After rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts (MMA) during their years coaching in Kingston, Haliburton residents Chris and Janet Wellstood are excited to bring their unique brand of combat training to the Highlands.
The couple is preparing for the launch of their new gym, The Chop Shop MMA, on May 30. Located at 175 Industrial Park Rd. in Haliburton, the 800 sq. ft. space will feature Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and fitness kickboxing programming for people of all ages and abilities.
The opening comes a year after the Wellstoods relocated to the area – a homecoming for Janet, who grew up in the Highlands but lived away for more than 30 years. She’s returning to help care for her 86-year-old dad.
“He still lives on a 200-acre farm and needed help – so we sold everything we owned in Kingston and came north,” Janet said.
A part of that was letting go of their stake in Kingston’s high-profile Hayabusa Academy, which they ran for more than a decade from its opening in 2013. At its peak, the space had 370 members and was a breeding ground for top-level MMA competitors.
“We had fighters from all over the world coming through there. Georges St. Pierre was there a few times,” Chris said.
A black belt in BJJ and karate, while also trained in muay thai, Chris said MMA has been a major part of his life for more than 30 years. He discovered the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the mid1990s, before the company – and the sport – went mainstream.
Never much interested in turning pro himself, Chris dedicated years towards learning and honing his craft. A couple of years in, after progressing with his belts, he figured out he enjoyed teaching more than anything else. Since becoming a coach in the mid-2000s, Chris has trained six people to black belt level.
Janet was one of his students – she had an athletic background, playing hockey and running track, but nothing combat-based. She started training in BJJ in 2010 and, by 2018, was a silver medallist in her class at the World Master Jiu-Jitsu championships.
Grappling based, rather than striking, Chris said BJJ is a great way for people to improve their discipline and gain greater control of their emotions. Janet said it’s a wonderful form of self-defence.
“I think that attracts a lot of women, wanting to try something that could help get themselves out of a bad situation if they needed to,” Janet said. “The kickboxing stuff is just for fun. It’ll be good cardio where we get the music pumping and help people get rid of negative energy from the day.”
Group classes will run up to an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with private bookings available on Wednesdays and Fridays.
“We’re going to meet people wherever they’re at in their journey, just trying to recognize what their goals are and try to help them as much as we can,” Janet said. “We want this to be fun. No stress, just a welcoming atmosphere where people can work to better themselves.”
Chris said it doesn’t matter how young or old you are, anyone can benefit from training in BJJ or kickboxing.
“We had a guy start with us in Kingston when he was 60 and he’s still doing it now, he just got his purple belt,” Chris said. “MMA completely changed my life. I’m a lot calmer person now. I’m 54 and in pretty good shape. The training has been so beneficial.”
It can also be a good outlet for people suffering with anger issues or things like post-traumatic stress disorder. Chris said he’s worked with the military and various police agencies over the years.
“A big part of it is just teaching people how to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations, which is mostly a mentality thing,” Chris said.
The gym will be open May 23 for free drop-in introductory classes. On May 30, alongside their grand opening, the Wellstoods will be running a ‘punch for paws’ fundraiser in benefit of Snowflake Meadows Dog Rescue.
For more information, visit www. thechopshop.ca.
