More than a Tribe.

When I first started Barbarian Tribes, it wasn’t just about fitness. Of course, physical effort is at the heart of what we do—outdoor training that pushes your limits, workouts that make you feel both exhausted and alive. But the truth is that it has always been about something deeper: community.

Gathering people in a space, whether for a workout or an office gathering, doesn’t automatically create connection. You can assemble a crowd, but unless there's a shared purpose, common values, and consistency in showing up for each other, it remains just that—a crowd. But it takes time to create a real community, the kind that lasts.

It takes sweat, struggle, and the willingness to stay, even when things get tough.

I’ve seen it so many times in our tribes. Some members come for the physical challenge, wanting to improve their fitness or break out of their comfort zones. But others, like one member who shared his story with me, joined not because he needed to get fitter, but because he wanted to make friends. He wasn’t looking for a better workout routine. He was looking for connection, for people who would be by his side through thick and thin. And he found exactly that—friendship, not just fitness. I can still hear the gratitude in his voice when he tells me how his decision to join the tribe gave him a circle of friends he might never have met otherwise.

What’s fascinating is that even when some Barbarians move on to other sports, they stay connected. The bonds they’ve built with their fellow Barbarians remain, and that, to me, is one of the most beautiful parts of this journey. It’s not just about the workout; it’s about the relationships forged during those sessions. The shared struggle, the collective determination, creates something that lasts far beyond the workouts themselves.

I often hear from people who are hesitant to join because they’re worried they won’t be able to keep up. They imagine the intensity of our sessions or the toughness of our trainers and feel they won’t measure up. But what they don’t see, at first, is that everyone started somewhere. There’s no entry requirement other than the courage to show up. No matter their fitness level, every single member brings something unique to the group, and it’s that mix—of ages, backgrounds, abilities—that makes the tribe what it is.

And yes, we call ourselves the Barbarians.

It might sound fierce, and in many ways, it is, but not in the way people might expect. It’s not about being the strongest or the fastest. It’s about the willingness to push through together, to face whatever challenges come our way as a group. No one is left behind. We struggle together, and we win together.

That’s the heart of what we do.

I’ve seen friendships born out of this shared experience. People from different walks of life, with nothing in common on the surface, find themselves deeply connected because they’ve faced something difficult together. That’s the magic of it—the diversity of our group only adds to the richness of the community we’ve built. And it’s why I believe so strongly in the power of sport as a tool for connection, for growth, for finding your people.

For anyone who might be unsure if they’re ready, I’ll say this: you don’t have to be ready. You just have to be willing. Willing to show up, willing to take the plunge, and willing to let yourself be part of something bigger. The Barbarians aren’t just a fitness group. We’re a community that thrives because of the strength we find in each other.

As much as I believe in the importance of small gestures—ping pong tables, fruit baskets, team-building days—these things alone can’t create the sense of belonging that people crave. They’re nice to have, yes, but they don’t fill the deeper need for connection. I’ve experienced it firsthand, and I’ve heard it from so many others. People need more. They need something that not only touches their work life but expands into their personal and social lives, something that enhances their well-being and their health.

In some companies, I’ve seen this kind of initiative—real efforts to foster community—get pushed to the bottom of the priority list. It’s easy to dismiss it as non-essential, something to think about later, if ever. But the truth is, initiatives that bring people together, that challenge them, that make them feel part of something bigger than themselves, are anything but secondary. They contribute directly to creating happy, engaged employees. And when people are truly happy and connected, they give back to their companies in ways that can’t be measured by a quick team-building activity or an office snack.

In fact, I’d argue that investing in these kinds of communities, whether through sport, shared challenges, or any meaningful activity, can create a foundation of trust and well-being. It’s the kind of foundation that pays back a hundredfold. A sense of belonging isn’t just a nice bonus—it’s the core of a thriving team. And that’s something I’ve seen time and time again in the tribes.

Aurélien Konan - Founder of the BarbarianTribes - www.barbariantribes.com