Strong Sports Gym

In the martial arts world, we’re often stuck choosing between McDojos packed with fat idiots dancing in slow motion or a padded room full of alpha males measuring dicks. Essentially, you’re either stuck in a cheaply carpeted roomful of delusional pseudo-​psychopaths, or what may as well be a prison yard where everyone knows BJJ and throws head kicks.
SSG is a safe haven for any breed of martial arts enthusiast. Whether or not you’re highly athletic, the coaches will push you. If you’re more cerebral than physical, they’ll engage you on that level as well. Best of all, nobody has anything to prove. The goal is to get in shape, learn legitimate combat sports technique, and have fun – and Strong Sports Gym accomplishes this goal with every class.
I’ve been training one martial art or another for the past 25 years. I really enjoy learning and getting my ass kicked. Of all the MMA gyms I’ve been to over the years, Strong Sports Gym is by far the best. The coaches are world class. Not only are there big names a la Frank Trigg, Vlad Matyushenko, and Mac Danzig, the curriculum itself is incredibly high level. I’ve been a teacher for a decade and I’ve come across few lessons so well devised as the ones I’ve enjoyed at this little – albeit exceptionally clean – hole in the wall in downtown LA.
Moreover, the culture of the gym is amazing. The owner, Willard Ford, has done a brilliant job cultivating a friendly, comfortable, fun group dynamic unlike any I’ve ever seen in the martial arts world. The students watch boxing matches and MMA fights together, and even support one another socially and otherwise outside of the gym. I’ve made legitimate friends learning at SSG and look forward to my next opportunity to visit and train.

I have been a student here for the past four years. I came by on the recommendation from a friend and I am glad I took his advice. I come by 3 to 4 times a week and take every class I can because I know the value that I am getting in terms of instructorship. From boxing, mma, wrestling, and bjj all instructors care about the development of each individual whether you have been here for years or just walked through the door. The level of detail is like no other. The instructors give clear instructions on what they want you to do and make sure that you understand why you are supposed to do certain things. The gym is well maintained and kept clean. The students also support one another so the atmosphere is always a fun place to be. Here you will be able to develop your skills and physical attributes as long as you put in the time.

I’ve been taking the gamut of classes at Strong Sports Gym for almost a year– Strength and Conditioning (fitness building), Boxing (good for the soul /​skill building), Olympic Weightlifting (goal oriented), MMA Conditioning (sore for a few days) and BJJ (first steps to self defense) and I have yet to try the MMA class. After two decades of working out at large, corporate gyms I soon realized that this was vastly different — Individualized attention, an amazing coaching staff of professional athletes, a clean atmosphere, really cool people, workouts that are skill-​building, generally fun and so much more. Willard Ford (at the helm) knows his stuff and will share it with you. The classes all mesh together «magically» (but not so magically, rather calculatedly) to gain strength, flexibility and endurance across all platforms. I’ve gained strength, fitness, endurance, faster 5k times, confidence and a new set of friends and it’s all worth the 20 – 30 minute drive 5 – 6 days a week. Strong Sports Gym is a gem, yet the saddest kept secret in Downtown LA. Shhhhh.

Amazingly clean, classes sizes are smaller so everyone gets more attention and the instructors are world class.

i’m losing weight!!! hahaha

I was only able to go one day, but it was a day full packed with different regimens. At 7am I took the Olympic weight lifting class and worked on my front squats and power cleans which improved my techniques greatly. Then at night I took the BJJ class and boy I tell you what I learned there just amazed me and I even got to spar with what little I knew of rolling. Everyone is friendly and easy to get along with. Very clean location and various equipment to use to get your workout in from a ring to speed bag and the like. Willard Ford built something great here and I advise everyone to give it a try better than tapout as to how they are over crowded and can be little you by wanting to take an advanced BJJ class but deny you that access. Over here you learn by trying it and learning from your mistakes when you are placed in a lock lol.

Been coming here for almost 2yrs and I don’t ever see myself going anywhere else. The coaches here pay attention to detail. And address your issues with concern. Talk about a place that’s not only always clean. But you will work your ass off, leave knowing you got the best workout of your life. Might think you are dying, but you’re doing it with a smile on your face, and will come for more.
This place also has the best massage therapist to workout your ailments. And the most affordable price in town.
Strongly recommend this place for women and young teenagers too to help them get in their best shape possible. Discipline and commitment is all it takes.

I’ve been coming here for 8 months now and I feel great. The instruction is top notch, the other people that work out there are good people, and the facility is clean and nice. But most importantly, I’ve got in great shape, and i’ve enjoyed doing it.

Great staff and trainers! All members of the gym are first class people! Great atmosphere, family like and you always feel welcomed! I’ve been in other fight gyms and this is without a doubt the best one. If you want the best in MMA, Boxing and Strength & Conditioning Strong Sports is the place to be!

Great place to train. They have qualified instructors. No egos, everyone is warm and inviting. Safe and clean facility. I highly recommend Strong Sports Gym

The staff and facility take my game to the next level! Great place to learn and grow and be pushed to my limits!

What can I say? They get it done at this gym. It’s coming into its own and packing a punch with classes in boxing, MMA, BJJ, submission wrestling, weight training, cross training, even yoga. I’ve been sold on SSMMA since day one and look forward to getting back into the swing of things. Classes run about an hour, maybe a little over, and you are burning and sweating all those toxins and calories out of your body with each class. Facility is clean, almost new, and plenty of equipment to keep you busy for those clobber sessions. I often feel like Van Damme in the Bloodsport training montage, sans koi fish.
I will not be going to any traditional meat-​market gym again, just as long as I got SS only a hop-​skip away from work and home.

I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I really think they had given Strong Sports MMA a chance. I have been going there (and still do) for about two months now and I know I will continue to go for months if not years to come. The staff there is probably the most friendly staff in any gym that I have been to (I have been a member of Bally’s, Golds, 24 Hour, LA Fitness and several independent gyms). They are really down to earth and not at all jaded which is a rare find in Los Angeles. As for the riods, no offense to any of the teachers there but they should be upping the doses if they are taking them because they aren’t pumped up mirror rats like at most gyms. I understand that somethings aren’t for everyone apparently but I really enjoy SSMMA and haven’t encountered any of the problems listed below.

What a bad attitude, maybe too many roids or lost too many fights. Seems like all they are looking for are drones to pay and take abuse.
I called and got a guys cell phone, multiple companies obviously use this line, that was after going to their nonexistent website. A parked
page is not a website.
Very little info and interest and too much attitude for my tastes.
My opinion management: Spend less time in the cage and a few more hours on the customer service side. You’ll get more clients.
But then again, thats just my humble opinion