Life in Fresyes is at times either much to hot or much to foggy to play outside so what are we to do in the height of summer or in the long grey winter months?
Many of us go to one of the traditional gyms in town but for the rest of us there are some options that do not involve a tread mill or the mirror wall and weight racks.
I’m one of the later group and loathe the typical gym scene so for me its a short list of where I’m going for my inside workouts.
Being the outdoors guy I have to tell you about MetalMark Fitness at Granite Park. From the hard-core rock climber all the way down to the youngster MetalMark will tempt you with easy routes and leave you trying routes harder and harder until your arms are pumped, fingers tired and smiles pasted on your faces well past when the tiredness fades. Our family of 7 can be found on almost any day of the week testing out anything from a bouldering problem, a 5.10 wall route or a friendly competition to see who can do the most pull ups or plank the longest over in the gym area. The massive A/C system will keep you cool even on the hottest summer day and the free coffee works just as well when the cold sets in. Member competitions, kids days and free training classes each week make it to hard to pass up when your outdoor sport is typically played out in Yosemite Valley not the Central Valley. As an added bonus MetalMark is part of a large group of climbing gyms so when life finds you in San Jose or LA you can check in and get right to work………..or play.
Want something a little more intense? A bit more of a challenge? A lot more awesome than the local gym?
Dethrone Base Camp is primed to show you a whole new way to work out with a full schedule of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling and kick boxing. I promise you will find muscles you never even knew you had much like I did but it doesn’t last long. Its been fifteen years since Fight Club said it best “Show me a guy on his first night and he’s a wad of cookie dough, after a month he’s carved out of wood” Jiu Jitsu is much the same and has to be experienced to be believed. Dethrone gives you a safe, clean and fun place to do just that with the best coaches you could ask for as the cherry on top.
Before you think I could never do Jiu Jitsu let me just say YES you can. I had been away from martial arts for over 20 years and was welcomed right in my first time even at forty-five and counting. My 5’2″ Chiropractor wife who never in her life thought she would ever intentionally step in to a gym that teaches the grappling arts fell in love in an hour. This sport that many see as violent is in reality very controlled, very technical and everyone on the mat is part is part of the team.
Gi, NoGi, Kids classes, women only, stand up are all on the schedule week in and week out so there is no using the excuse of not being able to fit it into the schedule. The feel and vibe of the gym are both “we train to win and we are family” this mentality makes Dethrone a lock for the Sasser family when it is time to make a choice for an indoor workout and a break from our outdoor life.
If you are interested in Jiu Jitsu this coming up Sunday Oct 26th at Clovis West there is a NoGi tournament that will showcase the sport right here in FresYes. They have classes for all from Mini Mites to Masters…..I’ll be there, will you?
Find out more at Grapplingx.com
- Invitation to the Ball - November 6, 2015
- Sportsman’s Warehouse, the New Kid In Town - July 20, 2015
- The Freewheel Project - July 13, 2015
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