When Cody Phillips opened EnergyFIT Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness Academy in January, he introduced a way for the whole family to focus on fitness together.
“Our whole goal is the whole family is in here for an hour, and then they go home,” Phillips said. “We would love the theme to be for mom and dad and kids to all be doing something at one gym.”
EnergyFIT Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness Academy offers Brazilian jiujitsu and muay thai classes for children and adults. Phillips said a judo class will also be added in the future for both age groups.
Brazilian jiujitsu is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on how smaller individuals can defend themselves against larger opponents by using proper technique and strategy, Phillips said. Muay thai involves kickboxing techniques designed to maximize levels of cardio fitness and mental fortitude.
“We want to make sure people are walking out of the gym with confidence,” Phillips said. “Brazilian jiujitsu and mauy thai [are] the foundation of what we do; they are the two most popular and most useful. Muay thai is also bully prevention for kids to use. We teach kids how to protect themselves on the ground and then how to stand up and protect themselves.”
Besides offering child and adult martial arts classes, Phillips said EnergyFIT also features a fitness class in the back of the building where customers can exercise and use a variety of equipment.
A yoga studio, called The Studio at EnergyFIT, was also added on to the gym and began offering yoga and barre classes in April.
“It’s a really good stress relief besides martial arts,” Phillips said. “The biggest thing is to have a family-style organization. A lot of martial arts studios just look like teenage boys’ bedrooms. It’s not the way I wanted it to be here. I wanted moms to be able to sit in a nice atmosphere and watch the kids.”
Phillips said he believes the martial arts classes, the yoga studio and the fitness class have all seen overwhelming success since opening due to the leadership of the gym’s instructors and the family-friendly atmosphere.
“We have definitely grown since opening,” he said. “We’re seven to eight months ahead of schedule here. Apparently what we’re doing, people are really liking. We are currently sitting at 170 members [and] we expect over 300 members for EnergyFIT and above 100 in yoga studio. It all starts with great leadership.”
Phillips said he has plans to open multiple locations of EnergyFIT around The Woodlands area.
“We’re going to continue to expand the company,” he said. “We will have other locations in the north side of Houston, near Creekside Village or ExxonMobil. The goal has always been multiple gyms, not just one. This first gym is just an example.”
EnergyFIT Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness Academy
2330 FM 1488, Ste. 700, Conroe
713-322-3789
www.energyfitacademy.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-noon, 5-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-noon; closed Sunday
