First Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Belt is…

Chris “Short Round” Tran!

Chris has been training from 9 AM – 10 PM during the summer and exemplifies the attitude that we are looking for at Crazy 88.  For his first tournament (2010 Grapplers Quest US Nationals), the coaches wanted him to do Intermediate and despite some personal and familial misgivings, he entered the tournament, and won all his matches by submission.

A few weeks later, Chris was asked to move up to the Advanced division, despite falling at least 2 years below the training time recommendation, and he again challenged himself, winning a Gold and Silver.

When not winning tournaments and training, Chris can be found aggravating David Zwanetz re: the Process.

Evan Gideon Promoted to Purple Belt

Evan Gideon Beaten Without Gi

Evan “Oz” Gideon became the 7th Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt tonight.  Evan has been one of our most consistent competitors, winning Gold at the 2010 BJJ World Championships and taking Silver in the Open Division at the same tournament.   He is also tied with the legendary “Hawaiian Punch” in coach-aggravation ability.

Evan had this to say about his promotion, “I just want everyone to know that I am extremely thankful for all their help and patience with me.  And I’m going to train hard everyday to live up to Team Lloyd Irvin and Crazy 88′s expectations.”

Ouch!

Mike Atkin, Evan Gideon, Jon Delbrugge, David Zwanetz

Crazy 88 Purple Belt Count Gets to 6

New Purple Belt David Z with World Silver Medalist, Brad Pearson, and 2X PanAm Bronze Medalist, Jon Delbrugge

David Zwanetz AKA “Lawyer Dave” was promoted to BJJ Purple Belt tonight.  Dave has been an integral part of the team since November 2007.  Since that time, he has coached the White Belt Competition Team, convinced his wife Cathy to begin training, and just recently took Silver at the 2010 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championships.  Despite working full-time as a Howard County attorney, Dave trains 5-6 days a week without fail.  Crazy 88 has only promoted 5 Purple Belts in it’s history – Roberto Torralbas, Amie Turton, Mike Atkin, Malcolm Vaughan, Jon Delbrugge – and now the school is happy to have another join this elite group. 

Congratulations to David Zwanetz!

Tyrone Eaton Promoted to Blue Belt

Tyrone Eaton was promoted to Blue Belt tonight. Tyrone has been a great addition to our Baltimore Martial Arts team ever since Kwami Mensah, his brother-in-law, brought him. Tyrone brings strong wrestling ability and a good attitude to the mats and we are proud to have him represent Crazy 88 and Team Lloyd Irvin at the new belt.

Alfonso Washington Receives Blue Belt

Alfonso Washington AKA “Big Sal” received his Blue Belt. Big Sal just came off a Gold Medal at the IBJJF NY International Open and before that took Silver at the Houston International Open of BJJ. Big Sal also is 2-0 in MMA Smoker Fights and has 1 KO victory in Muay Thai. Great job!

You can find more pictures on the Crazy 88 Martial Arts fanpage!

Jermane Mathis Promoted to BJJ Blue Belt

Crazy 88 Blue Belts

Congratulations to Jermane Mathis, Crazy 88′s newest Blue Belt! He has been an successful active competitor in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai competitions for the past few months and it was awesome to see him get promoted. Jermane had one of the best promotion tests ever, making it through the entire White Belt Roster without getting submitted! Great job from the 3x White Belt division Champion.

Good luck to Jermane as he enters the Police Academy in the coming months!

Celebrating the Promotion with a Few Glasses of Champagne

Royce “Shoyoroll” Kerbow Promoted to Blue Belt

It was back-to-back promotion days at Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as Royce “Shoyoroll” Kerbow received his Blue Belt.  Royce (pronounced as in Rolls Royce and not the first Ultimate Fighting Champion) has been training regularly since he started over a year ago.  Because of his job, he trains when he can – sometimes at 7 AM, sometimes at 11:30 AM, sometimes at the 7 PM and other times at 10:30 PM but he stays consistent and has been steadily improving his skills.

It was a long and tough test with over 25 students in the White Belt class, each wrestling Royce for a minute but he made it through.  Near the end of the test, Royce hurt his knee but he insisted on continuing the test and when it was all over, the Crazy 88 students all clapped and congratulated the newest member of the Blue Belt squad.

All our videos will be compiled on our youtube channel page.

Mikhail Onischenko Promoted to Blue Belt

Congratulations to Mikhail Onischenko, our newest BJJ Blue Belt here at Crazy 88. Mikhail is one of the first group of students that started training when we were located in the half-basketball court at the Body Factory, trying not to crash through the glass windows. Back then, only four pairs of students could roll on the ground at a time and only two pairs could practice takedowns. And we only had classes three times per week!

Mikhail is one of our most dedicated students – he never misses a 7 AM class and usually drives to Reston, VA right after training for his job.   Good work Mikhail!

PS – Just got off the phone with Mike Easton. Everything looks good for a Mixed Martial Arts Seminar on Saturday, January 23. Mike is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and one of the USA’s top 145 lb MMA fighters.  He is a very well-rounded fighter with heavy striking abilities and he has also won Pan-American and World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu medals.  Do not miss this seminar!

New Brown Belt @ Team Lloyd Irvin Baltimore – Mike Atkin!

This is a SERIOUS Training Room - Mike Easton, Mike Fowler, Nyjah Easton, Lloyd Irvin, Mike Atkin, Jon Delbrugge, Danny Ives, JC Cuffee, Don Achnick, Robbie Sanyal

Master Lloyd Irvin promoted Crazy 88 instructor, Mike Atkin to Brown Belt this morning!  Mike was Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s first ever student and has more International competition medals for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu than anyone else at the school.  Mike is an inspiration to all the students here – He is on the mats training almost everyday although he is in his mid-50′s.

Of course, Mike had to go through the brutal promotion gauntlet where he had to face everyone in the room in back-to-back matches with no break (and this time, it was after a full-blown training session with the killer squad).  It was a near-death experience but all worth it in the end.

Ambivalence - a state of having simultaneous, conflicting feelings toward a person or thing

Mike Atkin tries to survive against Mike Fowler's famous 1/2-guard!

Too tired to defend the back...

Mike Atkin vs. Lloyd Irvin - The Final Battle

Danny Ives Whips Mike Atkin! Is this what Ivey League MMA is all about?!?

Mike Fowler Winds Up!

But Its All Good in the End!

In other news, Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will be starting its After-School Martial Arts Program with Pickup in Early 2010! See everyone there!

Jeff Mueller Takes Elevator to Next Belt

Jeff “Flow Rida” Mueller moved up in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ranks to Blue Belt. Jeff comes from a traditional martial arts background and began training at Crazy 88 in May 2008. He has grown to become a valuable member of the team and demonstrated his dedication to his MMA training by continuing to train when his job sent him to Florida.  Jeff would train the evenings when he could in Tampa, and after flying back to Baltimore on Friday evening, he would come into our Baltimore school for the Saturday class.  Congratulations to Jeff!