#1 in EASTERN ONTARIO

Obstacle Course Racing
Academy

Ottawa’s first and only obstacle training gym.

Fun, functional fitness

Friendly Community

Confidence & Life Skills

BOOK NOW

Sign Waiver

WHO WE ARE

OTTAWA’S ONLY OBSTACLE TRAINING GYM

6,000 sq feet of wall to wall obstacles with full suite of exercise equipment, on-site trainers and a world-class cafe. Convenient, safe, kid friendly environment less than 20 minutes from Downtown Ottawa.

HOW TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE

We help anxious, unmotivated kids develop confidence, resiliency and
leadership skills by putting ‘fun’ back into functional fitness.

OCR Kid enjoying ring swing like a monkey

STEP 1: VISUALIZE

Picture it first, and your body will follow.

STEP 2: PRACTICE

There is no perfect. Practice makes progress.

STEP 3: LEARN

There is no failure. We only learn lessons.

Ramps

Rings

Ropes

Bars

Walls

About the Founder

Captain Josh

Overcoming Obstacles

Joshua was raised as a foster child who believed he was worth just 20$ a day. He had no full-time support team at home, he was a high school dropout, a booze hound, and a pill popping criminal who spent time in Innes Detention Centre. At his absolute lowest, he even contemplated suicide.

He was lost and had no sense of purpose. Fast forward to 2009 when he found fitness. Yes, it’s corny, but in his personal experience, the combination of a healthy diet and healthy living, gave him the tools to transform himself from an unhealthy 210lb – 25% body fat, to a lean 175lbs and 13% body fat. No formal training, no education, just a simple mindset.

“I now love myself enough, I love this life and I want to change.”

Anything that is fueled by anger or hate usually doesn’t last. He had to change his mindset towards himself and his life. He had to change some of the life traps he was facing and develop discipline to match his new-found passion for fitness. In doing so, he discovered his purpose.

What he found was Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) in particular the Spartan Race.

“It’s funny, this fitness thing brought me places I never would have gone when I was on the sauce. Places all over the world like New York and Texas to attend OCR races, and because I never got to go to high school trips, now I can through my passion.”

Joshua started off as a racer, then a volunteer, and eventually an employee for the Eastern Canadian Spartan Franchise. Traveling all over Eastern Canada building an obstacle course all while doing market research. After his time with the Spartan brand he developed discipline and he decided that the fitness game needed to change. People wanted a new way to get in shape. After every race he would speak to racers, asking how they liked it, almost all of their responses were “I love this race, but I really wish there was somewhere I could go train”.

That’s when the OCRA dream began and not because he wanted to be a capitalist, but because he wanted to practice the principle of reciprocity, he wanted to be an educator. He wanted to take something like fitness and health which can be very difficult for most and make it so people can understand it and make it fun. He wanted to inspire change, he wanted to help those who are in their darkest days to learn that they too can overcome life’s challenges “one obstacle at a time.”

He believes that we are all a reflection of those that we surround ourselves with and that we either win or learn, we never lose.

If you want to hear more of Joshua’s story or would like him to speak at an event, you can request him to attend your seminar at info@painistemporary.net

OCR Blog

Winter is here, and with it comes shorter days, colder temperatures, and often, an unintentional…

Sometimes, we all face moments of heightened emotions—whether it’s frustration, anger, or simply feeling stuck….

BLOCK 1 PRO (1.1) Monday HYROX Complete 4 RFT: 500m Row 15 KB Deadlifts (70/53 x…

Challenge 1 12 min EMOM – Full body Min 1 – 10 calories rower or…

“Greasing the groove” Coach Graves primary methodology recommendation would without a doubt be “greasing the…

Take a week 5 off – Still move and be active, and focus on nutrition…

Warm up Lower body: 5 mins on bike or rower 3 rounds: 10 Loaded beast…

If you’re not fluent with gratitude you will not be on speaking terms with happiness….

Life is filled with highs and lows, and our emotional reactions to these experiences are…

Joshua Fry, owner of OCR Academy, is featured on an episode of the Ottawa Entrepreneurs…

The questions we ask ourselves have a powerful impact on our lives. When we focus…

This blog dives deeper into the idea that our thoughts, whether about the past or…

Do you ever find yourself struggling to concentrate, feeling mentally sluggish, or experiencing difficulty recalling…

In a world where safety concerns often lead parents to instinctively shield their children from…

We often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of routine, performing the same actions day…

Dr. Gabor Maté’s work highlights the deep connection between a parent’s emotional health and a…

When you expose your body to cold water, it triggers a stress response. This response…

At OCR Academy, we believe that everyone has a superhero inside them, waiting to be…

At OCR Academy, we believe in the power of hard work, resilience, and the relentless…

Life is full of obstacles, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we don’t achieve the…

At OCR Academy, perseverance is the cornerstone of success. Obstacle course racing demands physical strength,…

Not only does OCR provide captivating camps, fantastic fitness classes, and brilliant birthday parties, but…

At Gym Hero, we are dedicated to empowering every fitness enthusiast to become their own…

Confidence is a game-changer at any obstacle course race or gym. Whether you’re a seasoned…

In the pursuit of physical excellence, we often seek comfort and convenience. We train in…

Our Members Of The Month have shared some simple, yet impactful, words of wisdom. Here,…

Unleashing Potential Empowering Children Through Physical Exercise and Resilience In a world where safety concerns…

We at OCR Academy encourage our students to assume the Superhero Pose whenever we are…

We get our coffee from Brown Bag coffee, who use Fluid Bed roasting. Traditional roasters use…

There is no such thing as bad children. A child may be disrespectful, whining, impulsive,…

OCR ACADEMY

See what people are saying about Ottawa’s first and only Obstacle Racing Course Training Facility.

OCR ACADEMY

In the neighborhood? Come check us out! Stop in for a coffee and see why OCR is quickly becoming one of the most popular spots in Ottawa for kids fitness.

Address

1140 Morrison Dr #106b Ottawa, ON, K2H 8S9 (613) 726-0909

INFO

How Can We Help?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OCR?

OCR Academy is Ottawa’s first and only obstacle training gym.

OCR Academy is about fun. Remember running, climbing, jumping and playing as a kid? You were getting TONS of awesome exercise – and it didn’t even feel like it, did it? We want you to run, jump, play – and feel like that again!

OCR Academy is about fitness. When we’re fit, we’re ready to meet each day and fulfill our responsibilities with focus and energy. When we’re fit, not only do we survive – we thrive. Fitness is important for our bodies, for our minds, and for how we meet each day.

OCR Academy is about life. Physical fitness is integral to a healthy life. That includes being active, building mental and physical resiliency, and making healthy food choices. We work with you to build all that. We even have nutrient-dense food choices – like fresh coffee, Kombucha, and protein-packed energy bars – at OCR Cafe for you. Just in case you get peckish post-workout.

What are the OCR Academy Rules?

We have as much fun as the next person, but safety first. Here we have a few rules that must be adhered to at all times while on our course.

– 3 points of contact: Maintain 3 points of contact on the climbing obstacles at all times (that’s 2 feet and 1 hand or 2 hands and 1 foot)
– Weights and Lifting Equipment (16 + or with adult supervision): We offer a wide array of weight lifting equipment for your use – however if not used properly it can lead to serious injury (and damage to the equipment)! Please ensure anyone under the age of 16 is supervised by an adult – and feel free to ask a staff member if you’re trying for the first time!
– Occupancy Limit: Maximum of 5 people on our spider crawl, dip walk, and slip ramp at one time! Ask a staff member on your arrival which obstacles those are.
– Slip Ramp: If you climb up you’ve committed to going off the back! There is no sliding down the slip ramp. We offer a big mat for jumping down (if jumping down break your fall by landing on your feet and butt) or 3 ladders if you want to climb down (remembering the 3 points of contact!)
– Feet below your shoulders: At OCR we are racers and not acrobats! For your safety please do not flip or hang upside down on the obstacles. We keep our feet below our shoulders at all times.
– Hanging Obstacles: Our rigs are known as hanging obstacles because all of the obstacles hang from the rigs. Do not climb on top of the rigs, there’s nothing to see up there.
– Bathroom: We keep it clean for you, please keep it clean for us!
– Food: No outside food or drink please. We have a cafe that has awesome treats and coffee.
– Ring Mat – The black mat is a ‘no run’ zone. It’s located under our tarzan swing where people are swinging in the air and there is an increased risk of getting kicked in the head. Do not cross.
– Climbing Rope: As named the ropes are for climbing and not swinging around. Please only climb!
– The Most Important Rule of All: Have Fun!

Are You Hiring?

We are looking for an awesome individual who is available evening and weekends. To work for us you must posses the following attributes:
– Have fitness and obstacle course knowledge
– Be computer literate
– Be a self starter
– CPR Certified
– Be allowed to work with kids
– Be awesome
– Be available evenings and weekends
We are looking for someone who can work for kids class, open gym, and group parties.
If you think you have what it takes to work at OCR, please forward your resume to joshua@painistemporary.net and explain why you would want to work at our gym.

What is your Homeschool Program?

From September to June, we are offering a fitness class for those that homeschool their children. Parents are also welcome to join and encouraged to do so. This class is led by El Capitain Joshua. Everyone is a sweaty mess afterwards, and the great thing is, everyone had fun while doing it. By becoming a member of our community, you agree to adhere to our philosophies.
Classes are on Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 12:45-2pm.
Ages 7+ are welcome.
30 to minute workout class followed by child friendly challenges/free time and a game.
“It’s fun and challenging for both the parents and the kids, I love training with my kids. I get to set a healthy and realistic goal for my kids to strive to as a healthy and fit parent.”
Actual quote from a member of our community.

What Obstacles and Equipment are at OCR?

Monkey Bars
Free Weights
Warped Wall
Ninja Steps
Row of Walls
Spider Crawl
Green Rig
Rope Climb
Tarzan Swing
Multi-Grip Rig
Slip Ramp
Cardio Equipment
Weight Lifting Equipment
Traverse Wall
Devil’s Staircase
Cold Plunge
AND MORE!

What is Obstacle Fit Kids?

Obstacle Fit Kids (OFK) is a strength and conditioning program designed to effectively teach the Obstacle Fit methodology to children aged 7-13 years old through age appropriate instruction and cueing. In a group setting, kids participate in fun and engaging workouts that deliver measurable results. This prepares them not only to be well rounded athletes but also awesome people as well. *Kids 14 and older can join our adult classes.

What Makes OFK Different?

OFK workouts consist of constantly varied, functional movements that deliver a fitness that is varied, inclusive, and totally awesome (VITA) and are scalable for any participants at any level. We base success on effort rather than comparison. These kids are training for life, not a small, sport specific skill set.

Why choose OFK at OCRA?

Our coaches have had background checks and this is renewed annually. Your coach has studied how to teach Obstacle Fit to children using age appropriate methods, and have years of experience working with youth under their belt.

How do OCR Camps Work?

Overcoming summertime boredom one obstacle at a time. Here at OCR Academy we are bringing back recess. Kids are designed to run, jump, climb, swing and crawl. They are not meant to sit in front of a screen all day. That is where we come in. At OCR Academy camp is like any other camp, except we incorporate our awesome obstacle course.

#1 in EASTERN ONTARIO

Obstacle Course Racing
Academy

Ottawa’s first and only obstacle training gym.

WHO WE ARE

OTTAWA’S ONLY OBSTACLE TRAINING GYM

HOW TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE

STEP 1: VISUALIZE

STEP 2: PRACTICE

STEP 3: LEARN

Ramps

Rings

Ropes

Bars

Walls

About the Founder

Captain Josh

OCR Blog

In the News

OCR ACADEMY

CTV NEWS

3 Seconds

MACARONI KID

Go SOlo

Jump!1069

SavvyMom

OCR ACADEMY

Address

INFO

Frequently Asked Questions

OCR Academy Schedule

#1 in EASTERN ONTARIO

Obstacle Course RacingAcademy

Ottawa’s first and only obstacle training gym.

WHO WE ARE​

OTTAWA’S ONLY OBSTACLE TRAINING GYM

HOW TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE

STEP 1: VISUALIZE

STEP 2: PRACTICE

STEP 3: LEARN

Ramps

Rings

Ropes

Bars

Walls

About the Founder

Captain Josh

OCR Blog

In the News

OCR ACADEMY

CTV NEWS

3 Seconds

MACARONI KID

Go SOlo

Jump!1069

SavvyMom

OCR ACADEMY

Address

INFO

Frequently Asked Questions

OCR Academy Schedule

Obstacle Course Racing
Academy

WHO WE ARE