Gym Articles

Stroud's Fitness Center

?Where There?s Smoke...?

I grew up in a hell-hole gym (mentioned in previous articles) and learned a few things about gyms: chrome makes you weak, cleanliness is next to Jack LaLane, and any gym that is well-lit and has ?Fitness? in the name is for weenies. All of these myths are shattered by Stroud?s Fitness Center in Hurst, TX.
If you go to any powerlifting meet in the D/FW area you will probably compete against someone from Stroud?s Fitness Center. (And they?ll probably beat you!) So, even though they have too much chrome, and they gym is way too clean ? they rule the local powerlifting kingdom. Where there is that much smoke, there has to be a fire somewhere! The ?fire? is in Kirk and Samm Stroud.
Kirk has been in they gym business for over 22 years. Kirk and Samm met over 18 years ago, and have now been married about 16 years. They have 3 children and 3 grandchildren! They have owned and operated Stroud?s Fitness Center for over 9 years in Hurst, TX. They recently remolded, moved and expanded to a 24,000 square-foot facility that has first class appointments. It is WAY too neat and clean for me, but if they were closer I would have to go workout there every now and then to try to steal their secret fire. These guys are strong!
Besides heavy-duty weightlifting, they even offer aerobics, day care, tanning, etc. Every redneck knows that these things make you weak and sissified ? but the Stroud?s Fitness Power Team keeps getting stronger! What is wrong with these guys?
Kirk and Samm both still compete, and they have quite a list of results. Kirk has A WR in the APF Masters BP, and holds the TX records in SQ, BP, DL and total. I?m gunning for one of his old records, but haven?t gotten there yet. Probably never will. Samm has only competed for the last few years, but she has an APF Master?s record of 292 in BP, and the Masters TX State DL record of 400.
They ?give back? in a number of ways, including promoting dozens of powerlifting meets ? including hosting the APF Halloween Classic and the APF Southwest USA Championship. Their gym has a teen club next door that can easily be converted into a 1st class P/Ling venue. I?ve lifted in meets there ? and it works great.
They also judge and train judges for about 30 high school meets. In Texas, high school powerlifting is BIG. (The average high school meet in TX is a 5-platform affair that takes a lot of manpower to staff and manage.) Kirk and Samm help out.
Kirk and Samm preach and practice a healthy and productive lifestyle in many other ways. They believe that health and fitness are hand-in-hand with Christianity, and have spoken about this at numerous schools and churches. Their faith in God is an integral part of their lifestyle. In their spare time (what spare time?) they volunteer for the Special Olympics, and they also promote two events for their church each year. These two events (The Toys for Tots, and the Christian Sports Outreach programs) reach out to today?s youth. They truly think of the kids first, and it shows. (Kirk even feels it in his knee ? a result of a Power Team demo gone awry!)
Similarly, when I ask about their lifting ? they always steer the conversation into bragging about some of their lifters. Not themselves. Who are these lifters? The list is long, but a brief overview includes:

275# Ray Pierce: 837SQ, 518BP, 638DL = 2008 Total
Johnny Jackson: previous bodybuilder who totaled 2017 @ 1st P/L
Meet (02/01)
198# Jason Jackson: 683SQ, 402BP, 57DL, Best Total = 1603
Steve Goggins (moved to Atlanta, GA, but still in family) 1035SQ,
?nuff said
220# Dan Helgenberger: 80SQ, 523BP, 775DL
123# Pat Casper: 3 time AWPF World Champion, 3 time AAPF
National Champion
242#/275# Mark Hall: 672SQ, 457BP, 772DL
242# Billy Barclay: 700DL, 1807 Total in 242 Masters
275# Mike Ringer: 710SQ, 400BP, 700DL: 1810 Total
132# Natalie Moore: won Novice State
242#/275# Al Wood: 485SQ, 363BP, 1343 Total
242# Grey Crowder: numerous records, 2nd Place @ Worlds 11/15/2000
in 242#SM
96# (12 years old) Ryan Crowder: Greg?s son did 1st BP meet at age 5;
171SQ, 71BP, 165DL
198# (50-54) Jim Yakubousky: 524SQ, 319BP, 529DL, 1350 Total
148# Jason Shackelford: 300SQ, 285BP, 360DL, 910 Total

This list could go on and on, but you get the idea. All of these lifters hold multiple records and awards, but I tried to shorten it for the single-minded readers. Some of these lifters drive an hour each way to enjoy the camaraderie at Stroud?s. They say it is a ?serious atmosphere with a family touch.? Whatever it is, it works.
As a side note, I should tell you that some of these guys (above), like Billy Barclay, Greg Crowder, Jim Yakubousky, Jason Jackson, and Ray Pierce ? are literally the nicest people you?ll meet at a P/Ling meet. Down home friendship is good to find at a powerlifting meet ? and you know what I mean. Not to mention Kirk and Samm. They are the real deal, salt of the earth, and I?m proud to call them friends.
If you get a chance, go to Stroud?s and see if you learn something new about the coexistence of strength, power, and chrome in a well-lit clean environment. Will wonders never cease?!

Stroud's Fitness
416 W. Bedford-Euless Rd
Hurst, TX 76053