JT Torres Announces Location Of His New Gym On East Coast

Nearly four months after leaving San Diego for the East Coast, JT Torres finally holds the keys to his new academy.

The future Atos New York will be located in a 3,000 square-foot former yoga studio, in the town of Hartsdale, in Westchester County, just 22 miles north of Manhattan. “Being born and raised in New York, I gravitated toward that area,” Torres said.

My intent was always, from the very beginning, not to be inside New York City, but right outside and close enough to where people can visit me from New York City, and vice versa.  

Torres and his long-time girlfriend Iolanda Scotto had been looking at locations both in New York and New Jersey, and had even put in offers on a few, but never received a call back. 

When Scotto came across the listing in an online real estate website, the couple went to check it out, and everything fell into place. 

“This is the spot that was meant for me. Maybe if the land lords in the other spots I was going for in New York and New Jersey had responded back to me, I might be in a different spot,” Torres said. “But I believe everything happens for a reason, so when I submitted my offer to this location, the landlord got back to me ASAP. He said, ‘You got yourself a deal.’ And we went from there.”

With the lease signed and the keys in hand, Torres is now in the process of finalizing a new floor plan and getting approval from the town for renovations. 
Currently divided into two separate areas, Torres plans to clear the dividing structures and create an open-space concept, with a single large mat area. The studio already had two locker rooms, but he plans on making changes to those and installing showers, as well as putting in a lounge and cafe area. 

The location is exceptionally located, with easy access to a major New York freeway - the Cross Bronx Expressway - as well as the metro, with a stop located just across the street.

“I think a good amount of people travel into the city to get good jiu jitsu training, and I hope to fill that void, where you don’t have to travel all the way into the city to get world class jiu jitsu,” Torres said. “And it’s also a great thing for visitors too, because we all know that inside the city it’s expensive. So now you can stay outside city, get some good training, jump on the train and hang out in the city during the day, and come back for night class.” 

Torres hopes to open his doors to students in late January or early February, with pre-registration beginning around the end of December. 

Follow Torres on Instagram for the latest updates on the progress of Atos New York.