Kicking Ass and Taking Names

Chris is the person who founded KnuckleUp with Morrison in Atlanta, and helped kick start the wave of gyms from the Huntington Beach MMA fitness gym to others that spread across the country, an action that earned him a place in the MMA Hall of Fame in Atlanta. He's been studying BJJ since 1994, when he started training in Orange, CA  under Allan Goez.

While running KnuckleUp, Chris employed the services of Kazeka Muniz as the head of jiu jitsu instruction on the Outer Banks, for KnuckleUp. In 2005, he started training primarily under Kazeka, and throughout Chris's many travels across the country, always considered Kazeka to be his primary instructor.

Chris In Action

Lifetime Achievement!

So it was a great honor when , on December 5th, Chris took and passed his black belt examination at Kazeka's MMA gym in California! After years of dedication, hard work and determination, Chris has finally been officially recognized as a master of jiu jitsu. Of the countless numbers who initially wear the gi and dream of attaining a black belt, only a handful are committed enough to see it through to this end. Chris can now proudly display his self discipline and mastery of this martial art every time he ties on his belt.

To be fair, Chris was already a world class Muay Thai and Kickboxing champ. And of course, his achievements in national grappling tournaments show a clear tendency toward excellence.  However, there's no doubt that receiving his black belt stands as one of the proudest moments of his life.

And to that end we say, Congratulations, Chris!  You've worked hard for it, so stand proud!

Now, if we could only convince another trainer at KnuckleUp to try for his black belt....

Remember, KnuckleUp is the home of fitness on the Outer Banks! 

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New Year Resolved

Every year people make New Year's resolutions to get fit and eat healthy, and probably more than a few of you reading this now did the same thing. But making a resolution is the easy part. Trying to actually live by it is a lot harder! So Amanda and Jordyn have decided to put together various activities to help you learn to live a healthier lifestyle.

Amanda and Jordyn will be hosting the event, and there's more than a few things to get into. Amanda has been doing a great job teaching the cardio kickboxing classes, and Jordyn has finally brought Zumba to our humble gym. Between the two of them, there isn't a much faster way to get in shape. 

Whole Host of Activities

And while the festivities do begin with a kickboxing class, followed by Zumba, there's oh so much more! In all, Amanda and Jordyn will be hosting:

• Cardio Kickboxing
• Zumba
• Strength and Training
• Healthy Cooking Demo by Mike Mazza
• Health and Wellness Seminar
• Refreshments
• Prizes and Giveaways!

Oh, yeah, the prizes and giveaways. Nearly every salon and spa on the Outer Banks, plus a few others, has donated something for the drawings, and you'll have chances to win things throughout the day. We'll have gifts from Hairoics, Reflections, Planet Pleasing Goods, Style Divita, Diamonds & Dunes, Lotus Spa, and more! And all donations will go to support the Outer Banks Mommy & Me! 

So what are you waiting for? It's all happening this Saturday, January 21, from 12-5.  So get your tickets now! They're only $20, but get them quick because space is limited and quite a few people have already signed up!

Don't miss your chance to start the new year right with the best place for fitness on the Outer Banks! 

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Jiu Jitsu Traveler

Connection Rio is basically a travel agency that caters to the BJJ crowd. They have locations in several different areas, and they'll schedule your training at whichever academy you want. Or if you're not sure where to go, they'll help you with that too. They make going to Brazil as easy as possible.

You'll have a pretty nice place to stay too. They have three different options sleeping arrangements: dorm style, private rooms, and actual homes throughout the city of you want to train at some other location. So if you want to bring a group and save on sleeping accommodations, you can. Or if you want some privacy, you can do that too. All the places seem to have gardens, pools and BBQ areas, so it's pretty hard to beat.

Founder Dennis Asche says :

 "Connection Rio provides training and accommodation services to BJJ practitioners. If you want to come to Rio and train BJJ, come and stay with us! We'll make your stay as easy and enjoyable as possible. We offer the choice of staying in multiple properties, we have connections to all the top academies, and we’ve got years of experience to draw upon. The hardest part of planning a trip to Brazil is committing to going. Once you’ve made the decision, thanks to Connection Rio the rest is easy. Live your dreams with Connection Rio!"

Great Vacation Plan

If you've been thinking about taking a vacation, why not try Brazil? It's a beautiful country, and you'll get some high quality training in. And Connection Rio seems to be the easiest way to train jiu jitsu in Rio. Pretty much everything is included in the price except for food, and they have numerous ways to accommodate any budget.  And best part yet, mention KnuckleUp or Morisson when signing up for exclusive discounts! Check out their site for more information, including videos from people who have already gone.

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The Angel Tree is a charity held annually by the Outer Banks Woman's Club. It endeavors to help underprivileged children on the Outer Banks have a Merry Christmas too. It's a great cause, and one that all the stores in the strip fully support.

We have a whole day of festivities planned, including:

• 12:30 - 1:15pm: Nutrition Seminar by our own Diane Fisher R.N.
• 1:00 - 3:00 Suzanne Tate will be presenting her new book, Teena Tortoise.
  
• 1:15 - 2:00pm: Healthy cooking Demo with Mike and Matt's kitchen Adventures 
• 1:30 - 2:30pm: CHAIN saw art with Rev.  Jay Bowman of obxBrides.com and Outer Banks Bootcamps
• 2:30 - 3:30pm: Rape Prevention with Dare County K-9 Deputy Charles Craddock and our resident fighting guru, Morrison Butler
• 4:00 - 6:00pm: Legendary Blues Artist Mojo Collins performs!

All Day festivities include:

• Ring giveaway at Miss Lizzies as well as 20% off.
• 2 for 1 Paninin and salads at the Good Life Gourmet and 25% off everything else.
• Wine and beer with donation under the tent.
• And the big, jolly fat man himself will be there, so bring your kids down to see Santa!
• Various other sales, drawing and surprises!
• Island Book Store  is giving away advanced reader copy books w/ purchase
• OBXNightlife.com will be covering the entire event!

Get With The Program!

This is going to be a great time at a great event for a great cause! So come down and see the festivities, and make sure you bring a friend! All right in front of the home for fitness on the Outer Banks, KnuckleUp!

Special thanks to:

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While none of these should replace your daily workout, some of these have benefits that extend to your current training. And no matter what your goals are, these are some great outdoor activities for you to participate in during the summer months.

1) Surfing

Surfing is a common activity on the beach, and it's an awesome supplement for your training. It helps with your balance and core strength. And what's Matt always tell us? Keep your core tight! Which you have no choice but to do while surfing. Plus, it's a great way to get a great workout while keeping cool.

2) Paddle Boarding

We've already done a post about why paddle boarding is a great workout.  Much like surfing, it improves your balance and core strength, and also works your arms pretty hard. And since we now offer the Outer Banks Paddle Boarding School, learning how to do it has never been easier!

3) Roller Blading

Strapping a pair of roller blades to your feet is a great way to work out. Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills and Duck all have bike paths you can use for roller blading. Its a great way to work on your balance as well as cardio endurance.

4) Swimming

While we don't have a pool at KnuckleUp, we do live next to the second largest body of water in the world. And taking a dip in the mighty Atlantic is a great full body workout. Swimming makes you work just about every muscle in your body. It's a great workout for improving your cardio and muscular endurance.

5) Cornhole

Wait, cornhole? Yes, cornhole. For one, it improves hand-eye coordination, which comes in handy when you're trying to hit a moving target. And two, you need some way to relax after a full day of surfing, swimming, and rollerblading, right? So grab a custom cornhole board, and wind down in style.

Fit and Fun

As you can see, there are plenty of activities that are both fun and help contribute to your overall well being. While they may not be enough to rely on as your primary workout, they are all a great supplement to your current training regimen. Give it a try and see how your results improve!

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So Leo packed up the wifey and rolled out to the beach with Devin for his first ever experience with Stand Up Paddling on the Outer Banks. It was a beautiful day on the beach, and Leo was looking forward to this new workout. And as anyone who has already taken the class can tell you, it was a fun, yet physically challenging experience. Leo came home and jotted down some notes on his aquatic adventure.

Why This is Working Out:

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This weeks fight is UFC 132, Faber vs. Cruz! Urijah faber is going to try to take the bantamweight title away from Dominick Cruz. Cruz has only lost one fight in his career, and who was it against? Urijah Faber! Faber has the experience, and it's not like he hasn't done it before, but Cruz is the first bantamweight champ in the UFC, so he has more than a little incentive to keep hanging on to it.

Plenty of Other Fights on the Card Too:

• Silva vs Leben
• Ortiz vs Bader
• Condit vs Kim
• Siver vs Wiman
• Guillard vs Roller
• Sotiropoulos vs Dos Anjos
• Plus More!

This might be one of the better fight nights we've seen in a while, with big names like Wanderlei Silva, Tito Ortiz, and Carlos Condit on the card. By the way, those are my picks for the win.

Applebees for the Win!

Since Applebees is being good enough to actually show the fights, it'd be wrong of us to ask them for more, but they beat us to it and are having some KILLER drink specials!

Margaritas, British import drafts, Long Island Ice Tea, and Bahama Mamas for only $3!! And apparently, if you mention OBXNightlife.com, you get $3 off the Trio Platter appetizer. So for so for about $15 bucks, you can eat AND drink AND watch the fights all night! Damn, Hooters who?

OBXNightlife.com, the best place to find out nightly entertainment on the Outer Banks, has the full details on their site, so go check it out. Or you can check out their profile on Facebook to keep up with all the Outer Banks nightlife has to offer.

And of course, if you want to learn MMA for yourself, there's only one place to go for the best MMA classes on the Outer Banks: KnuckleUp Fitness!

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Hey everyone, this weekend is shaping up to be a busy one! junior Assuncao, former UFC star and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt will be coming back into to town this week! If you remember his visit from last time, you'll know this isn't something you'll want to miss!

Belt Testing

And if you've been on the mat, make sure you come to Thursday's class (May 26) at 6PM. Junior will be belt testing everyone, so if you think you're ready to get a stripe or go up a color, come down and find out. You'll be testing with a master though, so you better have your A+ game ready!

Plus Seminars

Also, Saturday, May 30th, Junior will be teaching a self defense seminar at 10:30 AM followed by a BJJ seminar from 1 to 3 PM. If you were at Junior's last BJJ seminar, you know he taught us a lot of very handy techniques. Most of which I still see in use up at the club. If you missed it last time, or you're new to KnuckleUp since then, make sure you get in there. And you don't have to be a member to get in; they're totally open to the public!

Junior is from Northeastern Brazil originally, but now lives in the Atlanta area. He is a patriotic fighter: he has black belts in Jiu Jitsu AND capoeira, both native Brazilian martial arts. Unlike most MMA fighters who use May Thai or kickboxing as the base for their fighting style, Junior’s style is based in Capoeira. Junior has been undefeated since 2008, and he's about ready to get back in the UFC.

Don't miss what will definitely be a seminar to remember. It's not often we have them, but when we do, they're pretty awesome! Only at KnuckleUp, the best gym on the Outer Banks!

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Gary Farrow FTW!

Gary's fight was held at the Omni in VA Beach, and was sponsored by Frank Lipoli. Gary's opponent was Scott Cox, who had a record of 2-3 and now, thanks to Gary, is 2-4.

Gary's been training hard, as always, and it showed in this fight. The match was slated to be threee three-minute rounds. Scott came out hard with a fierce stand up game that no one was expecting and Gary ended up on the ground after a strong blow to the head. But unbeknownst to Scoot, the ground is Gary's home. After a brief struggle where Gary clearly showed dominance, Scott succumbed to a wicked armbar with literally one second left in the first round.

Quality KnuckleUp Training

It goes without saying that hard work and persistent training pay off. Morrison was probably just as excited as Gary for his victory, and is as proud of Gary as any trainer could be. Morrison had complete faith in Gary's abilities, and knew he would come home a winner.

So what comes next for Gary? We're all looking forward to his next fight, and there'll be plenty more jiu jitsu tournaments in the coming year. And no matter what the future holds, Gary is still training as hard as ever and still teaching fitness classes on the Outer Banks. So come up and train with a winner!

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