Sweat and Socialize: Finding Friends in Jakarta through Fitness and Sports

Moving to a new city can be a daunting experience, especially when it comes to building a social circle from scratch. However, one of the best ways to meet new people and make friends in Jakarta is through sport and fitness activities.

I moved to Jakarta with my family almost a decade ago, and I quickly realized that one of the things I missed most from my previous life in Germany was the camaraderie and social connection I found through fitness. In my home country, I was part of a vibrant Freeletics community, where we’d meet up for intense workouts and bond over shared goals. But finding a similar scene in Jakarta proved to be a challenge. There were a few fitness bootcamps, but none were close to where I lived, and navigating Jakarta’s traffic was a nightmare.

Determined to recreate the sense of community I’d experienced back home, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Using the then popular platform Meetup.com, I launched my own fitness community. At first, it was a small and humble gathering, with just a handful of people showing up for our weekly training sessions. But little did I know, this tiny group would become the key to building my social circle in Jakarta and even land me on CNN Indonesia (but more on that later!).

Aside from the obvious health benefits of exercising and engaging in physical activity, making friends and building your new social circle through fitness and sport offers several other additional plus points.

Languange Learning

Even though many Indonesians can speak English to some degree, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of having a basic command of words and phrases in Bahasa Indonesia. Joining a sports community in Jakarta can be the perfect opportunity to improve your language skills in a natural, supportive environment.

When I first started my fitness community, I was determined to learn more Indonesian beyond the typical greetings and polite phrases I had picked up. One day, as we were doing a shoulder workout together, I realized I didn’t know the Indonesian word for “shoulder.” I asked my friend Andi, and he enthusiastically taught me “bahu.” From then on, I made it a point to learn the Indonesian names for different body parts as we targeted them in our workouts. Doing squats? Time to learn “paha” for thighs. Crunches? “Perut” for abs. This hands-on, contextual approach made the vocabulary so much more memorable than dry language lessons.

Cultural Immersion

Participating in sports activities can also be a fantastic way to experience Indonesian culture firsthand and better understand what Indonesians love and value. You’ll have the chance to observe local customs and traditions, learn about Indonesian sports and games, and maybe even participate in cultural events outside of the immediate sporting activities that you came for in the first place.

For example, one year my fitness community decided to organize a special bootcamp session in honor of Indonesian Independence Day. We all showed up dressed in the national colors of red and white, and after the workout, everyone brought traditional Indonesian snacks like kue lapis, rempeyek, and pisang goreng to share. It was such a fun way to celebrate Indonesia’s heritage and come together as a community. We took countless group photos – another very Indonesian thing to do no matter what the reason for meeting up is! – and had an amazing time. Events like these really immersed me in the local culture in a way that I wouldn’t have experienced just working out on my own. I left that session with a deeper appreciation for Indonesian pride and traditions.

Freinds For Help and Support

Finally, joining – or in my case, forming – a sports community can be a great way to build a strong support network. When you’re regularly working out with the same group of people, you’ll have the opportunity to form friendships and bonds based on shared interests. Your fellow community members (who may invariably be Indonesians but could also be other seasoned expats!) can offer advice, support, and encouragement as you navigate your new life in Jakarta. From finding a tukang (repairman / worker) for something that needs to be done in your house – and there’s always something in Indonesia! 😀 – to knowing where to go to get my local driver’s license, I don’t know how I would have mastered these challenges in my early days in Jakarta without the assistance from my community friends!

These friendships can extend beyond the gym or sports field as well. You may find yourself exploring Jakarta’s vibrant culinary scene together (Indonesians love to eat and even today, years after my fitness community stopped meeting up regularly to work out, many of my former members still stay in touch and regularly go out for coffee or a meal!), attending cultural events, or even traveling to nearby islands for weekend getaways. The sense of community and belonging that comes from being part of a sports group can be truly invaluable, especially when you’re far from home, and having a strong support network can make the transition to a new country much easier and more enjoyable.

How to find Your Tribe

Now that you’re convinced of the amazing benefits of joining a sports community in Jakarta, let’s dive into how to find the perfect one for you! While meetup.com served as my gateway, there are a variety of platforms you can explore:

• • Internations: This social network specifically caters to expats, often hosting sports-related events and offering forums where you can connect with like-minded individuals.

• • Facebook Groups: Local Facebook groups dedicated to sports, fitness, or specific activities are a great way to discover communities and events happening in your area.

• • Instagram: Believe it or not, Instagram reigns supreme in the Indonesian social media landscape. Many sports communities, running groups, and fitness studios have active Instagram presences. Browse relevant hashtags, find accounts you’re interested in, and send a direct message to inquire about joining.

Once you’ve identified a potential community, get ready to embrace the magic of Whatsapp! In Indonesia, this messaging app is the king of all communication channels, handling everything from communication to logistics. Expect to be added to a Whatsapp group after expressing interest in a community. This group will be your central hub for information, from event updates and scheduling to FAQs and general chatter. Don’t be intimidated – it’s simply the way things work here!

I hope I’ve been able to convince you that while it can of course be a little bit daunting to go out and build up a new social circle in a new place, it can also be an extremely rewarding, enriching and fun experience that will allow you not only to make new friends, but also adapt to your new home much quicker and to a much deeper level than if you relied on sticking to your usual expat or workplace settings alone.

And as I mentioned at the beginning, it may even land you on the local news – (not once, but twice!) – but watch these clips to see for yourself: https://youtu.be/17xv1ZCQC8g?si=7tE-Tf3aHpzYX2J1 & https://youtu.be/IQPHluEke7I?si=SVxfQSKfPp4zC7iP