Student Spotlight At Ivey League MMA – Jonathon “JJ” Vanklompenberg

Posted on January 26, 2012 by DannyIves

I was thinking the other day that it’s been a while since I did a student spotlight blog post.

What’s “student spotlight” you ask?

I like to highlight the accomplishments of students here at Ivey League Mixed Martial Arts. I do this to share to the outside world so many of the great things that training in martial arts can do for a person, big or small, kid or adult.

Since this site is more of a Muay Thai Kickboxing blog/news site I thought the little man I’m writing about would fit right in since he’s made incredible gains in his Kickboxing skills (among other things of course).

That person is none other then Jonathon “JJ” Vanklompenberg.

JJ is 6 years old and has been taking classes with us for about 4 months. As a matter of fact this weekend he’ll be testing for his grey belt in the Team Lloyd Irvin Youth System.

How did JJ get started? Megan (Mother) wanted him to learn self defense and discipline. So she found us, I’m guessing via the Internet and called to make an appointment.

When JJ first came in he seemed like many other kids, happy to be having fun with the martial arts. I think I was away the week he started but I remember my girlfriend, who helps with the kids classes, calling me and saying that we had a new young kid that was something special.

TEAM LLOYD IRVIN OF ANNAPOLIS MARYLAND

Oh and right she was…

When I got back I poked into the children’s classes to see who/what she was talking about.

To be honest I knew that JJ was going to be good the moment I saw him training. Yes it was that obvious to me and the staff.

The kid loves MMA training like few I’ve met. He even watches the UFC’s with his Mother Megan and her awesome boyfriend. He told me he watched our very own Mike “The Hulk” Easton win his bout last weekend.

I told JJ that he was going to be Ivey League MMA‘s little version of Mike Easton. I think he liked the sound of that!

JJ has come so far in just 4 short months that It’s amazing to me and the staff. When he first started classes he would fall when he threw a kick, now I watch him throw his round kick and I’m just like “wow that’s impressive”. He’s a bit of a technique nut, meaning he likes it to be perfect, can’t fault him there (must get it from Mom…).

Some of the adult students asked me what I thought was the reason behind JJ’s success so early in his training. Easy answer…

JJ LOVES MARTIAL ARTS!

I think something too that helps a lot is that his mom gives him the encouragement and will go the extra mile to see that he has the best training (hence why he’s at Ivey League, hehe). Also, this is key right here, Megan gives JJ that little push that all kids need and many lack from the parents. Will so much going for little JJ how can he not do well?

JJ is also a great student in school, something that’s very important to us. School is always # 1.

So, not sure if martial arts classes make a difference in a child’s life? Think it’s just something for them to do? I disagree. The martial arts are a way of life, a way of living the right kind of life.

JJ is proof of what we’re doing here at a little martial arts school in Severna Park Maryland.

Keep up the good work JJ! You make Mom, Dad, Family and Ivey League MMA proud!

Ivey League Mixed Martial Arts
836 Ritchie Hwy Unit#5
Severna Park, Md 21146
http://www.annapolismma.com
443-517-8958

Miss Teresa, The Driving Force Behind Ivey League Kids Classes

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Using Muay Thai Kickboxing to up the level of other Martial Arts

Posted on January 6, 2012 by DannyIves

Here at Ivey League Mixed Martial Arts we run many different programs, not just Muay Thai Kickboxing. We have Gracie Ju-Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, Boxing and kids martial arts/karate.

Because we have so many Martial Arts styles and programs to choose from the students can pick and choose what they would like to do in terms of their own goals. Many love the striking (punching and kicking) and lots love the ground fighting like Jujitsu and Sombo.

We have a ton of students in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program, and that’s all they do, BJJ. Anyone who has been to Ivey League knows that the BJJ classes are packed.

Here’s the thing…

I’m big on Muay Thai Kickboxing, I guess that makes sense since I’m writing on a blog dedicated to Kickboxing, haha. Anyway, back to my students, even the ones that train pretty much only BJJ need to take Kickboxing classes from time to time.

Muay Thai Kickboxing lessons in Annapolis Maryland

Why you ask? The fitness and conditioning that you get from a good Muay Thai workout is unlike anything else. And I make the Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu students do the Kickboxing classes because it takes their level of fitness to a new level.

Can Muay Thai Kickboxing make your BJJ ground game better?

YES! I know this for a fact because when I’m training a lot of Kickboxing my BJJ seems to improve at a ridiculous rate!

It’s weird how the Kickboxing helps my other skills because if you like at something like Thai Boxing and BJJ it’s easy to see that they’re very different. One on the ground, one on the feet.

So the point of this blog post is that if you want to become better as an overall martial artist then you should be supplementing some of your training with Kickboxing classes, at least here and there. It’s fun, gives you a workout and brings your fitness level up, which will only help in your main style of martial arts.

Check out the video below, I thought I’d post some fun stuff for this nice Friday afternoon.

–Master Danny Ives, Keeping Muay Thai Kickboxing real in Annapolis!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting the most out of mitt and pad work in Kickboxing classes

Posted on December 29, 2011 by DannyIves

Mitt and pad work, which by the way are pretty much the same thing. In Boxing more often then not it’s called working the “mitts” or “mitt work” and in Thai Boxing/Muay Thai Kickboxing it’s called “pad work”. No matter what you call it it’s pretty much the same. So here we’ll call it mitt work to keep things simple.

Mitt work is about the closest thing you can do to simulate a real fight. And if you have a trainer who understands how to hold mitts it can be not only one heck of a workout but also a great learning experience.

Sadly very few people know how to hold mitts. The worst is what you see in fitness gyms. Personal trainers who know little to nothing about striking, and here they are holding mitts for clients. The clients aren’t being taught good form, moving their feet or anything. Not only is this wasting the paying customers time but it’s also an easy way to get injured.

Let the Kickboxing pros handle mitt work, not the fly-by-night personal trainer at a weight lifting gym.

Ah ok I’m back. Was on a rant there for a sec…lets get back to talking mitt work.

Mitt work, ok, this is the thing. Mitt work rules! I myself have always enjoyed hitting the mitts and I know for a fact that the students here at Ivey league MMA do as well. If done right you get all the key parts to overall striking training covered and in a fun realistic way.

Some important things to remember when working on the mitts is to make sure you’re being checked for your hands being up and that you’re moving not only your feet but also your head. Defense is just as big a part of mitt work as the offense. A good instructor will give you good defense work that will produce not only a killer workout but also sharp defense or simply put “not getting hit back” skills.

What is mitt work you ask? Below is a video we did at Ivey League MMA and in it you’ll see plenty of mitt work in both the Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes.

After you watched those videos you should be pretty pumped up to workout, hit some mitts and do some rope skipping! Call 443-517-8958 and we can help you out with all that!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why on earth does Kickboxing make you thin (or thinner)?

Posted on December 19, 2011 by DannyIves

Muay Thai Kickboxing, most people know it for the self defense reason, you know, leg kicks, elbows and knees, that sort of stuff.

But…

A cold hard FACT! Muay Thai Kickboxing is also known to melt away weight and bodyfat ridiculous fast!

Oh you would like proof? No problem, check out the video below of Ivey League MMA CAP Platinum member Cammie “Killer Cam” Jurkowski.

Cammie lost 40 pounds in 4 months. That’s freaking awesome!

So here comes the question…what is it about Kickboxing that makes you lose so much weight?

I have some answers btw…

A few things play into this. First of all, just starting any type of fitness program is a step in the right direction. We get so many people that come for kickboxing classes just because they want to get in shape but at the same time not be bored with the plan jane gym routine.

Kickboxing his all areas of cardio, both the explosive muscles and the slow twitch ones. You get the best of both cardio worlds.

Our Kickboxing classes tend to be very active, with lots of fun workouts which also help shed weight. things like pad work, kick drills and ab work are the cornerstone of the Ivey League Kickboxing curriculum.

Variety in training is also a big thing, with so many things to do in Kickboxing classes you’ll find it hard to get bored, hence you stick with the classes and lose weight.

In the end what really helps with Kickboxing is that the more you do it and the better you get the more you want to do all you can to excel. In other words, you tend to want to live a better lifestyle. That means eating a better diet, getting more sleep and dealing with less stress.

Those are of course just a few things but they’re key when it comes to the weight lose game. It’s a never ended game but at the same time with the right training you can win the battle of the bulge and at the same time have fun.

Try Muay Thai Kickboxing because it works! Get in shape folks!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mastering the low kick

Posted on November 18, 2011 by DannyIves

Most people only think of kicks being thrown high, to the head or body. Truth be told, low leg kicks are some of the most common and nastiest kicks in the Kickboxing game.

If you watch a lot of very classical Muay Thai Kickboxing fights you’re going to see tons of leg kicks. Same goes for MMA. Leg kicks work great to slow down opponents and from time to time even score knockouts.

The best set ups for solid leg kicks are:

  • Jab-Roundkick to the leg
  • Hook-Roundkick to the leg
  • Push kick to low roundkick to the leg
  • and on and on…

    • If you train in Kickboxing for self defense then make the leg kick your best friend. I know from personal experience that a good leg kick will put an attacker down, FAST!

    I put a video up of the one and only Ernesto Hoost. I think it’s safe to say that he’s the best there ever was at the low leg round kick. However, I’ll let you be the judge! Watch the video below…

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Using all the weapons that Thai Boxing has to offer

Posted on November 12, 2011 by DannyIves

Muay Thai Kickboxing or “Thai Boxing” as it’s often called rocks a unused weapon…

That weapon is the mighty elbow! If used right it stops fights fast.

Most Thai Boxing programs that I’ve gone to over the years have lacked in the teachings of elbows. Elbows are sort of the sneaky weapon and can do some major damage in a fight. I think most people shy away from teaching them due to lack of knowledge or they think they’re not “fun” to train.

Boxing Thai style

Thai Boxing classes offered at Ivy League MMA in Severna Park, MD

Not so at Ivey League MMA.

We embrace the elbow 100%. In fact, the reason I wanted to write this blog post was because one of the newer students asked me when we would start learning the elbow. I told him that we save that for our CAP program because it’s dangerous. However, this one time I thought we’d dive into the elbow a bit so I showed some stuff in the basic kickboxing class.

In Thai Boxing you will use 2 types of elbows, the horizontal and vertical elbows. As I’m sure you guessed, the angle at which you attack with them determines the name.

The really good thing about using elbows in a fight is that you can land them in very tight places such as the clinch or in a pummeling situation for MMA.

When I was watching the UFC in Washington DC a while back I saw Josh Neer making great use of close quarter elbows. In fact, he ended up winning the fight from the cuts via elbows in the first round.

The Thai Boxing elbow, which to use and how to choose?

The horizontal elbow is far and away the most common. It’s a bit easier to land in a real fight. Not that the vertical won’t work well, it’s just that the angle you have to land it at is a bit trickier to find. I find that the horizontal elbow works best then you’re in front of your opponent, more head on to them. The vertical elbow is king from a sideways clinch with an underhook, just a brutal technique! The trick to getting the sideways clinch is to start with knees and pull your opponent down while moving to the side. Muay Thai Kickboxing Champion Jose Villarisco is a master of this!

No matter which elbow you choose to use make sure you try and hit with the tip. You can land and knock people out with the forearm as well however the main goal of the elbow is to cut your opponent. If you knock them out then it’s icing on the cake!

Thai Boxing videos to study are below…using the elbow that is.

Check out some of the videos below to see elbows in action. I should stress that if you’re new to Kickboxing or Thai Boxing don’t worry, we don’t have students elbowing each other in the face! We don’t have any sparring or hard contact in any basic or intro class. If you want sparring that comes at a much later time and with much care and coaching. This is a family martial arts training center, not a room full of meatheads and blood thirsty pro fighters. I felt I should clarify that.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Professor Spotlight – Nick Walters – Professor of Kickboxing at Ivey League MMA

Posted on November 6, 2011 by DannyIves

Lots of times when I write about students here at Ivey League MMA I call it “student” spotlight. But since this student also teaches some classes so I guess this time I’ll say “professor” spotlight. Some academies call the instructors “professor”, we don’t here Ivy League MMA but it sure sounds cool.

Lets talk about CAP Platinum member Nick Walters. Nick’s been with us at Ivey League MMA for 3 years. He first started in the Kickboxing classes as a way to get back in shape and learn effective Muay Thai Kickboxing. It wasn’t long before Nick jumped into MMA and BJJ.

Nick, like fellow CAP Platinum member Jeaneo Binney, is from the great state of Washington. Nick grew up in what he would call the “sticks”. Riding motorcycles and sporting a mullet were the norm where he’s from. Pretty far from the city indeed.

Nick Walters, lives in Annapolis MD and trains at Ivey League Martial Arts

Nick joined the Air Force when he was 18 and off he went. Living all over the world throughout his time in the military. He also meet his lovely wife, Trina, while in the Air Force. They’ve been happily married for quite some time (not sure on the exact number) and have 2 kids, Gidget and Angel.

Nick and Trina settled down in Annapolis Maryland in 2008. They’re now both retired from the Air Force.

Nick came to Ivy League with a little experience in hand to hand combat. He trained in the Air Force with different instructors and also had some lessons at different Kickboxing programs in the south.

Nick will be the first to tell you, it was like starting over when he got to Ivey League MMA. Our job was to build up a bigger and better Nick Walters, lucky for us was very easy to teach and coach.

Because Nick had ankle surgery prier to coming to Ivey League, he had to start slow. Kicking was an issue for him at first but in time his ankle healed and he because a became a kicking beast.

It didn’t take long before “W” as we call him was shining in all the classes, including MMA and Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He was picking up fast and adding to the package all the time. Nick was like a sponge, he just absorbed everything we taught him.

Nick loves kicking so much that we decided to have him start teaching some classes. And he didn’t disappoint. His classes are some of the most popular ones we offer. He’s built a following due to his high energy classes, sense of humor and of course attention to detail. Nick teaches Monday and Thursday intro Kickboxing at 7:30pm.

So not only did Nick get in great shape, learn Kickboxing, BJJ and MMA, but he also learned great leadership skills. If not learned then I think it’s safe to say “honed” his leadership skills by running classes and coaching at tournaments from time to time.

In August 2011 Nick Walters received his blue belt in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This was huge for Nick because he worked so hard for it.

Keep an eye on this guy to do more things both inside Ivey League MMA and out in the world.

–Master Danny Ives

P.S. Below is a video of Nick talking about training at Ivey League MMA in Severna Park, MD

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Running and Muay Thai Kickboxing – Workouts and how they fit together

Posted on November 2, 2011 by DannyIves

Ever heard the term “roadwork”? If you train in any type of kickboxing or MMA then you more likely then not know what roadwork means. Roadwork stands for “running” or some type of a running/sprinting workout. Most of the time it’s outside but it can be done indoors as well.

For those of you thinking about getting involved with kickboxing or MMA let me fill you in on some of the types of workouts and different roadwork routines that many of the top programs use on a daily basis.

Now now, I knows there are those of you reading this thinking “ah man I hate running, if I have to do that then I would never join kick boxing classes! or boxing classes!” fear not, running is not required at all. Some do it and some don’t. The kickboxing training stays the same. Running is just something else you can do you enhance your workout experience.

The reason that most striking fighters, and grapplers for that matter, do roadwork is because it gets your legs really strong and builds cardio. Cardio for kickboxing is so key, and it’s something that you’ll need to build up because no one walks into a kickboxing academy already in kickboxing shape. You’ve got to take baby steps and build it up. Roadwork is something you can do that will help you along and get you in the best shape of your life.

Nothing beats training in kickboxing to get in kickboxing shape, no news there. But roadwork is a good second option if you can’t make it to the academy or you want to mix your training up some.

Below are some basic routines that we use here at Ivy League MMA. These are easy starter workouts. Down the road we can give you tougher and more challenging ones, but like I said, baby steps. Crawl before you walk and walk before you run!

Ivey League MMA basic roadwork gameplan:

Monday, Day 1 or first run: Distance run of 1-3 miles
This is a run that is designed to build basic cardio. Start with 1 mile and build up from there. No sprinting or anything like that, just a basic jog. Even if you have to stop and walk every now and then it’s fine. The key is to better your distance and time every run. Build up to 3 miles. Before you know it 3 miles will be a walk in the park for you.
Thursday, 2nd run of the week (sprint work)

First thing first, do a nice run to get warmed up. This is even more important if it’s cold outside. In the summer you can shave the warm up time down a little but it pays to get loose before you do sprints because they’re a bit more demanding on the body.

Start with 3 or 4 100 yard sprints. I would advise going to a football field and use that to gauge distance. The one thing about football fields is to make sure you check your running route for holes or dips in the grass. You want to be careful to not twist an ankle sprinting. If you can do 4 hard all out sprints and feel ok then add some more. Build up to 10 good sprints, cool down and stretch and you’re good. Believe me, 3 hard sprints should be more then enough for the novice runner.

Saturday, 3rd run of the week (interval) 1-3 miles

This workout is a combination of sprints and distance roadwork. Start with 1 mile and build up. Start with a nice jog, get your heart rate up and blood moving. Once that happens (7 minutes in or so) start to mix in some short all out sprints of about 20 to 30 yards (or 10-15 seconds). The sprints should be mixed in at various times. The key is to work super hard during the sprints and then sort of jog it out. These will be hard so get your mind right. If you have to walk here and there until you build yourself up then that’s ok. Shoot for 3 miles and no walking. If you can do that you’re in beast shape.

There you have it, a simple but great roadwork routine that can be applied to MMA or Kickboxing. Don’t put off getting in shape or starting your roadwork. Set a date and make some goals, just a few goals to try and achieve. Don’t worry if you’re not in shape, throw it on the wall and see what happens! Write the goals on paper and hang them up. Don’t be a tomato can! Get it done.
Now…..Hit the road!!!!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Muay Thai Kickboxing Seminar in Severna Park, Maryland!

Posted on October 23, 2011 by DannyIves

Ivey League MMA will be hosting a super high level Muay Thai kickboxing and MMA striking seminar. The seminar will be held at Ivey League MMA, located in Severna Park, Maryland (1 town up from Annapolis).

The seminar will be conducted by world renowned Muay Thai Kickboxing coach Andy Grahn. “Kru” Andy has trained in Muay Thai all over the world including Thailand and Europe. He’s one of the most highly regarding striking coaches in the Midwest (he’s based in St Paul, Minnesota). Kru Andy will be focusing on the stand up game for Kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts and street self defense. Kru Andy has over 20 years of experience in the fight game and has trained some of the best and most watched fighters in the UFC such as Nik Lentz, Sean Sherk (Former UFC lightweight champion) and of course big Brock Lesnar (former UFC heavyweight champion).

We should point out that this seminar will be for all levels. You can be a complete beginner to Muay Thai Kickboxing or MMA and be tottally fine at this seminar. We’ll be sure to talor the seminar to your needs if your new or think your skills are super basic. If you’re advanced you’ll be fine as well, we’ll have plenty for you to work on.

All martial arts schools in the Maryland area are welcome to attend this seminar, It’s not just students of Ivy League Mixed Martial Arts. Come train in a warm friendly place while learning from Kru Andy Grahn.

Don’t miss this chance to work with one of the best striking coaches in the martial arts and Kickboxing world! Here are some more details:

Where: Ivey League MMA 836 Ritchie Hwy #5, Severna Park, MD 21146 443-517-8958
When: October 27th, 2011. From 7:30-9:30pm (2 hour seminar with a short break in the middle)
Investment: $50 for basic program and outsude students, $40 for CAP (combat athlete program) students.
What will be covered?: Kickboxing/MMA combination’s with an emphasis on kicks and knees.
How to enroll? Email us at info@iveyleaguemma.com

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Using all the weapons of Muay Thai Kickboxing

Posted on October 21, 2011 by DannyIves

I was watching some UFC fights today on youtube, or rather what the UFC would allow youtube to show me. I couldn’t help but think that the most exciting fighters more often then not have a long history training in Muay Thai Kickboxing. You can always spot a good Muay Thai Kickboxing fighter in the UFC just by the weapons he uses. He’ll throw elbows, kicks, knees and of course, punches. I’m sure if the UFC allowed head butts that would be next.

To me that’s just plan exciting! Using all the weapons together in sync, attacking at all angles with punishing results. Yes my friends, that’s true Muay Thai. It’s important that when you’re taking Kickboxing class that you try and work on as many different solid attacks with your punches, kicks, knees and elbows. Not only is that a key detail for self defense training but you’ll also get in crazy good shape. For me I’ve always been in my best shape when I work all areas of striking, not just boxing. You work different muscles when you kick vs. punching and you want to make sure you touch on all of that whenever you train to get the full workout experience.

In my travels I’ve been to so many so called “kickboxing” academies. They claim to teach the real thing yet it turns out to be either nothing more then cardio kick or a bunch of kicking and a punch here and there. A true Muay Thai academy would be getting as much use out of all the weapons as possible. Lots of mitt work, rope skipping and shadow boxing would be the norm at a good Kickboxing program.

My focus today is to enlighten anyone reading this to the wonders of true Muay Thai Kickboxing, regardless if the fight is in a cage, ring or bar.

Below are some videos of fighters that I enjoy watching. Some of the videos are of UFC fighters but the key thing to point out is the use of Muay Thai. See if you can spot some trademark techniques!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment