DOJO Tampa Redefines the Gym as a Hub for Fitness and Entrepreneurship

A new kind of fitness and wellness concept is taking shape in South Tampa. One that blends high-performance training with recovery, community and entrepreneurship. Its primary focus is to provide a space where members do not have to leave when they are done working out. 

DOJO Tampa, which opened nine months ago, is not just a gym. It’s a private, membership-based space designed for individuals who are equally focused on physical health and professional growth.

Owner Scott Lee, who also serves as managing partner of Reversed Brand, created DOJO Tampa after stepping away from a 20-year career in healthcare private equity. The shift came after years of high-pressure work that, he said, forced him to reevaluate how he was balancing his life.

“I like to use this metaphor of having four burners in life. You have family, friends, health and money. I felt so focused on money, that this burner was growing bigger and the other burners were suffering. Now I have to have all those burners back up,” Lee said. 

The COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point. Lee began reprioritizing his time, focusing more on family, health and building something that aligned with his personal values. Though he had long been interested in fitness, it wasn’t until he decided to leave private equity that he fully committed to creating a space of his own.

That opportunity came unexpectedly. Around Easter last year, Lee learned that a gym previously owned by actor and former professional wrestler Dave Bautista was for sale. Through a mutual connection, he reached out and quickly positioned himself as a serious buyer.

“I called Titus O’Neil, who was a friend of Dave’s, and I told him to tell Dave I’m a serious buyer,” Lee said. 

After acquiring the property, Lee expanded the concept by purchasing the house directly behind it, which now serves as both his office and a workspace for Reversed Brand. The company’s manufacturing operations are based in Largo, but Lee runs the business from the DOJO property and encourages members to do the same.

That integration of fitness and entrepreneurship is central to DOJO Tampa’s model.

Beyond traditional gym offerings, the space includes areas where members can work, collaborate and even launch their own companies. Lee said several members have already started businesses within the DOJO community, often leaning on one another for guidance in areas like marketing, branding and credit.

“We are one big community all helping each other,” Lee said. “Whether that’s improving in fitness or getting advice on business, people here support each other.”

The facility itself is intentionally designed to reflect that balance. The front of the space is dedicated to high-energy training, including weightlifting, cycling, Pilates and mixed martial arts. In contrast, the back focuses on recovery and mindfulness, offering amenities such as a sauna, cold plunge, meditation and sound baths.

“It’s very intentional,” Lee said. “I replicated yin and yang. The front is all about intensity and pushing yourself, and the back is about recovery and slowing down.”

DOJO Tampa operates on a 24/7 schedule, giving members the flexibility to train and work on their own time. But unlike traditional gyms, the business model is built around exclusivity and community rather than volume.

The gym currently has 31 members and plans to cap membership at 50. Monthly rates are set at $400 for members over 35, and $300 for those under 35 as well as military, police and firefighters.

Lee said the limited membership is intentional, allowing for a more tight-knit environment where relationships and collaboration can grow organically. The price is high because it offers privacy for professional trainers and most of the amenities can’t be found in other gyms.

“This has been a labor of love,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of investments over the years, all excess cash flow goes directly back into the dojo.”

Looking ahead, Lee’s goal is to expand the concept to other parts of Florida, creating similar spaces where athletes, entrepreneurs and professionals can train, recover and build their businesses in one place.

For now, DOJO Tampa remains a small but growing location, one that reflects a broader shift in how people think about fitness, work and community.