Coopers Gym, Michigan's authentic Muay Thai Boxing home since 1979

I'm driving down to Detroit (Warren Ave to be exact) to talk to Al Cooper and his team. We're going to talk about the gym and the fighters from this gym that are going to be on our Aug 21st show at the Gibraltar Trade Center in Mt. Clemens. It has been a long drive, but I'm here. As I walk into Coopers Gym & institute of Martial Arts for the first time, I have one word for you, hardcore. It was like a flashback to my traditional days in martial arts with the surroundings from an old movie. If any of you readers don't have the pleasure of driving around Detroit on a daily basis, I'll give you a mental picture. The school is surrounded by rundown buildings, like the ones you would see in a "Godfather" movie. I park, grab my gear, walk up to the front door, and grin. Grin you ask? Yes, a big one! The smell hits my face like a left hook; the smell of a hard work. For those of you readers that think I'm saying this gym smells bad, I'm not; this is not your average corporate gym. I'm talking about a real Gym for fighters who know how to get down to business! No fruity fresh smell here, this place is stained with 30 years of blood, sweat, and tears. So I walk through the front door and kicked off my shoes out of respect. I sat down next to the mats with all my gear and a funny thing happened, none of the fighters stopped working or even looked at me and all my camera gear . They didn't care, these warriors are here for one reason and one reason alone; to train.

I'm sitting here writing my notes and I'm looking at 30 fighters working in sync like a well trained military unit preparing for battle. I could tell by the look in their eyes they were working on a goal or dream; to be the next champion out of this gym. Which if you didn't know, Coopers Gym has as many Thai boxing champions as Don King has boxers. Aside from the honorable flags on the walls, Coopers Gym is plastered with pictures of current and former champions and title belts. What do you expect happens when you train with champion martial artists from all over the world? Fact of the matter is, you might become one. Along with the Muay Thai Coopers Gym offers much more. They have classes taught by black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Japanese Ju-Jitsu, Karate, and they also teach law enforcement tactical training. As you can see, Coopers Gym holds a large amount of knowledge within its' walls. There are very few places in the state where you can go and train with so many champions.
Like most gyms here in the state they offer MMA classes as well, and have developed a very good amateur fight team that has been tearing through the competition around the state. These guys and gals at Coopers Gym down here in Detroit are no joke; they train hard, fight hard, and have a great concept of the word team. Team effort, focus, and dedication are what the foundation of Coopers Gym is built upon.

If you're in the Detroit area and looking for some good training and/or another place to call home, check this gym out.

Cooper's® Gym

Institute of Mixed Martial Arts® - Registration Office
16849 Warren Avenue
Dearborn/Metro Detroit, MI 48228

Phone: (313) 581-5085
Contact: Shawn
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

" The more you sweat the less you bleed"

Written by Josh Lawrence
Owner of Michigan MMA Underground