He’s the guy with the red hair.
Or maybe it’s green today. Might even be pink.
That is how unpredictable Johnny Haught can be, and that’s because his mind flows in so many different directions on any given day. One moment he’s training a client, and the next he could be running barefoot to raise funds for a local non-profit.
Haught can do it, so he does it.
The Wheeling entrepreneur opened OVMMA in July, and he has been training residents of the Upper Ohio Valley at the Market Plaza gym since. This time, though, Haught has altered his primary focus to physical fitness instead of preparing fighters getting ready to compete in the local mixed martial arts scene. He still trains fighters, but he enjoys building relationships beyond the ring.
Why? It’s simple, really. More people want to get fit than there are who wish to fight.
Why did you decide to open a new MMA business in Wheeling?
I have been training people in martial arts and cardio fitness for over 12 years now. Three years ago I closed down the Ohio Valley MMA facility in North Wheeling and started teaching out of the a few different places focusing more on personal training and cardio classes instead of the regular martial arts class structure that I had with my own gym.
I always missed the sense of family that teaching individuals competing and encouraging each other brought. I was doing personal sessions with Dean Connors when he bought the building next to his other buildings in Market Plaza. He asked me if I would be interested in opening my gym back up at this location. I jumped at the opportunity to be part of the downtown Wheeling scene.
Are your training programs about learning how to fight, or are they about getting in shape?
We offer training for both. You can come in and start on the path to compete in the ring, learn to defend yourself, or get in shape while you learn a skill. Getting in shape through martial arts tends to be way more fulfilling than going to the gym and getting on the treadmill or doing weight programs.
How has the business been received by local residents, and what are your hopes for the future?
The response to our opening in Market Plaza has been great. We have an awesome community of local businesses down here that really encourage each other to succeed. The foot traffic in the area has lent itself to picking up new clients fairly regularly. I can’t wait to see things after we get through the pandemic, and things have a real chance to take off to the fullest potential.
You have pulled some crazy stunts in the past, including running a distance race in your bare feet. Why?
Everything I do is for the betterment of my surroundings. Running 13 miles barefoot, running a 5K backwards, pulling a sled through a 10K, and all the various charity events I get to participate in benefit causes dear to my heart. Don’t get me wrong; I love to be the center of attention, but I do all the crazy stunts to raise awareness for certain causes that I think better our community such as Lace Up For Kids through the United Way and Augusta Levy Learning Center. The community has supported me through my entire career, and I just want to give back in any way I can.
What advice would you offer a young boxer training to be a professional boxer? Please explain.
Find a gym and coach that nurtures your abilities and encourages you to learn anywhere you can. Too many times martial arts trainers will discourage their students from going other places to train and learn from other coaches.
I believe that a true martial artist is forever learning and can only grow when they step outside of their norm. You also have to learn to push yourself passed what you think your limit is. A good coach can help with that. You are capable of far more than you can imagine.
