WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA –
Martial arts champion Billy Blanks? the familiar principal of the Billy Blanks World of Fitness, and creator of the Tae Bo?total body fitness system, is relocating his center to the "Watercourt" mixed use complex in Westlake Village, CA following his lease of a prime 11,000 sq. ft. ground floor space, announces Westcord Commercial Real Estate Services.
Officials of Westlake Village-based Westcord report that Blanks schedules a May opening of his new center and headquarters located at 880 Hampshire Rd., suite x. Blanks inked a five-year lease valued at $1.1 million. Lloyd Wertheimer of Westcord represented Blanks. Westcord President Tony Principe represented the landlord, Watercourt Partnership. The Watercourt is now over 95 percent leased, Principe said.
The new Billy Blanks center, which relocates from Sherman Oaks, occupies space formerly utilized by another gym and includes approximately 2500 sq. ft. of corporate office space.
In addition to helping "millions of people around the world get in shape and feel great", Blanks has devoted substantial time toward helping people through The Billy Blanks Foundation, and by traveling around the world to train the U.S. Armed Forces. Established in 1999, the Foundation is "dedicated to equipping high-risk individuals with life skills that allow them to achieve their full potential."
Blanks, who took his first martial arts class at age 11 and soon began to master the sport, rose to become the first Amateur Athletic Union Champion, a title he earned five times. He ascended to become a seventh-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and gained black belts in five other forms of martial arts. He also became a seven-time world karate champion, captained the U.S. karate team, won 36 gold medals in international competition and earned admission to the Karate Hall of Fame in 1982.
Moving to Boston, he opened his own karate studio and it was there, while combining dance moves and Tae Kwon Do, that he unintentionally hit upon the concept for Tae Bo? Blanks moved to Los Angeles in 1989 and taught classes in his garage. Shortly thereafter, he opened the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks.
Westcord is ranked among the top commercial real estate companies in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The firm has offices in Westlake Village, CA, and Van Nuys, CA. |
