About Kraken
This is not a commercial gym.
It's a results-driven training environment where every member matters, every session has purpose, and every goal is taken seriously. Kraken Performance Gym was formed out of a need to provide quality training away from the corporate world.
In memory of Hammer.
The gym's name honors Gary Hodges — known to those who trained with him as Hammer. In 2011 he ran a small circuit-style fitness class in Bassett, Virginia. The owners, Remi and Ben, attended regularly. His knowledge, his standards, and a phrase he'd shout to push lifters past their limits — "Release the Kraken" — shaped the way we coach today.
Gary passed unexpectedly in 2016. We dedicated this gym to his memory and to his belief that we'd reach our full potential. That's still the standard.
Our mission: Helping you unlock your full potential through expert coaching, intentional programming, and an environment designed for progress.
The Owners
Remi & Ben Lanning.
Two lifters who trained under Hammer in Bassett, kept the work going after he passed, and opened Kraken to bring the same standards to Yorktown.
Remi Lanning
Owner · Head Coach
Personal trainer since 2012. Coached clients from age 8 to mid-70s — beginners, returning lifters, and competitive athletes. In 2018 he competed in bodybuilding, taking first in the true novice class and third overall.
- NASM Certified
- NPTI Trained · Orlando
- CPR · AED · First Aid
Ben Lanning
Owner
Co-founder alongside Remi. Trained with Hammer through the early Bassett years and helped build Kraken from the ground up — focused on the operational side that keeps the floor running 24/7 and the equipment in shape.
Ready to train where the standards are real?
Start a membership, train one-on-one with Remi, or come walk through the gym first.