More than just a physical space

Located in Abdali, Amman, KABs Underground is hidden from the visible eye on street level. The gym, which opened this year and is located downstairs from one of its supplement store locations, KABS FitFactory, is truly a wonderland for any fitness or architecture enthusiast.اضافة اعلان

Down the spiral stairs where wood, exposed pipe, and brick meet, KABS Underground is a playground of red and black fitness equipment, exposed pipe, and industrial wood as well as some quirky signs and movie posters provided by Amman-based online store, ReduxJo.



While its motto is “Back to Basics”, it is undoubtedly nothing basic.

Awn Kabiriti, founder and CEO of KABS FitFactory, DNA Fitness Evolution, and KABS Underground, is not an unfamiliar face to many athletes in the Kingdom. Kabiriti is known in Jordan for his support to many athletes, and when asked about his future for the physical space, he shared more than just an expansion, but a revolution for the sporting scene in general.

“Literally, I would love to be the place that supports all types of sports, fitness, and wellness under one roof and not necessarily by myself, we do cooperate with a lot of other gyms, facilities, and athletes,” he said.



And that cooperation stands true. Located next to KABS Underground and FitFactory, Gladiator MMA is currently one of the facilities that is in partnership with the space. KABS Underground coaches provide science-based training and general wellness support for Gladiator’s professional and amateur athletes.

“The vision is to open up the possibilities to have people that may have the skills, even someone who is very interested and has passion. We can help prepare them, take them to another level,” said Kabiriti.

In addition to Gladiator MMA, KABS Underground is also in cooperation with crossfit program Stay Driven, coached by KABS athletes and award-winning crossfit athletes/coaches, Qout Abaza, Sara Abu Shawish, and Anas Al-Jaabari.

‘People have a lot of talent here (in Jordan), but it’s just hidden, people don’t know where to go, or their capabilities, so we are always looking’

The space also looks to fill in the current gaps of knowledge in the sporting scene in the Kingdom.

“One of the problems we have with sports is that we are only focusing on the sport itself,” said Kabiriti. “Basketball, they only do basketball, strength and conditioning is just basics — we want to have a facility to do specific, measurable goals that are very scientific.”

The scientific approach to preparing athletes, however, is not done with a “hustle and burnout” mentality. Serving through teamwork and a friendly atmosphere, passion is always at the forefront for Kabiriti.



“People have a lot of talent here (in Jordan), but it’s just hidden, people don’t know where to go, or their capabilities, so we are always looking,” Kabiriti continued “We will study that sport and build that ability to prepare the needs for that sport… whether it is basic or complicated, we will try to study it and improve it.”

While that goal of taking sports to another level, especially through a scientific approach, has not been achieved just yet, Kabiriti and his team are making strides to ensure that they reach that point.

Manager of KABS Underground, coach, and athlete Amani Musleh said: “The idea behind KABS is to gather all the sports and all the top coaches all in one place and train people in the same spot, including kids.”

Meanwhile, the focus is not just on the athletes — KABS also focuses on its employees’ growth and wellness.

Musleh said: “I always hear people comment on the owners supporting the athletes and the employees as well as employees who love their jobs … this is why I wanted to work with these people.”

Part of employee wellness and growth includes training for the trainers as well as different workshops and an overall environment that provides consistency and positivity with a bigger vision in mind.



Beyond the concept of expanding sports in Jordan, Kabiriti also took a thoughtful approach when building the gym ­— reusing and upcycling different materials to add a sustainable touch. With a fun approach of turning trash into treasure, the gym is thoughtfully laid out with an open plan and consistent design throughout the space.

And when it comes to design, Kabiriti opted for local talent to build the physical space, hiring workers from the contracting and electrical industry and giving them liberty and freedom to put their fingerprint on the design of the gym.

“The people who worked on the gym and did the design can be seen as artists — just look at the exposed pipes and its design,” Kabiriti said.

Finger strength can also be tested at KABS with the new video game machine installed in the gym. Workouts are far from boring at the fitness center.

Kabiriti ended with: “I want to bring it to another level for all of Jordan, and that’s the goal I have in mind.”


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