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| GM Corner |
13 May 2008
The HIT Squad has been very busy lately. Kyle Watson, Jon Madsen, TJ Thomas, Matt Veach, and Amir Khillah all have recorded victories since the last time I wrote. Congratulations to those guys. They have been working hard and it has paid off. Jon's win came on the first night he ever fought. I am sure this will be the beginning of many victories for him. At the gym right now Hughes, Lawler, Clay French, and Justin Robbins are all preparing for big fights. Jeremy Horn and a couple of his fighters have been at the HIT Squad the last couple weeks preparing for Jeremy's UFC fight against Dean Lister on June 21st. The training has been very intense as everyone is gearing up for their upcoming battles. Robbie's fight will be the first time in history that MMA has been broadcast live on primetime on national television.
Upcoming fights:
May 31: EliteXC (Broadcast on CBS)- Newark, NJ: Robbie Lawler, Justin Robbins
June 7th: UFC, London, England: Matt Hughes
June 14st: Adrenaline MMA, Sears Center, Hoffman Estates (Chicago) Clay French
June 14th: Total Fight Challenge, Hammond, IN.: Kyle Watson
The HIT Squad has finally hit myspace and facebook. HIT Squad employee of the week, Pete V has asked that everyone check them out. Our myspace address is www.myspace.com\hughesintensivetraining. Our facebook name is The H.I.T. Squad. Please email us any pictures that you have taken at the gym. We would love to see them and possibly post them.
The HIT Squad would like to welcome the Granite City Police and Fire Departments to the gym. We worked out a special deal with both departments as well as with GC city employees and many are now taking of advantage of what the gym has to offer. Chief Miller made us an offer we couldn't refuse.
On behalf of our fighters, the HIT Squad would like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring them during their fights. Their generosity is what makes it possible for our fighters to be able to train full time. (and eat):
Wreckage Clothing
Dale's Harley Davidson in Mt. Vernon
Whatever It Takes Clothing
Fighter's Wrath
Ecko Clothing
It's not too late too sign up for HIT Squad Youth Wrestling that happens every Saturday at 8:30 am.
The gym is still open to the public to join to train or to use the workout facility.
Hope to see you all at the Hughes Intensive Training Squad gym and training center.
Todd Laux
General Manager
HIT Squad
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18 April 2008
As you can see the HIT Squad won both of their fights in Pekin, IL. Congrats to CJ and Jacob! The Hive put on a great show and really took care of all the HIT Squad supporters. We would like to thank them. We would also like to thank all the HIT Squad members who showed up to cheer on our fighters like the Kunkel's, Drago, Donnie, Preston (aka Mr. Union), Officer Maguire, John (aka Pujols), UPS, half of Dixon, Illinois, and many others. We appreciate it.
A lot of people ask me if Matt ever shows up at the gym. They assume that he just sold his name to it and that is the only part he plays. This is Matt's gym (along with Robbie, Matt Pena, and Marc Fiore). They all designed the gym. Matt teaches class about three times a week (to the dismay of some of the fighters due to his intensive training sessions). He also periodically stops by to get his 5 finger discount on merchandise, catch up on gym gossip, and to see if someone will buy his lunch. Matt would not have attached his name to the gym if he wasn't able to take a hands-on approach to the training of the fighters that will be representing it. He also knows they are getting trained by and with the best when he is not here and that is Robbie, Pena, and Fiore.
Our youth wrestling just started and has been very well received. It is a great program that will benefit the Southern Illinois area and its wrestlers. I encourage joining the program now while there are still slots open. The cost is $100 per month but we use a punch card system so if there is a Saturday you can’t make it you are not charged. Marc Fiore is a former Olympic wrestling coach and he heads up the training and is assisted by Robbie Lawler.
We have a lot of fighters competing in the couple months. Here is a list of a few:
April 25: Jireh Cycle Fight Series III at Fischers - Belleville, Il: TJ Thomas
April 26: Kage One - Carbondale, Il: Kyle Watson, Don Bell
May 3: Mercenary Promotions - Effingham, Il: Jon Madsen, Amir Khillah
May 31: EliteXC - Newark, NJ: , Robbie Lawler, Justin Robbins
We are still taking memberships for using our health club as well as fight training. Our initial rates that we introduced for our grand opening are still in place.
Hope to see everyone soon at the HIT Squad Gym and Training Center.
Todd Laux
General Manager
HIT Squad
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18 February 2008
The HIT Squad grand opening was a big HIT! It was estimated that 2,000-3,000 people attended the event. Everyone we talked to was very impressed with the facility and had a great time. We would like to thank everyone for coming out and showing their support.
The gym got into full swing this past week. The MMA, Jiu Jitsu, and boxing classes that are all being taught by Fiore, Watson, and Pena got started with a lot of great training. The classes are starting to really fill up fast. Lots of people took advantage of the health club portion of the training center.
Congrats to Matt (Hughes) for being inducted into the Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame. Camera crews for the event were sent down to the gym this week to film Matt as he taught one of the classes that day.
We have been told by some members that before they got to the HIT Squad they were a little intimidated to walk through the doors. They thought it was a gym just for fighters. That's not the case. We have a state of the art fitness gym that anyone is welcome to come in and use. Our members keep telling us how motivating it is to workout while world class athletes like Robbie Lawler are training just a few feet away. We have also been told how comfortable people are made to feel when they walk through door and that is our goal. So come in and see me and I will give you a free day pass to workout with our weights and cardio equipment.
One thing we do at the HIT Squad is instead of giving our members regular membership cards when they sign up for a year, we give them dog tags. We emboss members first and last name, member number, the name of the package they purchased, and the HIT Squad name right on the authentic dog tag. We have the machine right in our office and it is made as soon as you sign up. It fits our military theme and is a unique souvenir.
We look forward to seeing everyone down at the HIT Squad Gym and Training Center soon.
Todd Laux
General Manager
HIT Squad
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02 February 2008
I'd like to thank everyone for stopping by and checking out The HIT Squad's website.
We are very excited for the opening of Matt Hughes' new gym and training center, The HIT Squad. A lot of people have worked very hard at making this a world class facility. We think that everyone that walks through the HIT Squad doors will be impressed by what has been accomplished and more importantly what our members can accomplish by training here.
I have had a lot of questions about who will be allowed to utilize the facility. The HIT Squad Gym and Training Center will be open to the public. We will have training programs at all levels, from beginner to world class. Whether you are just starting out to try to stay in shape and learn some self-defense or you are a professional fighter wanting to take your game to the next level. All will be welcome at the HIT Squad.
We are very excited about our upcoming grand opening. We have many things planned for that day. Besides some of the things are mentioned on the website here are some other things that will be taking place that day:
KFNS 590 AM The Fan will be broadcasting live from the gym. They will also be doing giveaways.
Dollamur Mats will be present and raffling off a 5 foot by 10 foot camo home grappling mat like the one used at the HIT Squad. This raffle will be free.
Hammer Strength/Life Fitness will be present with giveaways and answering any questions about the workout equipment.
Ringside Boxing and Combat Sports International will be present with giveaways and answering any questions regarding the training equipment.
One More Round will be on hand with free giveaways.
The Big Brothers/Big Sisters will be present and will be raffling off an autographed Matt Hughes book and autographed HIT Squad t-shirt. The cost is only $5 and all proceeds go to The Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Ford and Chevy will be here displaying some of their new '08 models.
The United States Army will be giving away souvenirs. They will have a football toss game set up and, weather permitting, a rock climbing wall. (The temperature has to be above 50 degrees.) The Army has also been generous enough to provide military vehicles, with HIT Squad banners on them, to point the way to the gym; so finding the HIT Squad from Route 3 should be easy.
DPMS rifles will be doing a free raffle of two of their rifles.
2nd Wind Exercise equipment will be present and will have giveaways.
The Hit Squad will be giving away decals and doing a free raffle for a one year membership. We will also be selling the latest HIT Squad gear. (T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, water bottles, towels, dog tags, etc)
Matt Hughes' UFC hummer, which he received after the The Ultimate Fighter 2 reality show, will be parked out front and on display.
Matt's autobiography, Made in America, will also be on sale.
The first month's membership will be free if you sign up that day for a 1 year membership. It is a reward for becoming a founding member.
The HIT Squad team will be doing demonstrations all day. Matt will be doing demonstrations at 1 and 3 pm.
Their will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11am.
This is just a little of what will be happening on February 9th. It will be a fun day for everyone. We hope that everyone can come out and see this first class training center that we are so proud of.
Todd Laux
General Manager
HIT Squad
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