Prison-Style Bootcamp: Coss Marte

Coss Marte is a hustler. He grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan surrounded by drugs, crime, and poverty. As a kid, he quickly learned that selling drugs could result in big gains and became a successful, small-time neighborhood kingpin, dealing marijuana, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. But, that’s a previous chapter of Mr. Marte’s life. It was only after a final, long stint in prison that he resolved to change his ways. However, he found he was hindered by the impediments that plague most inmates— finding work.

Fast-forward to now, and Coss now has his own business, “Conbody”. The concept is billed as “prison-style boot camp”, which Mr. Marte developed while in prison after doctors warned him that his health threatened his life. The body weight tactics Marte used to lose 70 pounds within six months while in prison, helped develop the intense workouts you’ll find at Conbody today. As the company grows, Marte has intentionally employed former inmates, giving others the opportunity he struggled to find.

In the interview below, we chat with Marte about his natural-born business sense, and ability to flip a negative situation to a positive. We were also able to take a trip to his studio to get a few fitness tips, and discuss what it’s really like getting ripped behind bars.

You were born and raised in NY – Can you give us a little bit about your background growing up in the city?

I was born and raised in the Lower East Side in the 80’s/90’s. Things were a bit rough back then with the neighborhood being primarily drug infested/very poor, but it was more of a community. Now it’s turned into a wealthier/cleaner neighborhood, but less of a community.

What were some of the situations/influences in your youth that led you down the wrong path and landed you in prison?

I followed the guys that hung out on the corner. Some of them were family members and they had everything I wanted, which was money. I pursued them because it was the quickest way out of poverty for me.

Where did the concept behind Conbody come from, and when was the fitness turning point for you?

I came up with ConBody in prison while I was in solitary confinement and I felt it was a way, which I can give back to society rather than to hurt them like I did once before.

The tagline behind Conbody is “Prison style bootcamp,” sounds pretty intimidating, what kind of workout can somebody expect when they walk into Conbody?

ConBody concentrates on just utilizing one’s bodyweight as resistance but we push you to the limit. It’s multi-level classes and you shouldn’t be scared at all. My mom who’s 62-years-old does it 4 times a week, but she’s dealt with me so she’s tough!

How did you develop the prison style routine?

I developed the routine in prison through a variations of workouts that I learned from other prisoners. Also through the Shock program that’s ran by correctional officers who were marines, which makes us do military style workouts every morning and day throughout this program.

What are some of the major successes you’ve experienced since starting Conbody?

Our major successes were really breaking down the stereotypes of formerly incarcerated individuals with young professionals. Secondly, taking this off the ground and raising capital to make our dream a reality. I believe we’re still in the very early stages and there is so much more to tackle.

We read that you initially started your fitness business as Coss Athletics, what made you decide to change the name?

We changed it because we wanted people to understand what we were doing. I came up with Coss Athletics because it was safe, but after people began to embrace the prison style workouts we rebranded.

Switching gears a bit, it seems you’ve always had an entrepreneurial sense and hustle in you. Where does that come from?

I believe the hustle comes from the struggles I have been through and the eagerness to escape them. In addition, it may be genetic too because my dad and mom are extremely hard working people.

Would you contribute that to the success of Conbody?

Yes, it takes a lot of hustle and dedication to make it work and I believe without it this wouldn’t be possible.