This Northern Michigan Gym Teaches Insane Combat Moves

Gaylord — It sounds like something out of a movie. An isolated jiu jitsu gym where the best of the best go to train, away from the action of the big city. But it’s real!

Flesh is Stronger Fighting Systems is a gym located in Gaylord. While Gaylord only has 5,000 people, this gym punches above its weight in terms of the fighters it produces.

The Flesh is Stronger gym was founded by Ryan Mech, a black belt in judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Hayastan grappling. The last one is by far the most interesting.

Hayastan grappling is an intensive combat system developed by Gokor Chivichyan, an Armenian-American fighter who specializes in grappling of all types, combining catch wrestling, judo, and sambo into one deadly combination.

Gokor has trained some of the best MMA fighters in the world, and Ryan is Michigan’s only Hayastan black belt.

Classes at Flesh is Stronger start with a warmup, practicing fundamental movements such as rolling, shrimping (quickly moving your hips to escape from opponents control), and stretching.

Next, the coach gives a demonstration on a specific technique or situation for the class to practice. Jiu Jitsu is really all about stringing together different techniques depending on the situation. For everything your opponent does, there are a series of escapes, repositioning, or holds that you can do to regain control and pressure your opponent.

At the class I went to, Mech showed how to escape and regain control when your opponent was grabbing onto your back. Students were then paired off to practice.

After practicing their technique, the class did live drills. Pairs were put into the position they had practiced, and then the bottom student would try and escape while the student in control tried to prevent their escape. This went on for about 20 minutes and led to some fierce struggles.

For the last part of the class, students paired up and sparred. For about 20 minutes, I got to watch students try their best to destroy each other— in a controlled way of course. It was incredible. Seeing high-level athletes fight like this is like going to your own UFC match!

Despite how cool the classes are, Flesh is Stronger Fighting Systems is small for a Jiu Jitsu gym. Northern Michigan tends to be behind most trends by about 20 years, so Jiu Jitsu is still a growing sport Up North. In spite of how “unknown” jiu jitsu may be here, the fighters from the Flesh is Stronger gym has won multiple international awards, including the elemental Jiu Jitsu open in Budapest, and a gold medal at the IBJJF world championship.

If you’re interested in learning how to fight, or if you just want to get more active, then Flesh is Stronger Fighting Systems is the place for you.

It proves once again how tough Northern Michiganders truly are.