Lethbridge gym defying health orders, plans to reopen

LETHBRIDGE (CityNews) – The owner of a martial arts gym believes his rights as a business owner and students’ mental health are more important than “fears over the pandemic.”

The Canadian Martial Arts Centre in Lethbridge plans to open next Monday despite gyms not being allowed to open until Phase three of the province’s relaunch strategy.

“I have friends that live in China that train Jiu-Jitsu in China and they’re back on the mats,” said coach Lee Mein with the gym. “I lost a good friend who committed suicide because of losing his businesses because of this, so that’s a factor.”

“I want my students to be healthy, people are saying ‘I need this’ they came to me in the first place because of their mental health and what they needed. They never wanted to be a fighter.”

Mein made the announcement on Facebook to mixed reviews. Some are excited to be back at the gym while others called the move shameful and selfish.

A date for phase three of Alberta’s relaunch hasn’t been set yet.

A different club training out of King’s Fitness in Calgary said there are risks, especially when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is involved which is very close contact.

“You’re right up in someone else’s grill,” said coach Chris Mattock. “Even if we screen for people who are demonstrating symptoms, we aren’t going to catch people who are asymptomatic.”

Mattock considers Mein a pioneer for MMA in Alberta and thinks an early opening is bold but not for his club in Calgary, as he waits for more government information and new guidelines from Jiu-Jitsu organizations.

“We just don’t have any justification from the Alberta government right now and I think that will help quell all our fears.”

Meanwhile, Mein is sticking to sanitizing equipment and surfaces like he always has.

While he knows health authorities can shut him down, he wants to throw the first punch.

“Someone has to do something because there’s lots of people who aren’t happy with this, but no one wants to make the move.”