PHOTO CREDIT: STOCK PHOTO
BY ANDY MORALES
Stepping into the gym, you’re on sensory overload, immediately bombarded with the the scent of sweat. You witness people lifting heavy objects, and you hear the sound of people struggling, but the best part is the feeling of accomplishment when achieve a feat you’ve never before conquered. This is how Club Fit has made all of its clients feel in our community for years. Club Fit has been ingrained into our community in more ways than one.
Before Club Fit became a gym, it was a Winn Dixie. However, with the vision to bring a big gym to Cooper City, half of Winn Dixie was bought out. In its humble beginnings, Club Fit was only occupying one half of the location. After seeing success, the rest of Winn Dixie was bought and transformed into the Club Fit we’ve come to know today. Throughout the early years of Club Fit, it only focused on body-building and weight loss programs, though as the years went on, Club Fit continued adding new additions and programs for people.
Club Fit today has a wide array of fitness classes, trainers, nutritionists, and other classes for their members to try out and enjoy. One of the club’s most famous programs is their mixed martial arts (MMA) class. The MMA class is a high level program taught by 8th degree black belt and former karate world champion Rey Perez. The class specializes in teaching people a wide assortment of fighting styles for competition and self defense.
Club Fit has recently added a crossfit box to their business called “The Coop”. The crossfit classes help to teach people the how to properly execute each of the complex movements required for the fast growing sport of fitness. “The Coop” opened this year and is situated a few stores down from Club Fit. In time, they hope to integrate crossfit classes within the main building of Club Fit. As any business, though, they’re always looking for ways to improve and prosper. With Club Fit being under new ownership and management, many new ideas and changes have started to go underway. Some of these changes are the upgrade in staff, change in equipment repair company, and a new cleaning staff to help keep up the club image. Also the club hopes to expand and upgrade its MMA program with the addition of a cage to practice cage fighting. Another big change that’s hopefully soon to occur is the complete renovation of the locker room. Club Fit is always looking for ways to better the club and better ways to accommodate the club members.
Having been integrated into the community for over 20 years, Club Fit is looking to give back. To many high school students, Club Fit is a second home – a place where students can walk to after school to get a quick lift in and better themselves. The Club has also helped to sponsor many of the recreational and Optimist teams within Cooper City, as well as housing a gym for many coaches from Cooper City High School to utilize for training. Club Fit has been an iconic portion of this city and has always found a way to give back to the community.
“Club Fit has been my home since I was 12,” CCHS Student Oliver Montez said. “I’ve been to other gyms and nothing compares to Club Fit. It just feels so nice coming here with the rest of the community and working out.”
