A BRIEF HISTORY OF IRON BODIES GYM
(Updated In March, 2009)
In 1979, Nolan Barber, the gym’s ORIGINAL owner, founded it in Santa Ana, California. Nolan called the business GOALS GYM, as a homage to the Gold’s Gym chain.
Some time in the early 80s, another group of owners changed the name to GOLD MEDAL GYM.
Around 1986, another owner, Paul Burton, changed the name to the one the finally stuck: IRON BODIES GYM.
Joe Rodriguez, originally Paul’s junior partner, and Don Lyford bought out Paul’s remaining interest in the early 90s. Joe and Don managed the place together for several years until September of 2004, when Don left on-site management.
For all those years, Joe’s personality made Iron Bodies Gym a great place to pump iron at the original Santa Ana location.
In October of 2006, the gym left Santa Ana for a better environment in Costa Mesa.
While Joe continues to exude his charm at the new Costa Mesa location as the gym's Vice-President and General Manager, for the past few years, the gym has enjoyed the youthful energy of our new President and Head Trainer, David Pereira.
Although David has had to reduce his role TEMPORARILY to part-time duty due to the recent birth of his first child (a beautiful little Iron Bodies Girl!), we expect our President back to his full-time duties soon. We MISS him!
Among David's many innovations, he leads a monthly FITNESS TRAINING CAMP on the last Saturday of each month.
The gym also benefits from several great trainers, including Larry Brown, Kimm Winn, Lenny Lukela a.k.a. "Rock", Mike Tomacelli, and Chuy Gutierrez.
Of course, we must give special mention to the great work of our friend, Kurt Winn, who has made our new location even more special. We could not have made such extensive renovations — particularly the custom tile work — without his gracious, time-consuming, SKILLED workmanship.
For the most current updates about IRON BODIES GYM, please visit myspace.com/ironbodiesgym.