THE ORIGINAL RULES OF POE'S GYM

These rules were formulated in 2015 to attempt to establish law and order at Poe's Gym. This time was an era of the Nations being the Wild, Wild, West in a good way on Centennial Blvd where there were no strollers, no outdoor yoga classes,  or no dodging 18 wheelers to get across the road when going to get your morning coffee or your free wifi. 

These were the days of H and H market where area trades-men and trades-women lined the street for a $5.00 soup, coke, and sandwich lunch every day from two good ole mothers working the deli part time to feed their kids.  A fair fight without guns on Centennial Blvd was common and usually involved defending the honor of a woman trying to walk to work or take her kids to school. Another commonality was  kindly chasing the same, area degenerate off your property without the fear of a gunshot the next day from him. All the craziness often came at the same times Mr.Estes was eating lunch at H and H's round table with a new friend whom he bought lunch for who lacked a few dollars.

These rules became so popular as conversation pieces around the country that many reporters and journalist would come to interview Matt Poe about these rules all in good fun and with some seriousness at heart. If you are really sensitive, these rules may challenge any of your lack of discipline or cause crying because of your fear of lack of control of rules other than your own.

We aim to entertain and maybe make you laugh with our rules, but, the underlying theme of respect for one another is a resounding sound within these words no matter your politics, preferences, or who raised you.

Laugh, cry, be offended, run to mommy, praise your God, whatever, but, in the spirit of achieving a high level intent with all things you do in sports and in life, express these emotions at the highest level within yourself so you do not cheat yourself, leave nothing in the tank. If you express your feelings to the highest level, then, we have made a positive impact on your attitude which enabled you to focus, fight, and finish on a strong, personal, belief. 

We still abide by many of these rules today, Some rules have been changed over the years.

__________________________________________________________________________

RULES OF THE GYM

YOU BREAK THEM – YOU ARE OUT! –YES WE ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THESE RULES AND WE HAVE FUN WITH THESE RULES - SO, DON'T ACT LIKE A CRYBABY
 

1. If it comes to our attention, you will be asked to leave the gym if you hate Metallica, Van Halen, ACDC, or Journey. Basically, you are breaking rule number 21 (see below).
 

2. Don’t wear another gym’s gear in our gym, unless it’s of hardcore powerlifting origin.
 

3. If you break it, you buy it. (Strongmen, considered “notified” by us)
 

4. Return all equipment used in its proper place---in other words, put our stuff back where you got it.
 

5. VERY IMPORTANT: If you sweat anywhere in the gym, clean your sweat. We run a gym, not a mother’s day out or wherever you are used to working out. No one wants to work in your sweat.
 

Breaking this rule will be grounds for terminating your membership. Ask for the applicable cleaning supplies if you cannot find them. If you sweat more than normal, we suggest you bring a towel so that you can wipe things as you sweat on them and not “gross others out” wanting to use the same area or equipment.
 

6. Don’t drop our dumbbells. If you can truly handle a weight, you can rack the weight correctly. Ask someone to help you if you need help. We will teach you the correct grounding and racking techniques. If you want to get noticed, merely yell and scream (and this does not guarantee you will get noticed).
 

7. No member can use the 155-200 pound dumbbells without a special orientation. Using these weights without the correct teaching will be grounds for termination.
 

8. Do not drop metal weights or a barbell on the rubber floors. Use bumper plates or additional matting.
 

9. Do not slam the weights on the machines as you are repping—this causes cracking in the weight stacks—again, if you cannot control the weight, don’t use it—if you want to get noticed, again, merely yell and scream.
 

10. Do not lean weights against the walls, sides of the platforms, or any of the machines ESPECIALLY the side of the red Forza bench.
 

11. Do not spit in the gym or onto other members.
 

12. Wipe your feet before entering the gym. If your shoes are dirty, take them off or use the hose outside, dry them, and then enter the gym.
 

13. If there are kids or ladies in the gym (high school or grade school)—do not curse and cover any of your obscene tattoos or any tattoos that have profanity in them.
 

14. Express all concerns and questions to Matt Poe, 615-668-8760.
 

15. Don’t piss on the toilet seat—lift the top--
 

16. The bathroom is on the right as you enter the gym. The women’s toilet is on the left side as you enter the bathroom. The men’s toilet and urinal is on the right side as you enter the bathroom. Guys don’t use the women’s toilet. (1) person allowed in the bathroom at a time.
 

17. Although we don’t promote thievery, we suggest you keep an eye on your valuables. We do not reimburse for stolen goods.
 

18. Make a connection and instill confidence in someone else who needs help in the gym.

19. We offer an environment where people talk about lifting, get help from others, and ask for spots BUT UNSOLICITED COACHING IS NOT ACCEPTABLE > Do not coach anyone in the gym, UNLESS asked by someone for help. Otherwise, you become an annoying human being in our gym and place yourself in danger of EXPULSION and getting your teeth knocked out of your head by another member. If you want to be Mother Theresa, join the convent.

20. If one member comes to us and complains that you are an annoying human being, we reserve the right to kick you out and terminate your membership at our discretion, no questions, no ifs, ands, or buts---you are out. We are the judge and jury.
 

21. Don’t be a freaking crybaby!!!

DEFINITION OF A CRYBABY (Basically, if you consider a full squat going half way down or less, you are an official crybaby in the weightroom and in life). We offer deprogramming of crybaby attribute counseling.

SPECIAL HOUSEKEEPING RULES
 

1. Clean all sweat marks before you leave the gym.
 

2. Dispose of any trash that you accumulate while working out by placing trash in the front of the gym garbage can.
 

3. Clean ALL chalk off floor, machines, and other before you leave the gym.
 

4. Keep bathroom clean at all times.
 

5. Return all equipment to its original position and leave no weights astray, unorganized, or unbalanced on the weight trees and racks.
 

6. Wipe down anything you touched before leaving the gym.
 

7. Make sure lights are turned off, doors are locked, fans on, AC in office is on, and chain is locked on the outside fence. Basically whatever is on, turn off, and whatever is unlocked, lock it back.
 

8. Clean up all food and supplement powders from any area or surface that was exposed to your use.
 

9. In the back office, turn lights off, MAKE SURE REFRIGERATOR DOOR IS CLOSED ALL THE WAY (if you used it), turn ac and fan off if you used it, and shut the door. Turn heat off if you use it in the office.
 

10. Last but not least, DO NOT OPEN THE GYM DOOR FOR ANYONE YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE OR KNOW. TELL THEM TO CALL MATT POE AT 615-668-8760 FOR INSTRUCTIONS.

SURVIVAL NOTES:
 

1. Ask Matt Poe what “Create Separation” means.
 

2. If you use a trapbar with the handles up (assisted work), this gym is not the place for you (unless you are a true strongman which usually makes you a questionable powerlifter). If you want to learn the right way (non crybaby way) we will GLADLY teach you.
 

3. If you use straps to record a PR on the deadlift (assisted work), this gym is not the place for you (AGAIN, unless you are a true strongman which usually makes you a questionable powerlifter). If you want to learn the right way (non crybaby way) we will GLADLY teach you.

4. If you use straps with the handles up on a trapbar (most definitely assisted work), you are definitely a strongman, so don’t cry if no one gives a crap how much weight your doing. If you want to learn the right way (non crybaby way) we will GLADLY teach you.
 

5. If you do not know the difference between a pushpress, a strongman press, and a push jerk, we will GLADLY teach you.
 

6. If you are in the habit of acting like a fool in the presence of a lady, this gym is not the place for you.
 

7. If you cannot separate emotions from business matters of the gym, this gym is not the place for you.
 

8. If you cannot accept a nickname and take your nickname personal from Poe’s Gym Metallic Powerlifting and Strength, this gym is not the place for you.

END.