RMU students looking for a new way to get in shape now have the opportunity to use a venue at the Pittsburgh Fight Club; a newly renovated mixed martial arts gym is located just 10 minutes from campus at 4573 Campbells Run Road in Robinson Township. The facility offers classes in boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as competitive mixed martial arts (MMA) and fitness training.
Mixed martial arts is a rapidly growing new sport made popular by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) where athletes of varying martial arts backgrounds compete for prize money and world championship titles.
Warren Stout, a black belt, is the head instructor of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu program at the Pittsburgh Fight Club and is himself an active competitor.
“Jiu-jitsu changed my life for the better. The camaraderie, the intricacy of the technique, the healthy lifestyle, the continuing personal growth; it really is an extraordinary thing. Jiu-jitsu is so much more than just a sport or martial art,” said Stout.
The Pittsburgh Fight Club originally opened in 2005 but was completely destroyed by a flash flood in June of 2010. Six months later, it was rebuilt under new management and is now considered to be one of the premier mixed martial arts gyms in the area. Recently it has attracted big names in the combat sports world such as Roy Jones Jr., Eddie Alvarez, and Daniel Gracie.
Michael Wilkins, an up and coming professional fighter from Pittsburgh, had this to say:
“It is a top notch facility that welcomes all kinds of people regardless of their age, experience, fitness goals or otherwise. Come in on any given day and you’ll see young people, old people, professionals and amateurs, all in the same room. It’s just a great place to get in shape and have fun at the same time.”
For more information on the Pittsburgh Fight Club and its programs, visit their website at www.fightclubpittsburgh.com or contact them by phone at 412-787-1162.
