Portsmouth, Ohio, once wore the grim label “Opioid Crisis Capital of America.” But in the heart of this struggling city, the Portsmouth Kettlebell Club offers more than fitness – it offers hope, purpose, and proof that community effort can fuel real recovery.

An Ohio Kettlebell Club Challenges the Cycle of Addiction

Just 100 miles east of Cincinnati, Portsmouth sits alongside the Ohio River. At the turn of the century, it suffered greatly from the opioid crisis. Local businesses shuttered, crime rates spiked, and despair took hold. Dale King, a native of Portsmouth, returned from active duty in Iraq only to find a scarred community. “No one is coming to save us,” King says. His solution? Teach strength. Both physical and mental.

Building Strength, One Rep at a Time

King discovered CrossFit in 2007, drawn by its ability to provide both psychological and physical gains. By 2010, he opened the Portsmouth Spartan Kettlebell Club in a downtown warehouse, offering $5 workouts. But the PSKC is far more than just another Ohio kettlebell club.

At PSKC, King’s team has created the “Portsmouth Method” – a blend of CrossFit, behavioural therapy, and nutritional guidance. “The most important part of recovery is effort, and we train that,” King explains.

Partner and team workouts are at the core of their approach, cultivating teamwork, accountability, and communication. These life skills, developed in the gym, help club members stay resilient in their personal battles.

Portsmouth Kettlebell Club at the Heart of Community Change

King’s club welcomes people from all backgrounds, including many rebuilding their lives. He’s hired former addicts as staff, and works with local counselling facilities and prisons to make exercise central to rehabilitation.

The ripple effect of the gym has been powerful, sparking new business in what was a deserted city centre. “To see the domino effect has been awesome. In a town devastated by weakness, we chose strength,” says King.

Today, Portsmouth Kettlebell Club has 120 devoted members. Many, like the group that calls itself the “Nasty Nooners,” turn up regardless of the weather or holiday.

Stories of Renewal Inside Portsmouth Kettlebell Club

The Power of Teamwork and Effort

At PSKC, routines like the deadlift personal record challenge or the grueling “Diane” Workout of the Day are about more than just muscle. There’s a genuine spirit in the air. “We’re as much a social centre as a fitness club,” King says.

During a midday workout, King attempts a 505-pound deadlift. Despite missing it, his fellow Nasty Nooners encourage him, celebrating the effort. It’s the process that counts.

Overcoming Adversity Through Community

Darin Liston lost both legs in a railway accident in 2020. Instead of falling into despair, he joined the Portsmouth Kettlebell Club thanks to their Some Assembly Required programme. “Three days after I got my prosthetics, I was here,” he shares. “I told Dale, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ He said, ‘I don’t know either, but we sure can try.'” Modifying workouts as needed, Darin says, “The mental aspect is so huge…I just come here and work the demons out.”

From Addiction to Inspiration

Ricky Shaw, now a PSKC coach, knows the struggle of addiction intimately. “The only thing you think about is the next rep,” he reflects. From once struggling to climb stairs, Shaw now deadlifts 455 pounds. The fight against addiction is daily, but Shaw says, “It gets easier when you have classes and people who care.”

Max Byles, a Portsmouth native, broke free from opioid addiction and now helps others as a chemical dependence counsellor. “Social work is about human connection and finding what works for each person. CrossFit, and the Portsmouth Method, is great at adapting.”

The Portsmouth Kettlebell Club Method Goes Beyond Physical Strength

Celebrating Every Victory

Sarah Walker, a local paramedic, tackles drug emergencies at work and stress at the gym. After joining as a Nasty Nooner, she lost 40 pounds in nine months and finished her first “Diane” workout without compromise. “You don’t get this kind of encouragement in other gyms,” she says.

Jim Donnally, the 60-year-old “Gray Ghost,” appreciates the club’s perseverance. “They never give up on their end of the bargain. I’ve been to many CrossFit gyms, but none have the instruction and care PSKC does.” Donnally and others saw the city rebuilt from the gym floor, turning visions into new business and hope.

Building a Supportive Environment

Jillian Werring, PSKC’s communications manager, describes the experience as “mutual suffering.” After a decade at the club, she reflects, “I was severely overweight and badly needed stress relief. I found people who really cared—that’s not something I’d had growing up.”

Coach Ricky Ellis travelled from Washington State and immediately noticed PSKC’s exceptional coaching quality. Now, he and gym manager Monica Sa make Portsmouth home. Monica, originally from Brazil, says, “People tell me all the time how this place has saved them. I had no idea why people did drugs…working here has humbled me. I’m so thankful I was brought into their lives.”

Lessons from the Ohio Kettlebell Club Model

The Portsmouth Kettlebell Club shows that breaking the cycle of addiction is not only about abstaining but about rebuilding community, confidence, and resilience. Their story is a testament to the power of collective effort, structure, and shared struggle.

When a community invests in strength—in both body and character—even the hardest-hit places can find new hope.

Source: Men’s Health