AARMY, the elite performance training brand founded by former professional athlete and coach Akin Akman, has announced the launch of its global franchising initiative alongside the debut of AARMY Academy Coach Training (AACT). Together, these programs establish a new standard in developing world-class coaches and expanding AARMY’s championship culture worldwide.
The brand’s first franchise partners will open in Singapore and Thailand through a partnership with Absolute, a leading performance and fitness operator in Asia. This expanded relationship signals AARMY’s commitment to setting global standards and establishing its presence in key international training hubs.
AARMY’s philosophy is defined by Akin’s journey from a career-ending injury as a tennis prodigy at IMG Academy to becoming the world’s #1 group fitness coach. Akin’s vision is built on grit, resilience, and the conviction that everyone is an athlete. Athletes travel from around the world to AARMY’s New York headquarters, where team standards and championship culture drive every training session.
“AARMY was built to bring out the greatness in people. Champions are made through discipline and the relentless pursuit of excellence. With franchising and AARMY Academy Coach Training, we’re carrying that system to the world by ensuring every team trains, competes, and lives by the same standards of champions.” – Akin Akman, Co-Founder and CEO of AARMY
AARMY Academy Coach Training (AACT)
Launching with AARMY’s global expansion, AACT is an advanced digital training system open to anyone ready to commit to the standard and embrace the same methods used to build champions. It’s your opportunity to be immersed in AARMY’s world-class methodology, gaining the discipline, structure, and mental toughness that define elite performance.
Becoming AACT-trained is a mark of achievement. It’s proof that you’ve gone through the same demanding process that shapes AARMY coaches. While completion of AACT does not automatically make you an AARMY coach, it prepares you to operate at the highest standard, and positions you to lead, inspire, and train with the same system trusted by athletes worldwide.
“AACT isn’t about labels or titles. It’s about preparation, discipline, and proving yourself every single day. Coaches must be trained, tested, and ready to adapt because when you step into AARMY, the expectation is that you deliver with integrity and meet the standards of champions.” – Akin Akman
Franchise Model
AARMY is structured as a performance training system modeled after world-class academies and elite organizations such as the WTA, NFL, and MLS, not as another boutique fitness studio. Each franchise serves as a flagship training arena, designed to elevate athletic performance while driving lasting success.
Founded in Manhattan under the leadership of Akin Akman, AARMY continues to redefine what it means to train like an athlete. With franchising and coach development at its core, AARMY is ensuring discipline, consistency, and opportunity as it builds elite training hubs across the globe.
With two New York training arenas, its NoHo headquarters and a Chelsea pop-up, and a global digital platform, AARMY delivers high-intensity training designed for those who want to think and perform like champions. Every session is structured like team practice: disciplined, intentional, and built to push both physical and mental limits. AARMY coaches come directly from Division I programs, professional sport, or through AARMY’s own rigorous coach development system, ensuring every leader is equipped to cultivate mental toughness, personal discipline, and relentless drive. When you train with AARMY, you train like an athlete: shoulder to shoulder with athletes. AARMY is more than a workout; it is a system and a mindset built to carry into every arena of life.
About Akin Akman
Akin Akman, Co-Founder and CEO of AARMY, began his training at age seven at the world-renowned IMG Academy under legendary Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri. A former tennis prodigy and Turkey’s #1 junior, he transitioned into high-performance coaching and has spent over 20 years developing elite athletes and building championship programs. He founded AARMY to bring the discipline and systems of professional training to a wider audience. The AARMY Method delivers championship-level preparation with the standards, intensity, and results of elite athletic development. Under Akin’s leadership, AARMY has proven its model in Manhattan, one of the most competitive markets in the world. His systematic approach to training, operations, and culture ensures every franchise location upholds championship standards while achieving lasting success.
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