ABOUT THE GYM - MINNESOTA

A hub for many of Minnesota's most accomplished strength athletes, THE GYM offered a serious lifting environment for over 30 years. With its plentiful free weights and machines — and focus on goals, grit, and gains — it was a supportive, close-knit community filled with shared knowledge and expertise. The no-nonsense atmosphere meant intense workouts and guaranteed results. Training was a lifestyle for the most dedicated members who would never miss a workout: Regardless of bad weather, or whether it was a holiday, they would show up like clockwork. So, it should be no surprise that this old-school gym had produced more bodybuilding, bench press and powerlifting champions in the state — not to mention pro-wrestlers. 

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And to think that all of this grew out of a basement — a fine example of great things growing from small beginnings. 

 

The founder and owner of this legendary strength training facility, Jim Yungner, gives full credit to his gym teacher at Robbinsdale Junior High, Jerry McFarland, who was affectionally known as "Mac."  Throwing back to 1973-74, "He was one of those guys that didn't look like a typical teacher. He was really muscular, and he really inspired the guys," Jim recalled. "He's 100% responsible for getting the guys into lifting weights, and if it wasn't for him, there wouldn't have been THE GYM."

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From there, Jim said that the earliest beginnings of THE GYM grew out of Bill and Gary Blazek's basement, when they were all lifting weights out of there while in high school, and he had built a few pieces of equipment. 

 

Years later, in 1979, THE GYM was housed in a small 2,000 square foot facility off I-394 and Winnetka Ave. in St. Louis Park. Inevitably, it continued to grow. By 1981, it moved to a larger space in Golden Valley near Highways 169 and 55. It was during this time in the early to mid-80's that several gym members saw success and became champions, including bodybuilder Joone Hopfenspirger, who won Ms. America and Ms. World; Pete Moen, who won Mr. USA; and the Road Warriors, who won the NWA National and AWA World Tag Team Championships. 

 

Finally, in 1986, wrestler Curt Kummala - a former tag team member of "The Mongolians" with Barry Darsow - talked to the Road Warriors, Mike Hegstrand (Hawk) and Joe Laurinaitis (Animal), about helping Jim get a loan for THE GYM to become a commercial business. That nudge had led to the well-known Plymouth location that was co-owned by Hawk and Animal, located farther west on Highway 55 near I-494. 

 

The spacious main floor was well-organized with every piece of equipment needed for serious results, and there were two upper-level balconies with cardio equipment that offered a view of everything down below. Near the entrance was a convenient pro shop, along with a nutrition bar with several tables where members were welcome to spend time enjoying conversations over a post-workout protein shake or recovery drink. For those in a rush, staff could even have one custom-made and ready to go.

 

Before some of the wrestlers rose to success in wrestling, they trained for competitive sports such as powerlifting (including Joe Laurinaitis, Barry Darsow, and Wayne Bloom) and arm wrestling (such as Scott Norton and Rick Rood/Rude).

 

The list of wrestlers who trained at THE GYM includes:

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• Joe Laurinaitis - Animal of the Road Warriors

• Mike Hegstrand - Hawk of the Road Warriors

• Barry Darsow - Smash of Demolition, Repo Man, Krusher Kruschev

• Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig 

• Wayne "The Train" Bloom - Beau Beverly 

• "Mean" Mike Enos

• "Ravishing" Rick Rude (Rood)

• Jesse "The Body" Ventura

• Scott "Flash" Norton

• Terry Szopinski - The Warlord

• Tom "Z-Man" Zenk

• John Nord - The Berzerker, The Viking, Nord the Barbarian

• Scott Simpson - Nikita Koloff

• Brock Lesnar

• Shawn Waltman - X-Pac, The 1-2-3 Kid

• Brady Boone - Battle Kat, Dean Peters

• Al Blake - Vladimir Petrov

• Curtis Kummala - Gor of the Mongolians

• Kevin Wacholz (Kelly) - Nailz, "Mr. Magnificent"

• Brian Knobbs - of the Nasty Boys

• Jerry Sags - of the Nasty Boys 

• Shawn Michaels

• Jim Lanning - Soldat Ustinov

 

Not to mention others who also lifted at THE GYM as guests, including Adrian Adonis, Hulk Hogan, and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

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Also, Dan "Bomber" Johnson of the Miami Dolphins would train at THE GYM with Wayne Bloom and John Nord when he was home in Minnesota (he was a Cooper High School grad who grew up in Crystal). The Road Warriors were partners in the Minnesota-based company Zubaz, and Dan helped get Zubaz into the NFL. 

 

Several of the Minnesota wrestlers also spent time there whenever they had a break in their hectic travel schedules, when they were taking time off to heal from injuries, and as their ring careers winded-down toward retirement. 

 

Family members of wrestlers trained or worked there, as well. Among them, Barry Darsow trained his son, Dakota, at THE GYM when he was a teenager. James Laurinaitis came in to train with his dad, Joe. Curt Hennig and his father, Larry "The Ax," would also spend time there. Bernie Enos, brother of Mike Enos, was on staff for several years. Wayne Bloom's brother, Terry, was also a regular. 

 

Despite the passage of time, and miles traveled around the world, many of the guys who grew up together kept their friendships intact and had never forgotten where they began:  "They say, 'THE GYM' made them — but they made 'THE GYM,'" Jim said. 

 

Over the years, THE GYM had expanded to several other suburban Minneapolis locations, ultimately with different owners. Ted Harrison, who owned the former Fridley location of THE GYM, still runs G365 Fitness in Coon Rapids. 

 

The original THE GYM facility remained in Plymouth until 2011, when Jim moved to Arizona. It briefly reopened under new management as Leone's THE GYM but had closed again a few months later. The building was demolished, and a Simonon's Salon and Spa stands in its place today. 

 

As for THE GYM's former members, they often share how much they not only miss training at THE GYM, but the camaraderie. Jim agrees that the friendships and people are what he misses the most. He remembers that it truly was a home away from home for many, with the community as a second family. "That's why I threw parties at THE GYM, like at Christmas, for those who might have been lonely." 

 

Framed memorabilia from the Plymouth location are on display at Miller Essential Fitness in Wayzata, Minnesota. 

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​- Adapted from an original Facebook post at Book Pro Wrestlers, written by Cheryl Edelstein, THE GYM Co-Owner