ABOUT US
JDI was conceptualized by Jesse Irrizary from the confines of a crossfit gym in Chinatown in 2015. Jesse saw a need for Olympic weightlifters to have a proper space to train, and the crossfit gym just wasn’t cutting it. Jesse and one of his athletes put the cash, the effort, and some blind faith together to found JDI Barbell. Thus, JDI’s first location was born in Long Island City, NYC, built on the foundation of high-level coaching and strong community. JDI grew out of it’s closet-sized first space into a larger version, which brought a proper powerlifting space into the fold. In 2018, Alex Hall joined JDI as a strength coach, teaching beginner strength training and powerlifting classes. Alex quickly became a key part of the team. Recognizing his dedication and leadership, Jesse invited Alex to join him as co-owner of JDI Barbell. When Alex joined the leadership team, JDI shifted a bit and began its first version of a 24/7 access model. But Alex had always dreamed of a strength gym in Harlem, and after COVID 19 forced JDI to shut down, he and Jesse took JDI Barbell to Harlem in the summer of 2020. Following the soft launch of the Harlem, Priscilla Delmoral joined JDI as a member and world class powerlifter. Working as a personal trainer at Equinox, Alex and Jesse invited her to join the team as a strength coach and to build her career at JDI. She steadily worked her way up to become the manager of JDI Harlem. When Jesse and Alex saw that JDI Harlem was a workable concept, they wanted to do it again. They had brought a proper strength gym to the top of the island of Manhattan, but that wasn’t enough. They wanted to secure JDI Barbell as NYC’s strength gym and knew they had to hit the bottom of the island as well. Thus, they began working on JDI barbell TriBeCa. Because of her hard work and drive, Priscilla joined the ownership team in 2022 as JDI TriBeCa was opening. She is now the third co-owner of JDI Barbell.
How we began is important because it is a representation of our mission here at JDI Barbell. At JDI Barbell, our mission is to increase people’s access to strength training by providing high quality equipment, high-level coaching, and communal spaces for people to grow physically and mentally. As a part of this mission, we build people up, not only as high-level athletes and coaches, but as developing members of our community and of our team. We empower people to become their strongest selves, physically and mentally through intentional training and meaningful connection on and off of the gym floor. JDI Barbell is more than a place to train — it’s a place to grow, belong, and become your best.
OUR OWNERS
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Jesse Irizary
Owner & Founder
Jesse (CSCS, USAW Coach) has over fifteen years of professional experience in strength and conditioning. He began as a college strength coach and moved on to found JDI Barbell in 2016. He is a genuine student of strength and movement practice, with a true and comprehensive understanding of programming and coaching in weightlifting, powerlifting, and general strength training.
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Alex Hall
Owner
Alex competed in his first powerlifting meet inside of a New York State Prison in 2010. Powerlifting became a passion of his because it added depth to his years of self study and his practice of bodybuilding and general strength training. He has gone on to become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), strength coach, and co-owner of JDI Barbell. He is a strength coach with a unique body of knowledge and experience coaching lifters.
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Priscilla Del Moral
Owner & Manager
Priscilla Del Moral, ventured into powerlifting in 2018 and has since achieved the titles of three-time USVI National Champion and two-time IPF World Championships team member. With a Bachelor's of Science in Human Behavior and a Master's in Health and Wellness, Priscilla has devoted her career to comprehending the significance of strength training for both physical and mental well-being. In 2023, she established the non-profit organization, The Strong Gurls Club, with a mission to empower and create opportunities for women in the realm of strength training.
OUR COACHES
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Kenny Bretania
Powerlifting & Weightlifting Coach
Kenny fell in love with the sport of weightlifting after his first CrossFit class back in 2012. Since then, he has devoted much of his free time to refining his skills both as an athlete, and as a weightlifting coach. Kenny has been a staple at JDI since its inception, and is a core member of our community. He has both his USAW Level 1 & 2 Certification, and USAPL Club Coach Certification.
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Emilio Azukwu
Powerlifting & Weightlifting Coach
A former NCAA Division 1 track and field athlete with experience playing amateur basketball and football, Emilio (NASM-CPT) is an energetic and enthusiastic coach. Emilio first got involved with Powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting in 2021 when he first began training at JDI Barbell, which later culminated in his first Supertotal Competition in September 2022. ASs an active, national level competitor in both Powerlifting and Weightlifting, Emilio believes that strength training should a lifestyle. He has worked with various fitness levels and is more than capable of helping individuals become successful at leading healthier lifestyles through strength training.
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Justin Sene
General Strength & Weightlifting Coach
Justin Sene is a Strength & Conditioning Coach, & competitive Weightlifter. Like many of us, he started working out with a sports team and eventually found himself in local gyms. As a coach, it is his mission to guide people toward the same positivity he experienced while lifting! Justin is a master of cultivating community around the barbell. Through that community, he pushes clients in ways that allow them to enjoy the process! Whether it is weightlifting or general S&C, his philosophy is that we shouldn’t just be strong with a barbell but prepared for the task’s life throws our way.
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CJ
General Strength & Weightlifting Coach
Collins, also known as CJ, is a dedicated and detail-oriented coach who takes pride in helping others build strong foundations through simple, effective progressions.
He began his athletic journey in tennis, eventually coaching the sport before expanding into strength training. A former JROTC cadet, CJ earned 2nd place in the Ultimate Fitness Cadet category at the 2024 Daytona Raider Nationals, placing in the top 10 across multiple events.Now pursuing his bachelor’s degree, CJ specializes in Olympic weightlifting and competes actively in the sport. His passion for fitness has evolved over the years, but his commitment to educating and empowering others remains constant. He brings that mission to life as a Weightlifting and Strength & Conditioning Coach at JDI Barbell.
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Peter Jin
Powerlifting Coach
Peter is a powerlifting and general strength coach—and an active competitive powerlifter—who brings years of movement experience from competitive lifting, swimming, and track & field as a sprinter and hurdler. Moreover, as Team Captain of Columbia University Powerlifting Team (CU Barbell), Peter leads and prepares a collegiate roster for the annual Ivy League Cup, guiding many first-time lifters to the platform. As a coach, he focuses on rock-solid technique, sustainable progress, and smart programming that fits busy schedules. Whether the goal is a first competition total or a stronger, healthier daily life, Peter meets athletes where they are and helps them grow.
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Connor Campell
Remote/Custom Weightlifting Coach
Connor (CSCS, ASCC, BSc, EXOS) joined JDI barbell in September 2022. He has trained in Olympic Weightlifting since 2016 and since then has gone on to qualify in multiple national level competitions. Beyond competing, he has 6 years experience coaching athletes at the Olympic, International, and National levels across a number of sports. Most notably, he represented Team Ireland at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and is on track to support an athlete at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics as well.
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Tony Thorton
General Strength & Weightlifting Coach
Tony has been working in the fitness industry for 6 plus years. He grew playing lacrosse and later competed at the Division 1 Collegiate level at UNC. He has always been passionate about creating a healthy and active lifestyle for himself and helping others do the same. He is a Highschool Strength and Conditioniong Coach at Loyola in NYC and trains clients privately at JDI.