How to Build a Home Gym on a Budget

Let’s face it – training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t cheap, and adding a gym membership on top of that makes it even more expensive, especially in New York City, where gym memberships can sometimes cost over $200 per month.

Realizing that my workouts primarily focus on functional movements designed for injury prevention, I realized that I could get in an excellent workout in the convenience of my own home, and for a fraction of the cost of a gym membership.

Kettlebells

The first item in my gym was to purchase a set of kettlebells. I’m a huge proponent of Pavel Tsatsouline’s approach to kettlebell training, especially his Simple & Sinister program. As kettlebells form the nucleus of my training program, I picked up four of them: 1 x 12kg, 2 x 16kg, and 1 x 20kg. Something like this AmazonBasics Cast Iron Kettlebell will work just fine. It’s economical and is well balanced.

Exercise Mat

I also needed a gym mat so that I could have a solid surface for my feet to grip, and for a bit of padding. I find that this Gxmmat Large Yoga Mat works great and is very reasonably priced.

Pull-Up Bar and TRX Suspension Trainer

Living in a New York City apartment, space is always an issue. I purchased this Iron Age Pull Up Bar has worked great. It installs easily, takes up very little space, and hangs very securely.

On the pull-up bar, I hang my TRX Suspension Trainer, which I use for some recovery exercises when my shoulder acts up or simply to vary my strength training routine.

Summary

I also keep around a foam roller, my white belt (for assistance when stretching), and my Withings Body+ Scale. The scale is extremely helpful for tracking progress and for making sure I on track to make weight when preparing for competition.

Altogether, my home gym cost about $500 and has everything I need. I love working out from home and my workouts are incredibly focused. I highly recommend a home gym to everyone.

AmazonBasics Cast Iron Kettlebell

Gxmmat Large Yoga Mat

Iron Age Pull Up Bar

TRX GO Suspension Training

Withings Body+ Scale

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