Meet the Best - Ronin Fitness: Find Success On and Off the Mat

Meet the Best – Ronin Fitness: Find Success On and Off the Mat

Posted by author February 12, 2025 Fitness

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MMA or “Mixed Martial Arts” is a full contact combat sport that combines elements from various martial arts and combat disciplines like boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, and judo, all in a regulated environment. Thanks to Volume One readers we now know one of the best martial arts studios in the Chippewa Valley is Ronin Fitness, where you can train not only in MMA, but Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, and kickboxing.

Similar to when Karate Kid came out in the ‘80s, MMA and Jiu-Jitsu have seen a surge of new interest due to its popularity in record breaking live pay-per-view specials, coverage on popular podcasts like the “Joe Rogan Experience,” and interest from influencers and social media. However, this isn’t always a positive thing, and in the Midwest, its popularity is “growing almost to the point of detriment” said Sam Gaier, owner of Ronin Fitness.

As MMA and Jiu-Jitsu have gotten more popular, some gyms have started to change the way they teach to get as many people on the mats as possible, focusing more on the quantity of practices more than the quality, Sam explained. At Ronin Fitness, the opposite approach thrives. “The practice is based more around skill acquisition,” Sam said.

Ronin Fitness specializes in science-based, modern coaching, and employs motor learning techniques to build the necessary skills from the foundational level. Using a constraints-led approach allows coaches to identify weak points in a particular skill and provide individualized instruction to make learning quicker and more effective while a student finds their own style.

Ronin Fitness specializes in science-based, modern coaching, and employs motor learning techniques to build the necessary skills from the foundational level.

As a complement to their full range of adult martial arts classes, Ronin Fitness is excited to provide youth classes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for kids ages 5 to 13, with dedicated coaches who have youth-specific training. While some forms of martial arts may focus solely on fighting, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specifically focuses on movement and submission techniques, emphasizing leverage rather than brute strength. It’s a challenging and unique way for kids to burn off extra energy while learning about respect, technique, and strategy. Those skills carry over into other aspects of their lives.

Along with dedicating oneself to the routine of training, Sam also highly encourages Ronin’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students to compete at one of the many regional competitions held throughout the year, although you’re not required to compete in order to train at Ronin Fitness, Sam explains the benefit of doing so is huge.

“You’re not getting the full martial arts experience of pushing through adversity and getting mentally tough by sparring with the same people you see each week,” he said. “As a gym, there’s going to be certain tendencies of movement that you naturally learn to get used to, where another gym may have completely different tendencies that you have to figure out while competing.”

MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may be more approachable than you think, and there are many benefits to the regiment of training to fight and grapple. Six days a week, Ronin Fitness offers introductory classes, and is one of the only gyms in the area with structured fundamentals. One of those fundamentals is the prioritization of safety.

“We’re very conservative in training, especially with head contact,” Sam explained. “If you’re not training to be a prize fighter, there’s no reason to be taking any significant head contact.” In Ronin introductory classes, the focus is on setting small, achievable tasks, designed for people who are brand new to the world of martial arts. Throughout each night of practice at Ronin, classes start with fundamentals, then to intermediate, and end with their most advanced “pro” level.

At Ronin Fitness, you’re not only training at one of the best martial arts gyms in the Chippewa Valley – you’re also training with coaches who are some of the best in the sport. “I have one of the least impressive records at the gym,” Sam said. He is number one in his weight class in both Minnesota and Iowa in MMA. Another one of Ronin’s coaches, Max Stary, is a multiple-time National and International youth MMA champion at just 18 years old. He has competed in dozens of high profile tournaments, earning numerous victories across hundreds of matches – and across the globe – resulting in an impressive track record.

However, at Ronin Fitness, it’s not just about earning medals and hitting certain accomplishments. It’s about finding community while creating the structure and routine to be the best version of yourself, both on and off the mat.