I believe mostly because… fitness, and especially weightlifting, is hard. It demands time, discipline, focus, comfort with discomfort, pushes you emotionally as well as physically. It challenges on all levels.
Typically some kind of excuse will come through about canceling a membership. To be honest, I’m numb to it at this point. But I can’t help but always think, why? Why is it for a lot of people when they feel stressed or pinched that the gym is what is given up? Let me explain why this is not a good decision:
The gym is one of the few places in life that give back more to your investment. 1) It gives back what you put in, and more. Your effort directly reflects your return. 2) Your health is always a worthwhile investment, as physical fitness fights back at aging, disease, mental health issues, grants confidence and capability, emotional discipline. It literally enhances every aspect of your life. 3) Some gyms provide community and kinship.
Given even just those three things, why would someone give it up? At this point I just shrug it off, mostly grateful for my own perspective. I just cannot wrap my head around why someone would choose to sacrifice this process. Are there not other options? Not eating out as much? Setting personal boundaries? Drinking less? A few less subscriptions?
Food for thought. Happy to hear anyone weigh in.

02/21/2024

Tattooed down my back:

“If you are able, save them a place inside you,
And save one backward glance when you are leaving,
for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved them,
though you may, or may not have always.
Take what they have left, and what they have
taught you with their dying, and keep it as your own.

And in that time that when men decide, and feel safe,
to call the war insane, take one moment,
to embrace these gentle heroes you left behind.”

- Major Michael O’Donnell

02/19/2024

🏋️‍♂️ Get ready to lift your way to victory at our Ides of March weightlifting competition! 🏋️‍♀️

🌟 Early bird registration ends tomorrow night at midnight! Secure your spot now for $70 before the price increases to $85 on 2/20/24. Don’t miss out on this special offer! 🌟

📅 Save the date: 3/16/24 for an epic showdown of strength and skill. Tag your lifting buddies and start training for an unforgettable competition!

Sign up with the link in our bio💪

02/13/2024

🏋️‍♂️💆‍♀️ Elevate Your Weightlifting Recovery Game with Onward Physical Therapy at our Ides of March Weightlifting Competition on March 16, 2024! 💆‍♂️🏋️‍♀️

Hey, lifters! 🌟 Whether you’re gearing up for the Ides of March Weightlifting Competition or just honing your skills, proper warmups and recovery are essential for reaching your weightlifting goals! 🥇 Swing by the booth and discover how Onward can help you optimize your pre and post-competition recovery routine!

Your journey to weightlifting greatness isn’t just about the heavy lifts—it’s also about how well you take care of yourself between sessions. So, let’s prioritize recovery and crush those PRs together! 💥💥 See you at the competition! 🌟

02/04/2024

We’d like to take a moment to wish a Happy Birthday to the founder of 5 Rings Strength & Conditioning, Ben Riddle!

His vision to create an all inclusive world renowned team has come to fruition, and we continue to improve lives with the community he has fostered. Our community continues to grow in numbers, and the values we adhere to push us to continually be the best we can be. To be excellent in all aspects of our lives.

5 Rings continues to web together lives that would otherwise never have come in contact with one another. Our bonds across the world shall never be severed because the community of 5 Rings is that powerful. We are .

Ben will drop whatever he is doing to help one of us in need, and 5 Rings as a whole reflects these values.

Take some time today to reach out to Ben. Let him know that he is appreciated, and that we have his back, too.

Love you all, and have a beautiful Sunday.

01/22/2024

What I’m about to say is purely from my own viewpoint. It comes from my world, as a result of my experiences. I’d probably have more views if I just flashed the ass of some hot girl lifting, but that’s not what I’m about, or this post, and if that’s what you’re looking for you’ve already severely missed the point. Kept reading this far? Ok let’s get started.
I will absolutely judge a person based on their physicality. I don’t need you to necessarily be a marble statue, you don’t even need to currently be in shape - but are you trying? Are you doing SOMETHING? Anything?
It’s my personal belief that our prerogative should be to become as physically capable within the confines of our abilities and context. Whether that’s perfect health, within injuries, handicaps, or mental disorders.
Our country has become one of convenience and comfort, allowing for excuses to permeate into our lives. It’s not just about you. If you’re not pushing yourself physically, and thus mentally, you become a liability. Someone else’s problem to fix. Let’s take away the exorbitant impact that obesity has on our healthcare system. If you get in a car wreck, could you drag your passenger out? If you’re in a fire, can you carry someone out? Can you get a body over obstacles? Can you react to physical trauma inflicted upon you, intentional or non-intentional, and mitigate that damage? Can you jump into an ocean or river and save a drowning child? If you had to and were hiking and your friend fell and broke a bone, could you hoof it several miles to get help? What about if it’s below freezing? If someone wished your family harm, or loved one(s) could you defend them? These are all situations I’ve been apart of. And thankfully had positive outcomes because I simply could.
Or, are you dependent on someone else’s resilience and strength? Are you the liability that needs to be saved because you can’t save yourself, or help yourself (obviously withstanding that you’re already a physically capable person).
You CAN. Not only should you, but it’s your responsibility to yourself, to others, to this world. Have too much work? Had a tragedy? There’s a way. Take control. Take responsibility.

01/17/2024

📣 Exciting Announcement! 📣 Five Rings Strength & Conditioning is thrilled to host the USAW Level 1 Coaching Course on March 23rd and 24th!🏋️‍♀️💪

Join us for two days of intensive training, where you’ll have the opportunity to enhance your coaching skills and earn your USAW Level 1 certification. 🎓 Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced coach, this course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools to take your coaching to the next level.

During the course, you’ll learn from USAW International Coach, Walt Neubauer , who will share his expertise and insights on weightlifting techniques, programming, and athlete development. 🏋️‍♂️💡 You’ll also have the chance to participate in hands-on coaching sessions and receive valuable feedback from the instructors.

Mark your calendars for March 23rd and 24th and get ready to dive deep into the world of weightlifting coaching! 🗓️✨ This is an incredible opportunity to expand your knowledge, network with fellow coaches, and elevate your coaching career.

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! To secure your spot, visit our website or give us a call. 📞 We can’t wait to see you at Five Rings Strength & Conditioning for this game-changing event! Let’s elevate our coaching skills together! 🌟💪

01/16/2024

Ghosts of the past always tend to revisit. Rarely will they come bearing gifts of forgiveness. From the streets to the wars, so much violence he made.
As he grew in age he began to follow different ways.
Hounded by the haunted memories from the days that
He was detrimental and he wished that he could change that. But one can never really leave what’s behind.

You can’t undo the fate you’ve designed. If you cover up the tracks and bloodhounds will find the because all debts owed get paid in due time.

01/14/2024

New vending service and machine from . Whitley is a grade A person starting her service now and she’s already got a few in surrounding gyms. These vending machines can hold anything, we even have thumb tape and wrist wraps in there. It’s whatever you need. The advantage is we can provide this service to our members and visiting gyms while none of the work is on us. That’s a dream come true for gym owners with already a lot on top of them.
Of the utmost importance is her integrity. I’ve been in business long enough to know just how much tripe is out there. Whitley is not one of those. She’s in it for the right reasons, and for the right people. It’s important for me to support small business understanding exactly where it all comes from. So from us to you, go support and and get yours!

01/08/2024

Join us in our first weightlifting competition of the year, on March 16th! Link in bio.

The Ides of March - Weightlifting Meet - is a celebration of strength, precision, and athletic prowess. Set against the backdrop of ancient Rome's iconic Ides of March, this competition brings together weightlifters of any level from across the land to showcase their power and skill. Athletes will compete in the sn**ch and clean and jerk, pushing their limits to claim victory and eternal glory. The event is not just a test of physical strength but also a tribute to the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

May the weights be lifted high and the champions be crowned on this historic day of lifting!

**ch