This is GRIT

Your journey to transformation starts here.

Our Philosophy

At GritFit, we’re everything a gym isn’t supposed to be. We go beyond physical fitness to help you uncover the fire within that sustains your body, mind, and soul. Grit isn’t about what you look like; it’s about how you feel, how you show up, and how you push forward no matter the challenge. It’s a journey, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

The GritFit Experience

What sets us apart? It’s not just the workouts – it’s the mindset:

Accessible for All: Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting, our classes are designed to challenge and inspire everyone.

Holistic Growth: We focus on the whole person, combining physical training with mental clarity and emotional resilience.

Passionate Coaching: Our instructors aren’t just trainers; they’re mentors who are deeply invested in your growth.

Who We Are

Michael Eck

Founder and CEO of GritFit

Michael, 59, holds a second-degree black belt in Kempo karate, a judo brown belt, and counts among his skills forty years’ practice as a martial arts instructor for both adults and children, as well as personal training clients in both traditional boxing and Muai Thai, the Thai martial art
and full-contact combat sport. He has thirty years practice as a life coach, trained by the ICF-accredited Accomplishment Coaching and CCAR, Connecticut’s division of a global leader in addiction Recovery Coach training. He is also an ardent and ongoing student of ancient and contemporary Eastern and Western philosophies of self-realization and -development, and a writer, among his articles “Chaos Creates Opportunity,” in the anthology The Great Pause, Blessings and Wisdom from Covid 19 (Green Heart Living Press, 2020). A longtime entrepreneur and public speaker, he fuses this wealth of expertise and interests, along with an approach to physical, mental, and spiritual health underscored by his own abundant resilience, boundless energy, and unstoppable will, to bring you GritFit.

Michael knows a thing or two about grit. Born with hemophilia, a rare bleeding disorder, he has overcome and flourished in the wake of its myriad related life challenges, including surviving Hepatitis C. He’s also a patient who not just survived Stage 4 cancer during the worst phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, but emerged from it to thrive. His approach to holistic personal wellness focuses on helping you tap your own form of grit, then lead and accompany you along your unique path acquiring the courage, perseverance, mindset, and strength required to conquer any challenge. Michael shares a birthday with the playwright Oscar Wilde, who famously said: “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” Michael and his GritFit team are here to help you access your one-of-a-kind, personal grit to become your most authentic, fulfilled self, and help you thrive in all arenas of your daily life.

Cameron Nelson

Vice President & Lead Trainer

With over six years of personal training experience, Cameron brings a highly distinctive and effective blend of strength, strategy, and philosophy to the GritFit community. A former football athlete who transitioned to MMA five years ago, he has developed a training methodology that blends athletic power with mental discipline. He has worked at top wellness centers and bodybuilding gyms, among them Powerhouse Gym and UFC Gym, as well as formerly owning and operating his own online fitness business, Versatile Physiques.

Cameron believes fitness is more than just physical—it’s a mindset, a way of life. It’s all-around wellness. For him, it’s maintaining healthy nutrition, daily meditation, and a yoga practice in addition to his MMA-based training and instruction. He challenges clients to push beyond their perceived limits while emphasizing balance, longevity, and a deep connection to their personal fitness journeys. Whether you’re stepping into the gym for the first time, or refining elite-level performance, Cameron—is here to guide, support, and inspire with, as one client put it, “the tenacity and focus of a warrior and a Buddha’s calm.”

Are you ready to discover the fire within?

Schedule your FREE GritFit Assessment today.