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Kinta Fitness, launched by Australian Special Forces veteran Joseph Papworth, is a small start-up company manufacturing and importing strength and conditioning equipment for gyms Australia-wide.

Kinta Fitness are suppliers of a full spectrum of services from design, installations, and servicing equipment for commercial gym design and fit-out requirements.

Joseph Papworth, founder of Kinta Fitness is a former Special Forces and Australian military veteran, having served his country for ten years within the Special Air Services Regiment SASR in Tarin Kowt and Kabul in Afghanistan and anywhere else he was needed. In those ten years, Papworth jumped out of planes, undertook basic sniper training, and conducted operations throughout Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, as a member of the Special Operations Task Group.

At that time of launching Kinta Fitness, Papworth lived what many would compare to a blockbuster Hollywood Movie—high-pressure situations where every choice has a consequence, dependence on his brothers to ensure they returned home, and attention to detail so perfect that no hostile or unforeseen circumstances would break his will or team. It was peering through the veil of military environments Kinta was born.  

It was no mere coincidence that Kinta was launched on Remembrance Day, 11th November 2021. For Papworth, Kinta is more than a standard squat rack you’ll use in the gym or a barbell to help you achieve those biceps you’ve wanted since you were eighteen. Kinta is a start-up focusing on giving back, supporting, and assisting former veterans by creating products that meet the exact expectations of military standards.

Papworth’s Special Forces ethos of discipline, leadership and confidence is a symbiotic relationship between the military and general fitness. Without one, the other simply cannot exist with Papworth noting “by being physically prepared for missions, you were mentally prepared for anything. It was one less stress you had.”

From a product perspective, Papworth has strived to create reliable products so its customers can trust them. More importantly, Joseph’s vision for Kinta is to use military strategies to offer customers flawless and easy customer service.

When speaking to Papworth, you instantly see the application of an army mindset to business, and his passion for fitness doesn’t go unnoticed either. His participation in events like Western Australia’s Strongman Series and various CrossFit competitions fuel his desire to promote strength and conditioning training in Western Australia.

Papworth advised “WA misses out on many high-level spectacle Strength Sports events that other states might have, and we want to bring that calibre of events to WA so people don’t have to travel to the Eastern States or anywhere else.”

While most of Australia’s athletes in Sydney and Melbourne are well equipped to pursue a weightlifting career, Papworth is also striving to provide financial relief to the youth of WA who dream of going to the Olympics or performing on a National stage.

“For young kids in WA, performing nationally can be very costly. Travelling to Melbourne, Sydney, and all over Australia isn’t viable for them, so we hope to take some of that financial burden off them so they can chase their dreams” added Papworth.

Kinta strongly believes in giving back to its community, distinguishing it from a standard fitness brand. However, its empathy for the youth of WA is a teardrop in the ocean compared to the support it provides for veterans and their families. Papworth and Kinta aim to provide pathways for soldiers to transition back into everyday life while still using what they learnt during their service in the military.

Throughout November, Kinta is supporting Wandering Warriors and The Krait Foundation, organisations founded by former SASR veterans dedicated to assisting Australia’s Special Forces community as they transition to civilian life.

Wandering Warriors provides essential resources, including education and career pathways, employment, mentoring, respite programs, and assistance for families of veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Krait Foundation enhances these efforts with a specialised Career Readiness Program, preparing veterans for new opportunities in the civilian workforce. Kinta is proud to donate 5% of profits from their new K75 squat rack range to contribute to the positive impact these organisations have on veterans, their families, and the wider community.

Papworth’s duty to Australia didn’t stop when his military service ended. In fact, it was just the beginning. Kinta is another service to Australia. It just looks very different from warzones, where the playing field is less do or die and more ‘how do I do and try?’. Papworth’s history and teachings make Kinta more than a fitness company and something you could spend money on while helping those who have given their lives for Australia.

More information on Kinta Fitness

Images from top: Kinta Fitness team; Joseph Papworth, founder of Kinta Fitness is a former Special Forces and Australian military veteran; Kinta Fitness Weightlifting; Wandering Warriors and Krait Foundation

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