Penn Fitness & Training Center

This gym is awesome, it has everything you could want really. I like the aspect of the downstairs free weight area being hot, almost like a dungeon. This is a place you go to get things done. Upstairs is air conditioned so if you need a reprieve from the clang and bang setting downstairs head on up to the cables, cardio equipment and other machines. It’s normally empty when I get there around 830 pm so I’m able to hit everything I need to with no waiting or issues. Bathrooms are clean and spacious, as is the studio area for stretching or ab work. I haven’t tried any of the classes there but I’m looking forward to if I ever get the time during the day.
One complaint I have is that there is only one squat rack, which is unfortunate but there are a multitude of leg press machines.
Also, during the weekdays they are open until midnight, Unilocal doesn’t appear to reflect that. I’m normally in there until 1130pm and the staff have never tried to usher people out early.

Great gym! Yoga classes 34 times per week, any many other classes– all unlimited for $ 49 month, love it

I dropped in here one time to check out a BJJ class (sadly during my trip I ended up with a sunburn, which is probably the worst possible thing to be dealing with during BJJ, and couldn’t make it back here). The instructor was Matt and he taught a fantastic class. I haven’t been doing BJJ for that long, so I am still learning the basics. Matt explained the technique clearly and was patient and attentive. The other people taking the class were friendly and laid back, and they were also good sparring partners. I wish I could have dropped in more often. Next time, Hilo!

Hands down, best Gym on Big Island. Sadly HIlo is way lacking in quality gyms. The other gyms around here are very sad. If you saw them, you would know why. Trust me, I went to all of them. BJ Penn really raised the bar up to where it should be =). Thank you!

Love this place! The staff is super friendly and the location is a bit hidden but still nice. BJs brother was super hospitable and offered to let me roll with the rest of the jiu-​jitsu class. I will be returning here soon to pay everyone a visit and if you are a local check them out!!! Great place to train or just work out

Where it all began…
«World Champion BJ Penn!»
«World Champion BJ Penn!»
2X World Champion, BJ «The Prodigy» Penn is 100% local boy, from small town, Hilo, Hawaii. A sleepy town on the Eastside of the Big Island, best known for a Farmers Market, Saimin & Maebo «Muscle Man» One-​Ton Chips.
Haters will be haters. Yes, BJ should have retired, years ago, but let’s not forget his humble roots; a son of the ‘aina, raised in the backyard of Hilo town. Later becoming a 2-​times World Champion!
How awesome is that!
Here’s BJ’s Fighting Resume:
–The first American born competitor to win the (Mundial) World Jiu-​Jitsu Championship– a sport dominated by Brazilians.
–2-​times MMA World Champion.
–Legendary coach on the reality show, UFC, on Spike TV.
The Hilo Gym:
The best gym on the Big Island– «Fists Down». THE ORIGINAL aka OG — Nothing comes near it. The upper portion is your typical modern fitness gym with cardio & strength training machines galore. Classes, Gift items, etc.
The lower portion is the cage and mats for sparring and full contact MMA. Yes, BJ still trains here if in town. Many times with other world known fighters. It’s not glamorous, it’s not mega, it’s not even Hollywood, but it’s definitely legendary!
–Inside note, my sister, Marcia, was the Pilates & Yoga instructor here from 2008 – 2010. She’s a close friend to BJ, his brothers and his Mom, Loraine. She also was part of his entourage that went to Las Vegas for the George St. Pierre fight, well…
Yes, BJ should retire, but you can’t ignore his humble roots, incredible talent, and amazing heart…
It’s amazing to know that a world class fighter (yes, he should retire), and world class gym is in the backroads of little town, Hilo, HI, USA.
I trained here from 2010 – 2011, but no, I never made it as a World Champion…
Then again, at least my ears are intact and don’t look like cauliflower! But try saying that to BJ… Try… He’ll kick your a**…
Respects to the Penn Ohana!
LIVE ALOHA…
Unilocal REVIEW #219

Excellent clean and the staff are great. BJ Penn’s
I came from a local gym from downtown and I only wish I made the move sooner. THE BEST GYM PERIOD in Hilo and they seem to keep trying to improve. It’s a nice mix of mature people and athletes. I’m not a MMA guy but that’s OK they have plenty of equipment to train up good. The shower area is very clean and a steam room is coming. I would give the 6 stars. ******

Normally I am not a gym-​goer but this place is the kind I will return to often.
1. It is an environment for real training… not too high tech and pumped up. Just you, your strength and what you do with it… Humble, Sincere & Friendly.
2. It is clean (antibacterial cleaners placed everywhere),
3. Staff are courteous and welcoming,
4. Air conditioning is not running too high as if trying to make us frozen meat. Plus I loved to be able to be where there is NO air conditioning at all as I am no big fan of it.
5. Everybody is minding their own business and getting on with their training (no show-​offs). Very laid back and comfortable atmosphere,
6. + there are some good exercises classes which makes it all fun too. My top favorite is Hot Hula. Zumba is fun too & hopefully I can join martial arts at some point!

I visited a few gyms during my stay in Hilo and I can tell you that Penn Fitness center is hands down the best. For me, I like to be feel comfortable in a place where it and working out and this facility definitely fit the mold.
The staff was very nice and even remembered my name when I was leaving.
Another huge plus is the fact that the upstairs cardio, weight room, and special class rooms were air conditioned.
This is the only gym I visited twice during my stay, I would definitely go back again!

Every time I come to the Big Island I stop by Bj’s gym. I usually pick up some souevenirs, t-​shirts or a baseball cap. The first time I came was in 2008 when Bj was training for the Sean Sherk fight, Ufc 84. I came by in the morning and one of the staff members told me he was in already in the morning but he would be training again in the evening. I ended up drving around the island and went to the volcano and came back pretty late so decided to go back the next morning hoping to meet the Ufc legend. Well the next morning I missed him again and so again i decided to explore some more of the island. As I was only staying in Hilo for a couple days I had to head back to the airport after driving around the island and up to the Kona side. So heading to the airport I decided to make one last stop at the gym. When I got there I asked the staff member if Bj was in… he said he was training downstairs! Cheeee Huuuu! So I go downstairs.(upstairs is like a regular gym, weights, stairmasters, treadmills etc. downstairs in the mma gym, bags, bjj room, octagon) and there he is training in the cage. He’s getting his hands wrapped when i come in and sees me and gives me a friendly nod. So I watch him train for like an hour and half. After he’s finished training I walk up to him and he shakes my hand and we chat for a bit about his upcoming fight which was next week. Just like every local I meet, he’s very chill, down to earth and friendly. Then I ask if i can get a pic and he says sure… That was the highlight of my trip right there. Awesome! And to top it off when I left when I stopped at a red light he pulled right beside me and gave me the shaka sign! What a cool brah! That was a good trip!