LONG BRANCH - A lifelong athlete from Long Branch, Ronald Lubischer's college athletic career was derailed by injuries.

He would go on to make sure no other athlete found themselves in the same position.

"I have a passion for protecting my athletes, and then just spreading knowledge," Lubischer said. "I love fitness."

The founder and co-owner of Lubischer's Burn and Blast Training, Lubischer and his wife Anna have just opened a new 24-hour gym, located at 444 Ocean Boulevard North in Ursula Plaza in Long Branch. It's their second location. Their other spot is at 175 Monmouth Road in West Long Branch.

Love of fitness: Fair Haven Martial Arts started with a boy watching Bruce Lee movies and 'The Karate Kid'

Lubischer has been an athlete his entire life. "It's been ingrained in me," he said. "I started going to the gym with my dad when I was 5, 6 years old using two-pound weights just to tag along with him and his friends."

At Long Branch High School, he excelled in three sports — football wrestling and baseball — and went on to The College of New Jersey. He graduated with a degree in exercise physiology. "My college career was derailed by a lot of injuries and a lot of injuries that could have been avoided," Lubischer said.

Now he specializes in training that protects athletes from soft tissue injuries.

He started by opening a personal training studio in 2009 in Long Branch's West End and moved to a large space on Atlantic Avenue in 2012. He opened in West Long Branch in 2018, after his landlord sold the Long Branch property for redevelopment, and later expanded to a 24-hour-a-day gym.

Anna Lubischer, a nationally ranked figure skater, is a trainer too. "I've always been an athlete," she said. "We've been doing gyms together since 2014."

They have sought to differentiate their place from other fitness centers. For instance, they're open 24 hours a day.

'Wouldn't have changed it for the world' Amputation led to AMP'D Fitness in Brielle

Customers are on a month-to-month contract and can cancel anytime with no cancellation fees, Lubischer said.

Ronald Lubischer said his center offers equipment customers won't find elsewhere. "I have relationships with fitness equipment designers that make super unique pieces," he said.

And customers see the owners every day, giving it a local flair. "We get a lot of local people that may not be like bodybuilders, just a workout enthusiast, because they like speaking with the owners,." Anna Lubischer said.

"We're a mom and pop," Ronald Lubischer said. "I'm at the desk myself 12 hours a day."

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for more than 20 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Couple add 24-hour Lubischer's Burn and Blast Training to Long Branch