UFC vet Cole Smith opens new martial arts studio in Squamish

When Squamish UFC veteran Cole Smith and his partner Candace Fan decided to open their own martial arts studio, more than just building a business, they knew they had to build a community around it. 

“The first thing we’re really offering is a community, a chance for people to come and meet. Squamish is difficult to meet people. A lot of people are from Alberta, Ontario, different parts of Canada, and they’re coming here … and it’s not easy to find friends when you’re 30 years old and arrive in a new town,” Smith told The Squamish Chief last week. “The first thing we really wanted to do is build a strong community, to make sure everyone felt like they had somewhere to go and hang out at.” 

It’s that philosophy that went into Roundhouse Martial Arts & Fitness, which just had its soft opening Monday, June 12, at its Cleveland Ave. location, just above Cleveland Meats. 

Recognizing the stigma often attached to mixed martial arts, the couple said their aim is to grow the sport locally, exposing it to people who may not have seen a place for them in the sport before. 

“That’s part of what we’re trying to encourage, to show people that everybody can be on the mats and you’re not taking space from anybody else,” Smith said. “Everybody’s welcomed, and once they come in and try it for the first time, they figure out that they can do it, too.” 

 Roundhouse offers a variety of classes, including MMA, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and fitness kickboxing, and boxing. There are also specialized classes for women, in both jiu-jitsu and fitness kickboxing, led by female instructors, another way the studio aims to fight through the “tough guy” stigma often associated with MMA. 

“We want the women to feel good about training with other women, and then they don’t have to feel gross and sweaty in a class with men either,” explained Fan. 

 There are also specific classes for youth: the Lil’ Roundhousers for kids aged seven to 11 and a teen class for those aged 12 to 17. 

Those classes focus on basic striking, takedowns, positions, and ground control, and Smith said any full-contact sparring would be saved for the adult classes. 

“We want younger kids joining the sport. No one’s in there getting hit in the head or getting hurt,” he added. “Martial arts don’t only make your kid less prone to getting bullied, but it makes them less prone to being a bully as well, so it works on both sides. If your kid is a bit of a troublemaker, that’s even better to bring them into the gym, because it humbles them, it teaches them respect. Then if your kid is a bit on the softer side, it’s great to bring them in and show them they’re stronger than they think they are.” 

At the moment, Roundhouse is offering a limited number of classes, with the full schedule and membership options to be available by the time the studio has its official grand opening, likely in July, Fan said. The goal is to ultimately offer early morning, midday and evening classes. 

Over the long term, the couple wants to continue growing the sport and create a space where members feel a sense of ownership over the studio. 

 “We want people to feel like they have some type of say to build their community and build the gym they’ve been training at for a while in the way they want it,” Fan said. 

Roundhouse is located at 38147 Cleveland Ave., on the second floor. Learn more at roundhousesquamish.com.