Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Tanaka.
Hi Jay, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had been working in the sushi industry for about 20 years. Primarily, I was a sushi chef in various restaurants, but I also spent several years helping establish sushi kiosks inside supermarkets. The hospitality industry had been such a major part of my life for so long that it was really all I knew professionally.
About six years ago, I moved to Austin and began working as a bar manager at a local sushi restaurant. During my time there, I met my now wife, and after we got married in 2024, we made the decision to create a healthier and more intentional lifestyle together. We wanted to build a strong foundation during our first year of marriage, so we committed ourselves to focusing on fitness, nutrition, and overall wellness — including giving up alcohol entirely.
As I became more invested in that lifestyle, I started realizing how much my priorities and mindset were changing. Working in the bar and restaurant scene no longer aligned with the direction I wanted my life to go. While I’m grateful for everything the hospitality industry taught me: hard work, discipline, customer service, and building relationships – I found myself wanting a career that felt more meaningful and more connected to helping people improve their lives in a positive way.
Around that time, I decided to pursue a certification in personal training and shortly after was introduced to FastFit. What immediately stood out to me was how different the approach was compared to traditional fitness environments. The workouts were efficient, science-backed, and designed to help people build strength safely and sustainably regardless of age or fitness level. I was especially drawn to the idea that many clients were people who had struggled to stay consistent with conventional exercise programs because of time constraints, injuries, or intimidation in a typical gym setting.
The more I learned about isokinetic strength training and the philosophy behind FastFit, the more I realized it aligned perfectly with the changes I had been making in my own life. Fitness had become something that genuinely improved my physical health, mental clarity, and overall quality of life. Through that process, it became very clear to me that I wanted to be part of helping others experience those same benefits for themselves.
Transitioning into FastFit felt like stepping into a career with purpose. Instead of serving people food and drinks for a few hours of enjoyment, I now get the opportunity to help people work toward long-term health, strength, and confidence. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch clients progress toward goals they may not have thought were possible and to be part of a positive environment centered around wellness and personal growth.
Looking back, the career change was definitely a leap of faith, but it has been one of the most fulfilling decisions I’ve made. It allowed me to align my work with the values and lifestyle I truly believe in, and I’m excited to continue growing within the fitness and wellness industry.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Transitioning into a completely new industry was certainly intimidating at first, especially after spending so many years in hospitality. However, the fulfillment that came from being able to help others, quickly alleviated any concerns I had.
The more time I spent working with clients and seeing the positive impact that strength training could have on their lives, the more confident I became that I had made the right decision. Being able to support people as they improve their health, rebuild strength, and work toward goals they once thought were out of reach has been incredibly rewarding and has given me a renewed sense of purpose in my career.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I help people transform their bodies and improve their overall health through 20-minute strength training workouts using isokinetic, responsive resistance machines. Unlike traditional weight training, the technology automatically adjusts to the user’s output in real time, providing consistent resistance throughout the entire range of motion. This creates a workout experience that is not only highly effective, but also significantly safer and more joint-friendly than many conventional training methods. With isokinetic training, clients are able to achieve a high level of muscular fatigue and stimulation in a very short amount of time, making it possible to build strength, improve muscle tone and increase bone density
Because the resistance adapts to the individual, the workouts are accessible to people at many different fitness levels – from beginners and older adults to experienced athletes and individuals recovering from injuries. My role is not only to guide clients through the workouts, but also to educate, motivate, and support them as they work toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident versions of themselves.
What makes the work especially rewarding is seeing how fitness positively impacts areas of life beyond physical appearance. Many clients experience improvements in energy, confidence, mobility and long-term quality of life. Being part of that process and helping people build sustainable healthy habits is what makes this career so fulfilling to me.
How do you define success?
Success is creating a life that feels aligned with your values and gives you a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It’s not just about financial achievement or status, but about becoming the kind of person you want to be and having a positive impact on the people around you.
I define success as having meaningful relationships, maintaining physical and mental health, continuing to grow and learn, and waking up each day feeling that the work I’m doing genuinely matters. I think success also means having the courage to make difficult changes when something no longer aligns with the direction you want your life to go.
Success is less about reaching a final destination and more about consistently moving in a direction that reflects your priorities, values, and long-term vision for your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maisaic.com/jay_tanaka
