About Us
Welcome to Ronin Fitness in Eau Claire, where excellence meets community. Our gym is more than just a place to work out; it’s a thriving environment built on culture, dedication, and results. That’s what makes it the best of the gyms in Eau Claire.
Culture & Work Ethic
Our vibrant community supports every member, fostering a sense of belonging and motivation. We pride ourselves on a strong work ethic, driven by a commitment to pushing limits and achieving greatness.
Competition & Success
Embrace the competitive spirit with us, whether you’re aiming for personal goals or preparing for events. We celebrate every success and guide you to reach your full potential with personalized support.
Scientific Coaching
Our approach integrates cutting-edge scientific methods to craft effective, evidence-based training programs. Our expert coaches use the latest advancements to ensure you achieve real, measurable results.
Join Ronin Fitness and be part of a community where culture, dedication, and science come together to help you achieve your best.
Using modern coaching in martial arts
Martial arts is all about learning by reacting to the real-world environment around you, rather than just practicing the same moves repeatedly in a controlled setting. A lot of martial arts are taught and learned in a very inefficient way that isn’t based on how people develop skill.
Learning from the Environment: Instead of repeating moves, you learn by interacting with your surroundings. For example, when sparring, you get better by noticing and reacting to what your opponent is doing, not just practicing a punch or kick in isolation.
Adapting to Situations: This approach suggests that you should train in different scenarios—like facing opponents of various sizes, skills, and styles or practicing in different positions or scenarios with varying goals. This way, you get used to adapting your skills to whatever situation you’re in, which is crucial in real fights.
Using What You See: It also emphasizes the importance of paying attention to what’s happening around you. In a fight, you need to quickly see what your opponent is doing and react accordingly, rather than just following a set pattern of moves.
So, in short, effective and modern martial arts are about learning martial arts by interacting with your environment and adapting to different situations, rather than just drilling specific techniques over and over.
Coaches
Samuel Gaier is a distinguished martial artist with an impressive 52-7 professional grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu record at the expert level alone. His technical expertise has made him a top competitor in both grappling and mixed martial arts (MMA), where he has achieved notable rankings. With over a decade of coaching experience, Gaier is known for his deep understanding of the sport and his ability to mentor and develop emerging fighters and grapplers. His dual accomplishments as a competitor and coach highlight his dedication and impact on the martial arts community.
Max Stary is a standout martial artist renowned for his achievements in both MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As a multiple-time World and National Youth MMA Champion, Max has excelled in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and the Global Amateur MMA Association (GAMMA). With over five years of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, he has competed in dozens of high-profile tournaments, earning numerous victories across hundreds of matches. His impressive track record reflects his exceptional skill, dedication, and resilience in the martial arts world.
Charlie Leska is a prominent figure in Midwest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, celebrated for his impressive competitive success in dozens of expert brackets across the Midwest. With a track record of numerous podium finishes, Charlie's skill and strategy on the mat are well-recognized. As a coach, he is known for his scientifically grounded approach, combining years of experience with evidence-based methods to enhance athlete performance. His dedication to both competition and effective coaching underscores his crucial role in the Ronin fitness community.
Dom Yates has distinguished himself in the martial arts world with notable success in both amateur MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) competitions. Known for his striking ability and grappling expertise, Dom has secured numerous victories in the cage and on the mat, showcasing his exceptional skill and strategic prowess.
Dom's journey is also marked by a significant personal transformation, including a remarkable weight loss of over 80 pounds, highlighting his incredible discipline and work ethic.
His dedication and success continue to inspire hard work on our mats here at Ronin.
Ellen Scott is a skilled jiu-jitsu coach with a wealth of experience as a competitor and an educator. Her competitive jiu-jitsu career has seen her excel in numerous tournaments, providing her with a thorough understanding of the sport's nuances.
In addition to her competitive achievements, Ellen has a strong background in coaching and working with kids, having worked extensively in schools. This experience has shaped her coaching approach, allowing her to develop engaging and effective training programs for students of all ages and skill levels. She understands the strength of more traditional education and coaching but has the freedom and expertise to sidestep its weaknesses. Ellen’s unique blend of competitive experience and educational skills makes her a dedicated and inspiring coach, committed to helping her students excel both on and off the mat.
Addie Gratz-Maag is a dedicated youth jiu-jitsu coach with a strong competitive background. Trained in the Ronin Youth Program, she excelled as a competitor before transitioning to coaching. Addie combines her technical expertise with a passion for teaching, fostering both skill development and personal growth in her young athletes. Her experience and enthusiasm make her a standout mentor in the jiu-jitsu community.