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Iron Legion SC
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Iron Legion’s mission is to make our members the strongest most capable humans around.

We believe that being confident, independent and self sufficient are skills that can be learned while pursuing any of our unique selection of strength programs.

That said – Iron Legion Strength and Combat is not a Jiu Jitsu Academy. Nor is it a CrossFit Affiliate or a Powerlifting Federation.

We respect those and many strength based modalities, we learned from them and then enhance them to fit our model of Forging Better Humans.

For example:

Our Jiu Jitsu style is enhanced-“street” style Jiu Jitsu. Meaning – we will train every advantage we have. These enhancements may just give you or your child an edge when they need it.

If that advantage is teaching how to use a strike while an opponent is attempting to engage – we will train that scenario.

If you are looking for a babysitter martial arts program or a cookie cutter group fitness class – there are plenty in the area.

Not here.

Our focus is to prepare you to be able to survive whether you are in a street fight or being bullied.

We want you strong. Prepared.

Our style of Strength and Conditioning training is also unique to the real world. We’ve traded high level gymnastics for real world functional movement.

We’ve eliminated complexity and added basic, raw brutality to our strength and conditioning floor.

The results have been astounding.

Membership is soaring and our members have never looked or felt better.

I am the Coach and the Owner here – and I will always be evolving our programs if I believe that it will give our members the strength and confidence they need to be successful in their day to day life.

Our edges will remain unapologetically sharp, our programs will continue to grow and our members will benefit.

Most folks are taught to hate change – I’ll do my best to make sure those folks are always miserable here.

Change is good. Uncomfortable is good. Change is growth – and growth is exactly what each of us need.

Strap in. 2025 is going to be lit.

Handgun Fundamentals Thursday at 6pm.

See you in the gym.

Yours in Strength and Confidence,

Coach Ted

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At Iron Legion Strength and Combat, we believe in the transformative power of accountability—not just in fitness, but in life. Shelby’s story is a testament to how a supportive community, expert coaching, and dynamic workout classes can make all the difference.Shelby has been working out at Iron Legion for over a decade—10 to 11 years of consistency, growth, and connection. For her, it’s more than just a gym; it’s a place where accountability drives success. “You make friends with like-minded people,” Shelby shares. “You become family because you have similar goals.”The camaraderie and shared purpose Shelby describes go beyond physical......

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In , ,

At Iron Legion Strength and Combat, every member brings a unique story of growth and transformation. Regina’s testimony highlights how a strong community and expert coaching create a powerful fitness experience unlike any other gym in Ocala.Hear firsthand how Iron Legion helped her achieve her fitness goals and build lasting confidence."Iron Legion is more than a gym—it's a family." Regina speaks passionately about the camaraderie she’s found at Iron Legion. For her, the gym isn’t just a place to work out—it’s a supportive environment where members push each other to succeed. If you’re looking for the best gym in Ocala......

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Iron legion
In ,

“Wir machen den Weg”

Translation: “We Make the Way”

Leaders create leaders.

In here – strength and endurance are cherished as virtues. Daily training focused on these virtues enhances confidence. 

That confidence emboldens us to move forward – to never stay still or become complacent.

Your development of an iron will and steadfastness to the lifestyle we encourage here is exactly what we aim to develop at Iron Legion: 

The Forging of Better Humans.

Shoulder to shoulder we train, we support each other in and out of the gym, we watch our kids grow, and we all get stronger and better in the process.

Each one of you have the ability to inspire someone here daily – that’s the glue that holds us together and what brings a lot of us back.

The ego may be the “driver” that originally brought you into the door – but its the ability to humble ourselves in an effort to learn and develop that keeps us here.

To learn, to grow, to become – better. Better humans, better parents, better friends.

In a world that appears at times to have lost its mind – 

Remember:

“Wir machen den Weg”

We Make the Way.

See you in the gym!

-Coach Ted

CrossFit
In ,

Last week we talked about becoming a mountain climber. Not someone who climbs one mountain – but someone who becomes a climber of mountains.

To summarize – when you have decided where you want to go with your health and wellness, goals are great to set and achieve but they are nothing more than milestones along the way.

Celebrate them, grow from them, but the mission of becoming doesn’t change – it only expands.

I see “drivers” for change in people’s lives every day.

“Drivers” are the “thing” that motivates someone to change direction in their life. Driving them to get off the couch or that destructive lifestyle path and make a healthy or positive change.

Drivers can include (but are not limited to) divorce, break ups, job loss, relocation, inspiration, “keeping up with the Joneses”, new friends, marriage, kids, – any number of things can drive someone to make a change in their life. They are unique and personal to that person.

Drivers are great as a reason to begin, but – like a flame, they can burn out rather quickly.

That initial driver pushes you to work hard, and it feels good. You’re driven by purpose – this is what you’ve been missing!

A few weeks in and you see some results in the mirror. 

Hell yeah.

Here’s where people get funny though…

Here is where the path can split. Some go left, some go right…

Those who go left on the path feel fired up! Fueled by adrenaline and this new change they feel like they are able to do anything. They prematurely abandon the current work and begin to hop to all sorts of programs. Try a little here, a little there – anything to keep that flame burning!

But before long confusion and frustration set in when the “gain” they had disappeared. What the hell happened?

I liken this to growing a plant. Let’s say – an oak. 

An oak takes a long time. The seed is planted and they begin to do the work of growing the oak. Water, sun, attention, and before you know it – a seedling sprouts! 

And the first thing they do is: over do it – they prune it. To the root. They may not have “killed” it, but they have certainly hampered it’s growth.

Sounds kinda dumb right? That’s because it is.

Then there are those who take a right on the path  The ones on a mission – they buckle down. They see that in a short period of time there were gains. There was progress toward their goal and their ultimate mission.

They planted an oak as well but when the seedling sprouted they work to enhance the growth process. 

They keep the routine of water, sun and attention, but they add better nutrients to the soil, perhaps a cleaner water source, they mind the environment that the oak is growing in and eliminate threats to the oaks progress.

Before long the oak is standing tall on its own. The basic routine is still intact – water, sun and attention. However – this oak is stronger than the other oaks in the area due to enhanced attention to outside stimulus like nutrients, clean water and a tended surrounding environment during its growth.

Oaks don’t grow overnight. Neither will the success of your mission.

The explosive flame of your initial driver is going to die down. It had its place in time – it sparked the fire that drives the passion of your mission. 

And for the successful – The path to their mission becomes their true motivation. The basics are the foundations that are never abandoned – they are enhanced and tended to in an effort to create the best versions of themselves.

Surround yourself with people on the same mission as you. Focus on the details of what you are consuming and work daily to enhance the things in your life that are working. Before you know it you will be a stronger, healthier person – driven by purpose.

I’m pulling for you,

Coach Ted

Iron legion
In ,

Let’s just say – for shits and giggles, that you decided to be a mountain climber. “The mountains are calling” so they say – and you must go.

 

You begin to train for this new passion of yours. And oh boy – It’s a struggle. You know in the back of your mind it’s just something that you have to do. You dream about it. You obsess about it. It’s what you want – to be a Mountain Climber.

 

You’ve even gone as far as to pick *the* mountain you will be climbing. It looks majestic – it’s located in a remote area, its perfect:

 

 Mount Gonmakemegreat.

 

Just picking this mountain drives you to train harder. It inspires you to stay the course. You not only train at the gym – you begin climbing other mountains – smaller ones, to prepare. You are – becoming.

 

You are changing. Climbing Mount Gonmakemegret is now becoming the ultimate climb in your mind. You will not be able to move on in your life until it’s done.

 

The day comes and the summit begins. To say it’s a grind is an understatement. Grueling and nasty you drag yourself up the mountain. You fall a few times – ass over tea kettle, but pick yourself back up and keep climbing. Fighting doubt, pushing against dehydration and now new scrapes, bruises and stressed muscles you climb.

 

And then, all of a sudden you are within reach. Muscles screaming, body exhausted you pull yourself to the top of the summit. You’ve done it!

 

The view from here changes though. 

 

Other mountains dwarf Mount Gonmakemegreat. You can see them now. Bigger, more majestic. They surround Mount Gonmakemegreat. You see through your binoculars another climber climbing a much larger mountain in the distance.

 

Exasperation begins to eat at you. This mountain almost killed you and it’s half the size of the one in your view. How in the hell…?

 

The dedication and the work you’ve put in up to this point are admirable, there is no doubt. This was quite a summit. You’ve never felt anything like this. Exhaustion and exhilaration consume you at the same time.

 

What happens next is what will define you.

 

Will you be a guy who submitted Mount Gonmakemegreat? Or are you going to be a Mountain Climber?

 

Do the bigger, larger mountains inspire you to continue? Or have you done enough with achieving your singular goal?

 

The training and changes to your lifestyle you’ve made in conquering the single goal of Mount Gonmakemegreat have laid the groundwork to becoming the Mountain Climber you set out to be – but you’re not there yet. 

 

There are more mountains, more summits. The horizon is full of them. And you – you got in this game to be a Mountain Climber.

 

You take a deep breath of mountain air atop Mount Gonmakemegreat. You crack a smile for a moment and relish your small goal – knowing now that your mission is now  becoming more defined as you gaze at the new possibilities with your developing skills. 

 

You turn and coax your aching body back down the mountain – the thoughts of “which one will I summit next” fill your thoughts like driving fire.

 

Goals are great. Reaching them is important – but always keep in mind that they are milestones on the path of your ultimate mission. They should FUEL you upon accomplishment. Completing a goal should make you mash the accelerator with confidence and vindication that you are on the right path.

 

You are on a mission to become someone new. A Mission to become better then you’ve ever been. Don’t fall for the – “take a break you’ve earned it” lie. Stay driven and let every goal achieved be a burned bridge to a past you never want to return to. 

 

I’m pulling for you.

 

-Coach Ted

In ,

Conversation: /noun/ a talk, especially an informal one, between two or more people, in which news and ideas are exchanged.

 

More often than not I have this conversation with a potential member here at Iron Legion:

 

Me:

“Tell me a little about yourself, how your week goes.”

Potential Member:

“Hmm, I only sleep 3 hours a night. I eat at gas stations / vending machines / cafeterias because I’m always on the run. I poop every couple days and I’m seriously over stressed. Do you have a workout here that I can lose these extra 50lbs?”

Me:

“Well, we have a few other things in your life that we should sort out first.” 

Potential Member:

Visually uncomfortable.

“I thought all I had to do was workout…”

What we have to offer here at Iron Legion can be tough to understand from the outside looking in. You’ve got to see it – feel it, experience it. 

 

A phone call or email doesn’t capture it. I struggle explaining it over the phone and I love it here! 

 

I genuinely love sitting down with people and hearing their story. It’s one of the best parts of this business. Hearing about how someone’s life has been going up to this point and how they’ve finally decided to risk it and come through my doors – my black tinted doors with a wolf head and flames on them, is always best done in a face to face scenario. 

 

Every story is different. And every story is told with more than words. The best stories come from folks who have just had enough. These stories come from folks that know they are capable of more. 

 

They know there is a way out and they are willing to work hard for it, but they just need a little help. A little guidance and creativity as well as an understanding of where they are coming from and what they really need.

 

That’s what we do here. We get to know you – your story, your goals, your ambition. You – in turn, get to know what we can do for you before we ever even begin.

 

That’s what a great face to face conversation with someone positioned to help can do for you.

 

Whatever you are dealing with – that voice inside your head is telling you that it’s time to get your life back. That it’s finally time to prioritize you, your health and your body. That voice is right. You owe it to yourself to get on a path. 

 

My truck is parked out front of Iron Legion every day. I invite you to push open those black tinted Iron Legion doors and come on in – ask for me, and let’s talk. 

 

I’m pulling for you,

 

Coach Ted 

Iron legion
In ,

A student once said to his master: “you teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two?” The master replied: “It is better to be a warrior in a garden than to be a gardener in a war.”

 

All programming here at Iron Legion is specifically designed for GPP – General Physical Preparedness.

 

Our CrossFit classes focus on strength, functionality and intensity. Our Tactical classes prepare our First Responders with similar modalities, but with a keen eye to their work outside of the gym. Our Weightlifting and Strength and Strongman classes build a solid base and foundation to work from.

 

We’ve recently added Self Defense to that line up. Learning how to defend ourselves is a very desirable human performance addition.

 

In a society like ours – having to physically defend ourselves isn’t a daily occurrence. This causes the view of being able to defend ourselves as a waste of time – something that is easily shrugged off as something you just do your best to avoid.

 

Seems to have worked out so far.

 

Until it doesn’t.

 

When and or if the shit hits the fan – some of us think that adrenaline will come to our aid. Perhaps we will turn into a wild werewolf due to some hidden genetic code. Or become that mother that goes beast mode when they see their family in danger.

 

No training. Just hope. Luck…?

 

I’m here to tell you it doesn’t work that way. If you’ve never been in a fight, nor trained for one – no amount of adrenaline will help if it happens. You could try and count on luck – but I wouldn’t bet my family on it.

 

Guys are the worst – they’ll avoid a fight training class simply because they don’t want anyone to know that they may not know how to fight. Man – listen to me, imagine you are looking me in the eye – I’d rather you got over that in here with us before your wife and kids find out the hard way out there in the world.

 

Training is just that. It’s training. It’s learning and gaining confidence. In a safe environment. With your Tribe, your Pack like we’ve done for centuries. If you’ve never thrown a punch – wouldn’t you rather you did it in here? 

 

Taking advantage of our Self Defense classes can have a huge benefit for you and your family someday. I know it can be intimidating. But – There is no reason to go outside of your pack to do this. I’m bringing it here – to you.

 

Let me know – hit me up if its a schedule issue. I want to see more of you in the Striking class.

 

And let me make it clear – I honestly hope you never have to use the skill. As your Coach I will always endeavor to train you to be the warrior in the garden – NEVER the gardener in the war.

 

I’m pulling for you!

 

Coach Ted

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