Clinton Township

New gym offers MMA training in Clinton Twp.

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — Anyone who has ever daydreamed about stepping into the ring to go 12 rounds with a heavyweight champ — or maybe just learn how to throw a proper hook — can get their fix at the new Four Aces Fight Club in Clinton Township.

The hybrid gym on 15 Mile Road had a successful grand opening weekend June 12-14, and the staff is ready to train future champions and people who just want a great workout. The gym will offer training in mixed martial arts (MMA) disciplines including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cage fighting and boxing to men and women of all ages and abilities.

It’s the largest gym of its kind in Michigan and currently one of the largest in the United States, according to its owners, four young guys who are well-known among the fighting crowd.

The foursome includes CEO and head boxing instructor Asa Beard, a former soccer player from Manchester, England. Greg Parris, an MMA fighter, and professional boxer Luigi Gjokaj also co-own the gym, and are backed by local investor Paul Mauk.

“We all actually met at a fight,” said Parris, the gym’s head MMA coach. “I was coaching a team, and we all just hit it off and became best friends.”

The gym became a reality for them pretty quickly. They had their first meeting with Mauk a couple of months ago and tried to be hush-hush while they got everything ready to go.

“It’s been my dream my whole life to open a gym,” Parris said.

The 7,500-square-foot facility has a 22-foot, professional competition-ready boxing ring and a 24-foot, six-sided cage. The new equipment at the gym includes six Muay Thai bags, reaction bags, mirrors for shadow boxing, angle bags, heavy bags ranging from 70 to 260 pounds and 900 square feet of MMA mats.

Though most of the public didn’t hear about the gym until it opened, Gjokaj said the word had spread among local MMA fighters, who he says make up a very close-knit community.

“Not a lot of people know about the fight world; they just see it on TV,” Gjokaj said. “MMA is one of the fastest growing industries in the country.”

Gjokaj said Clinton Township provided them with a central location for their business, and the timing was great.

“The economy is bad and a lot of people are out of work,” he said. “This is a good way to relieve stress.”

The actual training for a fight is much harder than the fight itself, he said. A professional practices throwing hundreds of punches in each training session, even though it’s unlikely they’d throw that many in a real fight.

Some people might be intimidated by a gym filled with pro fighters, but Gjokaj said everyone is friendly and willing to show newbies the ropes.

“What we do in the ring is completely separate from what we do outside of the ring,” he said. “People are always surprised that I’m a boxer because I’m always smiling.”

No one actually has to fight. Sparring is completely optional, and trainees will never be forced into it.

Safety is a priority at the gym, Gjokaj said. They have all of the safety equipment and headgear necessary to prevent injuries and have 16-ounce gloves available.

Clinton Township resident Kim Balogh brought her 13-year-old son, Zack, into the gym to check it out last week. Her son has tried karate, and she plans to sign him up for MMA classes at Four Aces.

“He likes all kinds of sports,” she said. “This is something different he can do, and we live nearby.”

The gym, which signed up 20 customers in its opening weekend, is going to offer more and more classes and options as they get settled in. Trainees can buy a monthly membership, private session or day pass. Prices range from $12 per day for boxing classes to $50 per hour for private lessons, depending on what the customer is interested in, and monthly packages start at $80.

Team and group rates are available, and students, members of military branches, law enforcement and public safety members, and security personnel get a discount. They also offer a package for fathers and sons who want to train together.

Anyone under 18 must have parental consent to train at the gym, and the owners encourage parents to come in before signing their children up to learn more about the business.

Four Aces Fight Club is located at 22583 15 Mile Road, between Gratiot and Harper, in Clinton Township. Call (586) 792-3232.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Heidi Roman at hroman@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.