The Road to Competition Season Begins: Why Kingdom FIT’s Training Phase Kicks Off December 16th — and Why You Need To Be There

Every year, fitness communities across the country hit the reset button in January, launching into new routines and ambitious goals. But at Kingdom FIT Harrisburg, the energy sparks earlier — weeks before most gyms are even thinking about the new year. This December, Kingdom FIT is rewriting the standard approach to goal-setting and performance training by officially launching its 2026 Competition Season Training beginning Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30pm, led by certified personal trainer Marteena.

This is not simply another class. This is the beginning of a season — a structured, intentionally designed coaching experience crafted to prepare athletes for the upcoming 2026 competition lineup, including DEKA STRONG, the Kingdom FIT Games, and the TRU Challenge.

What happens on December 16 is the first step on a journey that will shape the physical, mental, and emotional resilience of every athlete who steps onto the training floor.

Why Competition Season Training Matters

Most people think competitions are won on event day — in the chaos, adrenaline, and intensity of the moment. The truth is, competitions are won in the months of consistent, structured, progressive training leading up to the event. The warmup room, the cheering crowds, and the final buzzer are simply the showcase of the hours of discipline that came before.

That is why Kingdom FIT has always believed in preparing athletes early.

Competition requires:

• An elevated conditioning base

• A strong, reliable engine

• Grip strength and pulling capacity

• Stability under fatigue

• Mental pacing

• Movement efficiency

• Trust in teammates and coaches

• Confidence earned through training

None of those qualities appear magically during the competition. They are forged (literally and figuratively) through repeated exposures to structured workouts, discipline, and skill-building.

Starting training on December 16 ensures:

1. Athletes begin building the engine they’ll need for DEKA STRONG

2. Strength and barbell mechanics sharpen well before Kingdom FIT Games

3. Teamwork foundations are laid early for the TRU Challenge

4. Members enter January ahead of the curve, not trying to catch up

5. Athletes begin the season already mentally committed to their goals

This is the Kingdom FIT difference: We prepare differently because we compete differently.

Why December Instead of January? Because Champions Don’t Wait

January is crowded. January is chaotic. January is when energy is high but discipline is low.

Starting in December gives athletes:

• Time to establish new habits before the new year rush

• Psychological momentum heading into 2026

• A head start on conditioning while other gyms are coasting

• A smooth transition into higher-intensity phases come January

• A competitive advantage — period

By the time January 1st arrives, Kingdom FIT athletes won’t be setting goals. They’ll already be executing them.

Introducing the Lead Coach: Marteena — Precision, Power, and Purpose

If you’ve trained with Marteena, you already know: Her coaching is a balance of strength, structure, and empowerment. Her standards elevate people. Her cues make movements safer and more efficient. Her presence makes athletes better.

Choosing her to lead the first official session of competition season was intentional.

What makes Marteena the right coach for this kickoff session?

• She understands form, function, and flow

• Her coaching style emphasizes safety under intensity

• She has a proven track record of helping athletes progress quickly

• She holds people accountable without discouraging them

• She builds confidence through repetition and refinement

• She is detail-oriented and patient, but also demanding in the best way

This first session sets the tone for the entire season.And Kingdom FIT wanted a coach who excels at tone-setting.

What to Expect on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30pm

This initial session is more than a workout.It is a strategic starting point designed to:

• Establish a baseline

• Teach the framework for competition preparation

• Build community among competitors

• Clarify expectations for the weeks ahead

• Introduce movement patterns that will reappear throughout the season

The session will include:

1. A Competition-Style Warm-Up

Expect dynamic mobility, stability drills, activation sequences, and movement prep designed to maximize performance and reduce injury risk.

This warm-up will become the standard you use throughout the season.

2. Movement Skill Work

Depending on athlete needs, this may include:

• Hinging mechanics

• Thruster technique

• Burpee efficiency

• Rowing stroke refinement

• Kettlebell cycling

• Grip development drills

• Bracing and breathing patterns

Skill efficiency is the easiest way to improve competition times — before conditioning even becomes a factor.

3. A Prep-Phase Workout

The workout will be built around foundational movement patterns that appear repeatedly in:

• DEKA STRONG

• Kingdom FIT Games

• TRU Challenge

Examples of movement categories you can expect:

• Deadlift variations

• Squat patterns

• Push/pull sequences

• Core and rotational work

• Conditioning intervals (row/bike/ski)

• Bodyweight movements under fatigue

This is not meant to crush you — it is meant to teach your body how to learn competition-style training capacity.

4. Team & Community Engagement

Competitions are never done alone. Athletes will begin:

• Partnering for drills

• Learning pacing strategies

• Encouraging one another

• Creating accountability

• Understanding how teamwork impacts performance

5. A Debrief + Training Expectations

After the workout, athletes will receive:

• An overview of the 2026 competition calendar

• Insight into how training phases will progress

• Guidance on what to focus on outside of class

• Nutrition basics to support training demands

• Recovery protocols for injury prevention

• A Q&A opportunity with Marteena

Most importantly — this session allows athletes to feel connected to the season ahead.

How This Session Connects to the 2026 Competition Lineup

Competition preparation is not random — it is structured around three major events Kingdom FIT athletes will face in 2026.

Below is how the December 16th kickoff builds the earliest foundations for what’s coming ahead.

1. DEKA STRONG — The Engine Builder

DEKA is not about heavy weights or complex skills.It is about:

• Aerobic capacity

• Anaerobic threshold

• Movement efficiency

• Mental toughness

• Transition speed

• Pacing control

The December 16th workout aligns with these demands by:

• Introducing interval formats

• Refining basic movement mechanics

• Challenging lungs in controlled ways

• Teaching athletes how to keep moving even under fatigue

DEKA STRONG is often the first competition athletes ever try because it is accessible.This session gives a taste of what it requires: consistency, grit, and rhythm.

2. Kingdom FIT Games — The Skill & Strength Test

The Kingdom FIT Games take everything a member learns throughout the year and compress it into four workouts testing:

• Strength

• Endurance

• Skill cycling

• Burpee efficiency

• Core control

• Rowing under fatigue

• Barbell confidence

• Kettlebell power

Beginning training in December builds:

• A strength foundation for the barbell events

• Proper movement patterns for front squats, thrusters, and hinge work

• Conditioning tolerance for interval-based workouts

• Familiarity with the structure of event-style training

Athletes who wait until January to start training will be a full month behind those who show up December 16th.

3. TRU Challenge — The Teamwork Event

By April, the focus shifts to:

• Communication

• Synchronization

• Shared workload under fatigue

• Partner pacing strategy

• Mental resilience

• Unbroken sets

• Role identification (who does what best?)

Team-based training starts long before the TRU Challenge. It begins with small drills, shared intervals, and communication practice inside classes — exactly what will begin on December 16.

Mental Preparation Starts Now

Competition training is more than physical effort. It requires a mindset shift:

• Discipline > motivation

• Consistency > intensity

• “Show up” > “feel like it”

• Long-term progression > short-term soreness

• Purpose > ego

Starting training on December 16:

• Helps athletes mentally commit before holiday distractions

• Establishes structure during a month most people abandon routine

• Reinforces accountability in a season often lacking it

• Creates momentum heading into January

• Builds identity: “I am an athlete preparing for something bigger.”

When athletes step into 2026 with identity, not just intention, the likelihood of success skyrockets.

What Athletes Can Expect in the Weeks Following December 16th

While the first session is crucial, the weeks that follow build steadily toward competition readiness.

Here is the training arc you can expect:

Phase 1: Foundation Building (Mid December – Early January)

Focus:

• Technique

• Aerobic volume

• Low-to-moderate intensity

• Consistency

• Movement quality

• Building training rhythm

• Preventing injury as training loads increase

This is the “don’t skip the basics” phase.

Phase 2: Strength & Conditioning Progression (January – Early February)

This phase integrates:

• Deadlift variations

• Barbell complexes

• Row/ski/bike intervals

• Burpees under fatigue

• Kettlebell strength circuits

• EMOMs and AMRAPs

• More complex pacing work

Intensity increases — carefully and intentionally.

Phase 3: Competition Simulation Phase (Mid February – April)

This is where it gets exciting.

Athletes will begin:

• Practicing competition-style workouts

• Running shortened versions of WODs

• Training transitions

• Doing partner or team formats

• Working under time caps

• Learning rep strategy

• Breaking through mental barriers

This phase is where confidence and performance grow exponentially.

Why You Should Attend the December 16 Kickoff — Even If You’re Not 100% Sure You’ll Compete

Not everyone trains for the podium.Some train for:

• Confidence

• Structure

• Better fitness

• Accountability

• Community

• Mental discipline

• A personal challenge

Competition training benefits everyone, because competition behavior elevates everyday performance.

You should attend if:

• You want to get fitter

• You want a consistent routine

• You want a challenge

• You need a push

• You love structure

• You want to be part of something bigger

• You thrive with coaching

• You want to see what you're capable of

The kickoff class does not require commitment to any competition — just commitment to yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be in great shape to start training on December 16?

No. The training is scalable, and Marteena will coach modifications for all fitness levels.

What do I need to bring?

Water, comfortable training shoes, and a positive attitude. You’ll be guided through everything else.

Do I need to sign up ahead of time?

Yes — the class may hit capacity. Register in your app as usual.

Is this only for people planning to compete in 2026?

Not at all. Anyone looking to improve conditioning, movement quality, and performance will benefit.

How long is the session?

Approximately 60 minutes from start to finish.

The Beginning of Something Bigger

December 16 is more than a date. It is a statement.

A declaration that Kingdom FIT members take their training seriously. That excellence starts early. That preparation is part of the culture. That community fuels growth. That strength is earned. That confidence is built rep by rep, week by week, season by season.

And that every athlete — experienced or new — deserves the chance to step into 2026 with momentum.

Competition season begins Tuesday, December 16th at 6:30pm with Coach Marteena.

You don’t have to be ready. You just have to show up.

Let this be the night you mark the beginning of your 2026 transformation.