For nearly two decades, Minnesota Top Team has grown far beyond its roots as a small Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu club in Eagan. What started with Jeremy Clark’s love for jiu-jitsu has evolved into a place where kids, parents, athletes, beginners, and longtime members gather week after week. And it’s not just to train. It’s also to connect.
Today, Minnesota Top Team occupies more than 16,000 square feet and offers boxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, and MTT Fitness programs. But according to co-owner Jennie Clark, the equipment and class schedule only tell part of the story.
“We’ve created a community feel,” Jennie says. “We authentically have members who are super welcoming to new members. It happened organically.” That sense of belonging is what keeps many members coming back.
For some, it starts with a boxing class after work. For others, it begins with a child joining the youth program. Over time, people who once walked through the doors feeling nervous or uncertain often become part of a larger support system.
“Coming here is just something you do outside of work and your family,” Jennie says. “And when you’re here, you are aligning yourself with people who are like-minded. Friendships form, and people get together outside of the gym.”
Built Through Passion
Minnesota Top Team officially opened in 2007 after Jeremy purchased the jiu jitsu club where he had been training. At the time, Jennie was still working full-time for the postal service and helping behind the scenes whenever she could.
“I think he thought he could own the gym and just do jiu jitsu whenever he wanted because he loved it so much,” Jennie says with a laugh.
As membership grew, so did the programming. The Clarks expanded beyond jiu jitsu, adding boxing, fitness training, and additional coaches along the way. Jennie eventually left her career with the postal service to help run the business full-time.
Today, the gym offers 34 weekly classes and serves members of all skill levels and age groups. Children can begin in youth programs at age six, while teenagers and adults train in programs ranging from beginner-friendly sessions to competitive-level instruction.
Jennie now focuses primarily on the business side of operations, handling payroll, bookkeeping, taxes, and long-term planning. Jeremy remains highly involved on the training floor while also balancing his role as a player development coach with the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
“He maintains the gym and is very physically present,” Jennie says. “He teaches some of the jiu-jitsu classes, and we have about 35 coaches, personal trainers, and a physical therapist on site who help manage the other programs.”
Learning To Do Hard Things
Jennie admits that Minnesota Top Team can feel intimidating at first glance. Walking into a combat sports gym for the first time is not easy for everyone. “It’s scary to start something new,” she says. “And the things we do are really hard.” But that challenge is also part of what makes the experience meaningful.
Jennie says one of her favorite moments is watching people surprise themselves. “Without sounding cliché, I love when the person who comes in, who you don’t expect to stay, changes course and sticks around,” she says. “It’s awesome seeing people realize that they can do hard things.”
“I think the hardest part of owning a gym and loving what we do is not necessarily convincing people, but trying to lead them in a direction to change their lifestyle,” Jeremy says. “It is not going to be easy, and it’s not going to happen quickly, but the results from it are for the rest of your life, and if you do put the time in and the effort in, the reward is greater than you can imagine.”
That mindset has become part of the gym’s culture. Members encourage one another through difficult workouts, first sparring sessions, and moments of self-doubt. Over time, many begin to see changes that extend far beyond physical training.
“During Covid, we realized that this is physical, but we’re also impacting mental health in all the good ways,” Jennie says. “Even though this is physically challenging, the result is that your mental health is so much better, too.”
More Than A Gym
While boxing may be the gym’s most familiar offering, Jennie says there is no single type of person who joins Minnesota Top Team. Every day, students, professionals, parents, teenagers, and retirees train side by side. Some arrive hoping to compete. Others simply want a place where they can move their bodies, clear their minds, and feel connected to others.
Jennie believes many people secretly want to challenge themselves but struggle to believe they can. “I think a lot of people wish they could challenge themselves in a new way,” she says. “Not everyone believes they can walk into a place like this and stick with it. But every day, we see people surprise themselves just by showing up.”
At Minnesota Top Team, that first step often becomes something much bigger than fitness. It becomes routine. Friendship. Confidence. And for many members, a second home.