JOIN THE CLUB. Club 37 Jiu-Jitsu got its start in the basement of owners Catlon (pictured in blue) and Sara Martinek, and has quickly grown since.

“Word spread like wildfire that Catlon was teaching again and people were knocking down the door to be part of it,” Sara Martinek, co-owner of Club 37 Jiu-Jitsu, said of the studio’s modest beginnings: in the basement of her and Catlon’s home.

The Eau Claire jiu-jitsu studio officially moved into its current location, a multi-room, decked-out gym, in the summer of 2022, but Catlon Martinek’s journey in martial arts began decades before, at the age of 4, and has been practicing jiu-jitsu for nearly 20 years.

Jiu-jitsu is primarily a ground-based martial art that focuses on close contact grappling, as explained by the Martineks. By using leverage, angles, pressure, and timing to achieve a non-violent submission of your opponent, jiu-jitsu is often referred to as “human chess,” engaging both the mind and body.

Longtime locals may remember when Eau Claire was home to Grind Fitness Factory in 2014, which was the only jiu-jitsu gym in the city at the time. Opened by Catlon, there was certainly space for the gym in the local fitness scene, but he was “burning the candle from both ends, so to speak,” Sara explained.

During the time of The Grind, the couple had two toddlers and were in the midst of building a house. Sara was also battling cancer. To get a small business off the ground on top of everything in their personal lives was simply too much for any one person, or family, to grapple with, so the Martineks sold The Grind and stepped back.

But Catlon’s guiding force as an instructor, once gone, was palpable. You may come across a handful of truly great mentors in one lifetime, and Catlon had become one for an entire array of people who trained under him. Former students would reach out to Catlon to come back to instructing or to help them train for an upcoming competition, and that calling couldn’t be denied forever. Soon, mats became a fixture in the Martinek home basement for those students.

“Next thing you knew we were running a full-on class of 10-15 people, three nights a week in our basement,” Sara said. “That lasted about nine months before we decided to move into a separate space than our home in July of 2022.”

Within less than one year, Club 37 outgrew that space, too, practically busting at the seams with students as more and more people of all ages and skill levels continued to gravitate toward the gym and the unique culture it fostered. Club 37 has roughly 60 members now.

The owners pointed to the physical and mental benefits of jiu-jitsu – it’s a great exercise and sport that is unique in that technique often wins over size and strength, and requires a sharp, quick mentality that fosters perseverance, and the humbling reality of knowing when to “tap” in submission – but over everything, its about the kind of community built through it.

Community is the true force behind Club 37’s success, and behind the studio itself, the guidance of Catlon.

“Club 37 instantly gives you a sense of belonging – that feeling that these are my people, this is home. It is a landing place for people of all walks of life with no judgement or bias,” Sara said.

“When you step onto the mats, yeah, you are going to learn jiu-jitsu, but people are also going to ask you how your family is or how your job interview went.
... It’s the community, but most importantly it's the feeling you get when you are a part of this community. To us, this is so much more important to share about
Club 37 than our story.”

Perhaps most unique, from the point of view of students, is Catlon’s dedication to individual needs. “He will figure out how each person learns, what their goals are, and will do everything he can to help them achieve those goals,” Sara said. “(Something I find) extremely special about our gym, and Catlon specifically as a coach, is his investment in students. I hear this feedback all the time from our members.”

The Martineks and their children actively train and compete as well, always remaining students themselves, with Club 37 offering different classes based on skill level, age, and interests. There is no obligation to compete outside of training and classes, though it is an infectious part of the culture.

“When you step onto the mats, yeah, you are going to learn jiu-jitsu, but people are also going to ask you how your family is or how your job interview went. When someone needs a helping hand, I have watched 15 people show on their weekends to help them,” Sara said. “It’s the community, but most importantly it’s the feeling you get when you are a part of this community. To us, this is so much more important to share about Club 37 than our story.”

To try your hand at Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Club 37, folks can call call or email. Learn about the Kids Program (ages 6 and up), striking classes, and various training classes by reaching out. The Martineks have expanded significantly, and are now in the process of creating a retreat center at the gym to be able to host multi-day training camps, too.

Keep up with Club 37 Jiu-Jitsu on Facebook and Instgram • Call with inquiries to (715) 497-9889 or email at club37jj@gmail.com • Club 37 is located at W3450 State Road 37, Eau Claire