Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Buck Matt Cannoy.
Hi Chad Buck, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Noke Training has been part of the community for years before we ever owned it.
Matt and I have been friends for over 12 years after meeting through CrossFit. We’ve trained together, competed together, and even won a competition together. Fitness has always been something we’ve shared, and over time The Noke became a place we both genuinely enjoyed training.
In February 2025, life changed unexpectedly when I suffered a cardiac arrest while playing hockey. After being cleared to train again, Matt had become a member earlier in the year, and he and I started coming to The Noke almost every day, and those workouts became a huge part of the recovery process. More than training partners, we became each other’s sounding board. Every workout turned into a conversation about what we loved about the gym, what we thought could be better, and what kind of impact a place like The Noke could have on the community if it had a little love.
What started as casual conversations between two friends eventually became a shared vision.
When the opportunity came to speak with the owner about purchasing the gym, those conversations quickly became reality. We had already spent months talking about what we would do if we ever owned a gym, so when the opportunity presented itself, we were ready to move.
Neither of us bought The Noke to get rich. We bought it because we wanted to preserve a place that meant a lot to both of us while creating an even stronger community around it. Our goal has always been simple: create a welcoming 24/7 gym where people of all fitness levels feel comfortable walking through the door, work hard, support one another, and enjoy being part of something bigger than just a workout.
Our partnership works because our strengths complement each other. I bring an operations and management background that keeps the business organized and moving forward, while Matt naturally builds relationships and creates an environment where everyone feels welcome. We trust each other completely, stay in our lanes, and together we’ve been fortunate to build something we’re both incredibly proud of.
Today, The Noke is exactly what we hoped it would become: a place where friendships are built, goals are achieved, and people genuinely enjoy showing up. Seeing members stick around after workouts, support one another, and build relationships reminds us every day why we decided to take the leap.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but that’s part of owning a small business.
One of the biggest challenges was taking over an existing business. We inherited equipment, software, memberships, vendors, and operating procedures that had all been managed differently before we arrived. There have been plenty of long nights learning systems, updating processes, and working through issues that we didn’t create but still became our responsibility to solve.
On a personal levels, my cardiac arrest in early 2025 and Matt’s heart attack not long before that, changed our perspective on a lot of things. Recovering and getting back to training reminded us how important community really is. It reinforced why we wanted The Noke to be more than just a place to exercise. We wanted it to be a place where people encourage one another, celebrate wins together, and have people in their corner when life gets hard.
The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that if you genuinely care about people, listen to your members, and stay true to your vision, the rest has a way of falling into place. We’re still learning every day, but that’s one of the things we enjoy most about this journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Noke Training. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Noke Training is a locally owned, 24/7 community gym built around one simple idea: create a place where people actually enjoy coming to work out.
We welcome everyone, whether it’s your first day in a gym or you’ve been training for years. Our members range from people just starting their fitness journey to competitive athletes, and everyone trains alongside each other. We believe that’s one of the things that makes our gym special.
While our roots are in functional fitness & strongman, we aren’t limited to one style of training. Members use The Noke for strength training, endurance, general fitness, athletic performance, and everything in between. We also offer personal training, endurance classes, and 24/7 member access so people can train on their schedule.
More than anything, we’re proud of the community that’s been built here. It’s common to see members staying after workouts talking, encouraging one another, celebrating milestones, or getting together for events like Murph, cookouts, and other gym gatherings. Those relationships are what make The Noke different.
At the end of the day, we’re not trying to be the biggest gym in town. We simply want to be the place where people feel welcome, work hard, build lasting friendships, and become healthier versions of themselves.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
If we had to choose one quality, it would be authenticity.
We don’t try to be something we’re not, and we don’t try to fit into what we think a gym “should” be. We simply try to create the kind of place we’d want to train in ourselves.
That means getting to know our members by name, listening to their ideas, celebrating their accomplishments, and making sure they feel welcome every time they walk through the door. We genuinely care about the people who choose to spend part of their day with us, and we think they can feel that.
We’re also not afraid to keep learning. If something isn’t working, we’ll change it. If a member has a good idea, we’ll listen. The gym has continued to evolve because we want it to reflect the people who train here, not just our own vision.
At the end of the day, equipment can be purchased and buildings can be renovated, but you can’t fake a great community. That’s what we’re most committed to building, and we believe that’s what will continue to set The Noke apart.
Pricing:
- 24/7 Memberships starting at $57.60/month
- Personal Training Available
- No long-term contracts
- Drop-Ins Welcome
- Free gym tour for prospective members
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thenoketraining.com
