Off The Clock: Fight Club
Pyrogrill’s Michael Curcio resorts to kicking and punching to stay fit.
By Maya Norris, Managing Editor -- Chain Leader, 2/1/2007
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For Michael Curcio, hitting the treadmill and lifting weights just won’t cut it. The founder and CEO of North Palm Beach, Fla.-based Pyrogrill prefers something more challenging and exciting to stay in shape. Curcio is a student of mixed martial arts.
He took up the sport after graduating in December 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from the University of Miami, where he played on the basketball team. “I was just really burnt out on basketball but wanted some way to stay in shape and be competitive,” says Curcio, 29. That’s when a friend who practiced mixed martial arts suggested he try the sport, which blends techniques used in various martial arts including karate, Brazilian jujitsu and kickboxing.Survival of the Fittest
Curcio began studying mixed martial arts in 2000. At the same time, he was also developing Pyrogrill, a fast-casual concept in which grilled chicken, steak and pork are served with signature sauces on greens or rice or in a tortilla. Because the restaurant was taking longer to open than he had anticipated, Curcio had a lot of free time on his hands. So he embarked on an intense training program to earn a black belt in mixed martial arts.
"I had a lot of time to let out my pent-up aggression or competitive nature that I needed to get out," Curcio explains. "The restaurant was taking a while to get open so I was able to let my frustrations out in a positive venue."
Curcio trained five or six days a week for three hours a day. His regimen consisted of drills to learn techniques such as punching, kicking and takedowns; punching-bag work to develop strength, speed and hand-eye coordination; and sparring. He sustained a few injuries in the process: a broken rib and nose. "But it was all in good fun," he says.
The pain and injuries were well worth it, Curcio says. In 11 months, he not only lost 20 pounds but earned his black belt, a feat that takes most people about five to six years.
Diverse Interests
Curcio continues to practice mixed martial arts because he finds it less rigid and more practical than other types of martial arts. "With mixed martial arts, you’re taking the good parts and the interesting parts from each method," he says. "You can see what works and what doesn’t and adapt that to your mixed martial arts style."
However, since Pyrogrill opened in 2001 and is preparing to franchise this year, Curcio doesn’t devote as much time to training. He practices two or three days a week for about an hour a day.
Other activities also cut into his training time. He plays basketball on a men’s league and golfs once a week.
So which activity is his favorite? "It’s like picking kids," Curcio says. "Golf is certainly the easiest on my body and the most relaxing. Basketball is something that I’ve done for more than half my life, so it’s something that I’m comfortable with….And mixed martial arts would probably be the most exciting because you never know who’s standing in front of you."
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