The word Anbessa means lion in Amharic. For Yonas Mekonen, it’s more than a name—it’s a symbol of courage, strength, and the relentless will to overcome.

Growing up in Ethiopia, fitness wasn’t a career path Yonas saw around him—it was a dream that seemed impossibly far away. But that dream burned bright. With determination, he trained with whatever equipment he could find, studied every technique he could learn, and pushed himself past every limit.

That grit carried him across continents. Yonas didn’t just enter the world of bodybuilding—he made history as the first Ethiopian professional bodybuilder. But his journey was never only about trophies. It was about proving to himself, and to others, that no goal is too far if your will is strong enough.

Anbessa Fitness was born from that belief. Today, Yonas brings 27 years of experience—from competition prep to therapeutic recovery—to help people from all walks of life. He’s coached champions, guided stroke survivors, and helped countless clients rewrite their own stories of strength.

For Yonas, every client’s victory—whether it’s stepping on stage, walking again after injury, or simply feeling confident in their own skin—is a shared triumph.

Based in Alexandria, VA, Anbessa Fitness specializes in world class personal training, competition prep, therapeutic training, and nutritional counseling.

Yonas is passionate about bringing fitness education and opportunities to the people of Ethiopia. He has established the top bodybuilding competition in Ethiopia - The Yonas Bodybuilding Show, a FREE Anbessa Fitness 30-day Challenge, and serves as the IFBB Ethiopian President. He is author of Anbessa Fitness: How I Busted the Ethiopian Genetics Myth and You Can Too!