It’s Time for the Next Evolution
Back in 2016, we launched Level Method 1.0 — a systemized approach to bringing structure, visibility, and progression into functional fitness. It looked simple (or maybe not so simple) on the surface, but under the hood, it was carefully engineered using the best information we had — then tested, refined, and pressure-tested in the real world.
It worked — and it worked well.
Level Method was built to solve a tangible, ongoing problem in functional fitness: How do you measure broad, inclusive fitness in a way that’s scalable, clear, and motivating across an entire gym population?
But it started with a simpler question: Why do some people change their lives with fitness, while others burn out or give up?
After years of coaching thousands of clients, the patterns were clear: some pushed too hard, too early, and got injured. Others stayed stuck or quietly drifted away because they had no clear path forward.
Without safeguards, goals, recognition, or momentum — people quit.
The MAP — our visual, category-based progression system — was our answer. It was built with intention, refined through data, and validated through years of use in real, operational gyms around the world.
The Journey So Far
In 2019, we released Level Method 2.0 — driven by two things:
- Data — hundreds of thousands of data points (millions now)
- Experience — feedback from top gym owners and coaches
We expanded the progression on our MAP, removed bottlenecks, and recalibrated levels to make the system more usable and rewarding for the real people walking into functional fitness gyms every day — not just the top 2%.
The result was a system that was more accurate and more accessible.
Now it’s 2025 – and we’re introducing Level Method 3.0.
As powerful as the MAP is, it’s never claimed to be the only way to approach fitness. It’s one proven method. But coaches and gym owners often have their own philosophies, frameworks, and ways of doing things. And as the industry matures, so do the expectations and needs of serious operators.
With Level Method 3.0, we’re opening the door to customization — not by abandoning the structure, but by building flexibility into it.
You can still run the proven MAP exactly as it’s been designed — and many will. But now, you also have the ability to turn categories on or off, use calibrated substitutions to better align with your methodology, and eventually build entirely new, custom-calibrated categories within the system. We’re actively building a database of category options to support this expanded flexibility.
This isn’t about watering anything down — it’s about keeping Level Method relevant and useful across the full spectrum of modern gyms, from classic functional fitness and GPP to strength-biased, hybrid, or custom programs.
We’re not removing structure. We’re removing rigidity.
What’s New in Version 3.0?
Where Version 2 refined the structure and deepened the MAP, Version 3 reimagines the delivery — and opens up a new level of customization.
1. Digital Maps
The most visible upgrade in Level Method 3.0 is our shift away from static posters.
We’re introducing fully interactive Digital Maps — dynamic visual displays you can run on any screen in your gym. We recommend using at least a 75” TV for maximum impact.
Why does this matter?
Because it gives you:
- Real-time updates — no more printing, re-hanging, or applying janky stickers
- The ability to turn categories on or off to match your gym’s philosophy
- A modern, clean experience anyone who goes to your gym will notice
- A foundation for future features like touch interaction and in-gym education
But Digital Maps aren’t just for tracking progress. They double as a gym display board — perfect for announcements, level-ups, upcoming events, rotating slides, and more.
The whole experience is smarter, cleaner, and built to evolve with your gym.
2. Control Without Losing Structure
Version 3.0 gives gym owners something they’ve been asking for: more control.
You can now:
- Globally hide categories that don’t fit your model (e.g. Rings or Weightlifting)
- Individually hide categories on a per-member basis (reflected in their levels and calculations)
- Highlight what matters most to your members and community
- And soon: build your own calibrated assessment categories
The core of Level Method — the structure, integrity, and progression model — remains unchanged.
But now, you don’t have to change or compromise your gym’s fitness philosophical direction/identity to use it.
3. A Foundation for What’s Next
Level Method 3.0 isn’t just a MAP update — it’s a platform upgrade and a shift in how forward-thinking gyms operate.
Behind the scenes, we’ve rebuilt the system to adapt faster, update more often, and scale more cleanly. That means:
- More relevant updates based on data
- Faster implementation of gym-owner feedback
- A foundation for AI-assisted insights, retention automation, and more
- Demographic-level data — coaches and members can now see where they stand relative to others of the same age and gender, giving better context, smarter goals, and more meaningful progress tracking
This isn’t future talk. These tools are already in motion — and 3.0 is what makes them possible.
Why Now?
Because the industry is evolving.
We’re moving into a future where fitness is increasingly personalized — both to the individual and to the gym environment. Systems that don’t adapt won’t last.
Customization is no longer optional. It is increasingly becoming the most valued element in fitness, strength, and health — and we can’t ignore where AI and technology are taking us. Rigid systems break. Flexible, intelligent systems thrive.
Level Method 3.0 is built for that future.
The gym owners we serve treat their business like a business — and they deserve tools that evolve with them. People have far more options today than they did just five years ago. Standing out takes more than great coaching — it takes systems that scale and adapt.
It’s why we respect the work of companies like TwoBrain Business — helping gym owners build real, sustainable operations. Systems matter. Structure matters. And that’s exactly what we’ve built 3.0 to support.
Level Method has always been a living, dynamic system. The MAP is just one piece of it. The real power lies in the data and objective scaling, the coaching structure and the ability to measure what matters.
And like any great system, it keeps getting better.
The Bottom Line
Level Method 3.0 is built for operators — for gym owners who think in systems, who value structure but need flexibility, and who aren’t interested in gimmicks — just tools that work.
It’s leaner.
More flexible.
Smarter.
And it’s ready for what comes next.
Level Method isn’t like other systems — because there are no other systems like it.
Since 2016, it has remained the only proven structured progression system built to scale effective coaching and drive retention through visible, measurable growth.
What’s new isn’t the core — it’s the freedom.
If you’re not a part of the Legion, schedule a discovery session here.
