Martial Arts recognized as a form of Alternative Fitness
illi News/10039147

LOVES PARK, Ill. - illiNews -- At No Joke, a Loves Park fitness studio that could pass for a more hardcore version of the YMCA, a small foyer with penty of seating and friendly staff leads to a workout room. Instead of bikes or treadmills, however, the room is filled with heavy bags, a massive matted area, a boxing ring, and even a full-sized MMA cage...

No Joke—which launched in the Rock River Valley in 2002—sits as a fitness boutique-ification of boxing, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts.

No Joke makes headlines this week in the arena of mainstream fitness.

It was announced Wednesday that No Joke has earned its place among the top-three nominees in the 'alternative fitness' category for a readers' choice award organized by The Rockford Register Star. Among alternative fitness, many other categories were included such as the best place for a girls' night out, best tattoo parlor, and best restaurant.

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"There are over 20,000 businesses in the Rockford area," Rockford Register Star Publisher Paul Gaier stated at a 2018 event. "To be in the top three in your respective category is truly something you should be proud of."

Martial Arts—as a more mainstream method of exercising—is definitely gaining momentum in the fitness world. By mainstream, we mean it's popping up in the form of boutique workout studios and group exercise classes; we're not necessarily talking about jumping into a ring or cage for a full-on fight...

It's no surprise that Martial Arts is having its moment. Chances are you've seen photos of a celebrity like Jennifer Aniston in a boxing gym or Demi Lovato gawking over a new stripe on her BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-jitsu) belt. Whether you find your grit in Boxing, Kickboxing, or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, there's no questioning whether you should give it a try.

No Joke Mixed Martial Arts is known in the Rock River Valley (about 85 miles northwest of Chicago) as a leader in martial arts instruction for children and adults with an emphasis on developing confidence, coordination, and self-defense skills. Since 2002, we have employed over a dozen instructors and served over 1,000 members with our friendly environment and expert instruction.

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Martial Arts as a workout featured in:

SELF: Demi Lovato's Answer to Workout Boredom? Mixed Martial Arts (http://nojoke.info/f54)

BUZZFEED: We Trained Like Boxers For A Month (http://nojoke.info/d2v)

No Joke featured in:

CHICAGO'S MMA: Loves Park MMA School Hosts First-Ever "Trunk or Treat" (http://nojoke.info/g28)

23 WIFR: Self-defense classes helping women stay safe (http://nojoke.info/3yq)