Why this New Jersey gym is known as the 'most dangerous gym in America'

"After finishing the first set of 300 triceps pushdowns with sweat dripping from my face, my arms felt as if they might burst. I dropped to the wooden push-up board and completed 30 superset pushups before catching my breath until the next set. That's when Shay "Unc" Fletcher suddenly turned to our photographer, Justin Sorensen, and asked for his camera."

"On a late February 2025 night, a TikTok clip stopped my scrolling. At first, it felt like it was a skit. A young influencer, Adam the Dunker, challenged an older man to beat him in an exercise for $1,000. The older man was Unc. Unc wasn't intimidated by the challenge or interested in the money. Instead, he flipped the challenge into something far more punishing. He handed the influencer two 45-pound plates and instructed him to curl alongside him -- no rep count, no finish line."

Diamond Gym in Maplewood, New Jersey enforces intense, participatory workouts that draw athletes, influencers, and visitors into demanding routines. Regulars like Shay “Unc” Fletcher lead unrelenting challenges that require continuous effort until an explicit stop. Newcomers and even photographers are pulled into workouts as part of a communal initiation. Viral moments, including a TikTok confrontation with an influencer and a visit from NFL star A.J. Brown, broaden the gym's reputation for toughness. The culture emphasizes endurance, shared accountability, and a willingness to push physical limits regardless of who walks through the door.

Read at ESPN.com