ROCKPORT – The fitness enterprise built by Chris Chacon and Jack Hauprich has grown yet again. This time, the two have moved their CJ Strength and Conditioning to a larger multi-use facility at 321 Commercial Street (Route 1) in Rockport. The duo, whose business started incidentally, are learning as they go; yet, they’ve already nailed a niche market with their friendliness and hospitality.

With bulk biceps peeking from shirt sleeves, in a room full of iron, and two monster truck tires that they occasionally roll around for exercise, the two are nonetheless humble and sensitive. They offer a variety of exercise programs and training, ranging from high school sports and fire department fitness, to self-defense classes for women on Islesboro. 

In their large, open-spaced gym, Chacon and Hauprich work to ward off the intimidation factor new clients sometimes experience.

“If someone comes in, me and Chris just push them right in,” Hauprich said. “Everybody, all of the clients are like, ‘check it out, it’s not so scary.’”

“It’s very much relaxed,” Chacon said. “It’s much less competitive. It’s very technically easy. There’s not a lot of technical movements.”

J Strength and Conditioning moved their business from the the Pitch, in Warren, to their new spot on Commercial Street in Rockport for need of space.

"We really enjoyed working with the crew at the Pitch, but we outgrew our space pretty quickly," said Chacon.

Now that they've gotten settled, they're having an Open House on July 1 to introduce the public to their gym and to thank their clients for their patience during the transition.

Hauprich is very clear about the goals at CJ Strength: “Safety is our first priority, then having fun, working hard, guiding our clients to push themselves in a community of support and camaraderie. That’s our aim. That’s what drives us.”

According to Hauprich, the exercises for first responders, firefighters in particular, are geared toward functionality. 

“A lot of picking things up,” Hauprich said. “A lot of lower back problems.”

In that regard, the two come up with programs for all clients.

“Whether you reach up to get a big bag of sugar, or picking up the couch to get to your potato chips,” he said. “We think of that when we program stuff like that. It all goes into it, the every day movements, and keeping joints and ligaments healthy.”

Both Chacon and Hauprich remain active in the community: Hauprich is a firefighter in the Camden Fire Department, and Chacon spends many hours volunteering with different organizations, and helping friends who are getting started in business.

"Busy is good," says Chacon. "We've worked long and hard to get to this place. We won't complain about busy!"

Years ago, Chacon and Hauprich got their foot in the door by volunteering their skills and knowledge to the athletes at Camden Hills Regional High School. After awhile, the athletic director approached them with an offer to start paying them.

“Which was really, really awesome since it was something we weren’t too sure how to approach,” Chacon said. “And we weren’t too sure if we wanted to approach it that way either. So that just fell into our lap, which was a huge stroke of luck for us.”

Now the two, along with their one paid fitness instructor, Amy, look forward to expanding the brick and mortar aspects of the business, developing more friendly, functional programs for the average person, and getting involved with community fundraisers and events.

“We’ve been loving it,” Chacon said.

CJ Strength offers a 20 percent discount to students and first responders. They also offer a 10 percent discount to couples. 

Every Saturday morning they offer a free class from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and free open gym time from 10:30 to noon.

On Saturday, July 1, there will also be free classes and gym time.

For more information: CJ Strength & Conditioning, LLC - 321 Commercial Street - Rockport, ME 04856, 207.592.3004, www.cjstrength.com