Initially, walking into Urijah Faber's Ultimate Fitness might be a bit intimidating. At any given time inside the 8,600-square-foot facility, members might be sparring in the professional boxing ring, or they might be immersed in heated verbal debates with some of the 16 heavy bags. But the staff here immediately douses any concern by making the facility's goal clear: this is MMA-style fitness for anyone, no matter their age, gender, or exercise experience.

A former Division I wrestler at UC Davis and a decorated MMA fighter, Urijah Faber handpicks every single instructor on the facility's staff. Some instructors are professional MMA fighters, boxers, or kickboxers; others are certified personal trainers; and many of them occupy several of those groups. Their collective knowledge enables Ultimate Fitness to offer a number of different disciplines, including kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In addition to its programs, Ultimate Fitness also boasts a plethora of equipment, including TRX suspension-training gear.