A ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Thursday, June 16, symbolized the opening of a new gym dedicated to the martial art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Robert “Bobby” Bird, owner, instructor and operator of the new business, ceremoniously unveiled “Choka U,” which actually opened in April, but now that the gym is fully operational, he wanted to make an official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Choka U Cross-Training Gym is located just outside Tomah on Hwy 21, near White Tail Crossing C- Store and down the road from the Blue Wing Community. It is in the former Ho-Chunk Distribution building.

The gym and training center is open to the public from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

“’Choka U’ stands for a few different meanings combined,” Bird said. “The first meaning comes from our culture. By being a Choka, we are expected to be guardians, leaders, compassionate, thoughtful and always wanting better for our family members in all aspects of life. The second meaning refers to one of our moves in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - the choke hold.”      

Cross training, as the name implies, is a hybrid of many different forms of activity, Bird said. The gym offers boxing, kick-boxing, Judo, and cardio-based workouts, however the primary focus is on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“Along with the universal combination training, a feature of Choka U, is the instruction of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which relies on strategy, tactics and technique - all taught in a safe and monitored setting,” Bird said.

“Jiu Jitsu is like a human game of chess. There are setups, sequences, attacks, counterattacks and forced transitions,” Bird said. “The cross training component is conditioning for anyone who would like to increase and better their overall health and physique. The added benefit of this training is a versatility that gives the students a significant edge in competition and the added self-confidence for everyday life.”

One of the primary goals is to provide the youth an opportunity to learn something that is unique, Bird said, noting that this particular lifestyle and martial art is typically offered in the larger metropolitan areas.
 
“The idea that the gentle art of Jiu Jitsu could flourish in our modest country life style is both exhilarating to share and see,” he said.

In 1998, while attending college and living in Chicago, Bird had the opportunity to witness and experience Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the first time. After his first class, he was addicted to it. He studied under the legendary Carlson Gracie Sr., whom he received his first (blue) belt in Jiu Jitsu.

“He (Gracie) was a remarkable man, his mannerism reminded me of our some of our elders who were still here at home during that era,” Bird said.

Gracie had a dream as well, he said.

“He wished that his Jiu Jitsu would make it to Ho-Chunk country someday,” Bird said. “And now it has. We at Choka U, are proud to come under the flag of the great Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Team in Tomah Wisconsin. We have an exceptional relationship with his son Carlson Gracie Junior and their 80-plus schools in the U.S. alone, not to mention the recognition our team receives as part of their global team, as well.”

Bird would like to see Choka U rise to become a premier Jiu Jitsu and Cross Training gym in the immediate area, then possibly set an example for other native nations to follow. People will see how the community, youth, family lifestyles, self-confidence, and athleticism has increased for the better.

“This vision is bold, fitting, and well within the grasp of our team’s caliber. We will offer the best, most versatile, and highest quality training in a safe environment for our immediate area,” he said. “This training will be for athletes and families alike, as our facility is family-oriented. Our training center will host guest trainers from across the state and the nationwide.”

Through Jiu Jitsu, they will be able to share with the community and children such benefits as being able to build new friendships, learn and practice conflict resolution skills, provide a healthy way to release stress and energy, instill self-confidence, build self-esteem; which all equals a healthier lifestyle, he said.

“Our classes will help children to respect authoritarian figures and increase communication skills. If there is one teaching figure who will teach respect to children, it’s a martial arts instructor,” Bird said. “They, themselves, were taught to respect their own professors while in training and will happily instill that same sense of respect on your children. All of our students are taught to respect their opponents, as well as their instructors and team members.”

Every member of the team is expected to be friendly to their fellow students at all times. They strive to encourage and push the students to achieve their potential. They seek to consistently provide the best family-oriented and team based experience possible, Bird said.

The quest for the “perfect” gym and floor at Choka U gym was born from the countless hours spent on other gym floors and mats. The floor design is in only a few of the gyms in Wisconsin, he said.

“When we started to build our gym floor, I had the ‘let’s do it right the first time’ attitude. A mat or surface system will only compress a certain percentage of the material, depending on its density, if laid on a hard rigid surface such as a concrete floor. This could lead to injuries as the mat themselves cannot absorb and dissipate the energy from a fall adequately,” he said.

“Therefore, I thought a ‘sprung’ floor would be necessary, so that the mats are not taking 100 percent of the impact and a fast, firm surface is still retained,” Bird said. “This will mean longer careers in both our competition and recreational workout lives.”

Bird recognizes that his new business has been accomplished only through the efforts of a lot of supportive people.

“I would like to thank a great many people that helped make this dream a reality: my immediate and extended family, our Area 2 community members, our Legislators, administration, maintenance, and the Office of the President for believing in our business plan,” he said.

“Also, I would like to thank the students and their parents and a special thanks to the staff at the House of Wellness: Roberta Funmaker, Scott Gilbeck, Lance Tallmadge, Paul Cloud and team. The House of Wellness team believed in our dream as well and offered us a couple of spin bikes and weights,” he said.
“You all have been instrumental in making this dream amazingly real. Thank you.”

The Choka U gym has a website at www.carlsongracietomahwi.com.