WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: ROUNDHOUSE MARTIAL ARTS & FITNESSJune 19, 2023NewsThis spring, Downtown Squamish has landed its newest martial arts and fitness studio. Previous UFC fighter and owner of Roundhouse, Cole Smith, chatted with our Executive Director Kerry Neil who found out more about this new business and Cole’s excitement to joining the downtown.
Tell me about you and your business?
We are a new Martial Arts gym owned by former UFC fighter, Cole Smith and his partner Candace Fan. We aim to challenge common misconceptions of Martial Arts by fostering a warm and welcoming environment where everybody, regardless of their background or skill level, can come together and form a strong sense of community. We offer different level classes to accommodate each student’s skillset in Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Muay Thai, and Boxing. We also offer Women’s only BJJ and Kickboxing classes!
What inspired you to want to open a business in downtown Squamish?
I am a long-time professional Mixed Martial Artist who has trained all over the Lower Mainland (including The Sound, Pinnacle, Universal, and Revolution) and internationally – Missouri, Thailand, and Las Vegas. Taking the next step in his career, his wide range of experience brought him into a bigger coaching role among BC fighters and inspired him to start a business where he can influence and create his vision of what MMA means to him. My partner Candace Fan – although not a fighter by any means herself, works within the industry of brand marketing, bringing that experience into building the operational and logistical side of a business has become a new and rewarding endeavour. Our puppy, Jynx has been a very supportive mascot.
What do you love most about having a business in Squamish?
Building a community! It’s been incredibly heartwarming having people we’ve never met before reach out, get excited about coming to class, get to know each other, and build relationships. Not only are the people awesome, but how great is it to look out the window and see the chief or take a quick drive to the lake post-training. Even the fellow businesses around downtown have been so supportive and we feel very lucky to be a part of it.
What is your best piece of advice for any business owner?
Go with your gut – they’ll be plenty of doubtful times but if you continue to make decisions out of integrity and good intentions, trust that positive outcomes will naturally follow.
What is your favourite memory of your business thus far or what are you looking forward to the most?
Our favourite memory of our business so far has been the renovation process – not only physically building the gym that we envision but mostly having our friends visit or come together on the weekends to help out in any way they can. We have been so grateful for this whole process and all the ups and downs.
Tell me what other stores are your favourite/ that you like to frequent downtown Squamish?
Manpuku is our go-to sushi spot! Cozy and delicious. We also frequent Shift to get our bodies fixed up. Candace loves her Sunday pilates at Seed Studio.
Anything else you would like to share?
Send us an email or DM on Instagram for a surprise and delight! And if you’re uneasy or unsure of joining, book a 15-minute consultation with us and we can give you a gym tour, answer any questions, set expectations, and go through some basic moves before your first class!
This spring, Downtown Squamish has landed its newest martial arts and fitness studio. Previous UFC fighter and owner of Roundhouse, Cole Smith, chatted with our Executive Director Kerry Neil who found out more about this new business and Cole’s excitement to joining the downtown.
Tell me about you and your business?
We are a new Martial Arts gym owned by former UFC fighter, Cole Smith and his partner Candace Fan. We aim to challenge common misconceptions of Martial Arts by fostering a warm and welcoming environment where everybody, regardless of their background or skill level, can come together and form a strong sense of community. We offer different level classes to accommodate each student’s skillset in Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Muay Thai, and Boxing. We also offer Women’s only BJJ and Kickboxing classes!
What inspired you to want to open a business in downtown Squamish?
I am a long-time professional Mixed Martial Artist who has trained all over the Lower Mainland (including The Sound, Pinnacle, Universal, and Revolution) and internationally – Missouri, Thailand, and Las Vegas. Taking the next step in his career, his wide range of experience brought him into a bigger coaching role among BC fighters and inspired him to start a business where he can influence and create his vision of what MMA means to him. My partner Candace Fan – although not a fighter by any means herself, works within the industry of brand marketing, bringing that experience into building the operational and logistical side of a business has become a new and rewarding endeavour. Our puppy, Jynx has been a very supportive mascot.
What do you love most about having a business in Squamish?
Building a community! It’s been incredibly heartwarming having people we’ve never met before reach out, get excited about coming to class, get to know each other, and build relationships. Not only are the people awesome, but how great is it to look out the window and see the chief or take a quick drive to the lake post-training. Even the fellow businesses around downtown have been so supportive and we feel very lucky to be a part of it.
What is your best piece of advice for any business owner?
Go with your gut – they’ll be plenty of doubtful times but if you continue to make decisions out of integrity and good intentions, trust that positive outcomes will naturally follow.
What is your favourite memory of your business thus far or what are you looking forward to the most?
Our favourite memory of our business so far has been the renovation process – not only physically building the gym that we envision but mostly having our friends visit or come together on the weekends to help out in any way they can. We have been so grateful for this whole process and all the ups and downs.
Tell me what other stores are your favourite/ that you like to frequent downtown Squamish?
Manpuku is our go-to sushi spot! Cozy and delicious. We also frequent Shift to get our bodies fixed up. Candace loves her Sunday pilates at Seed Studio.
Anything else you would like to share?
Send us an email or DM on Instagram for a surprise and delight! And if you’re uneasy or unsure of joining, book a 15-minute consultation with us and we can give you a gym tour, answer any questions, set expectations, and go through some basic moves before your first class!
