I weigh 200 pounds, I am six feet tall, and I'm going to laugh at you as you punch and kick me. I will not move, but you will not quit.

I sit, silently watching you do pushups next to me. I feel your legs clutching at me as you do sit-ups. I can smell the slightly acrid smell of your sweat, rich with adrenaline as the class pushes you further than you thought possible.

I hear the instructor barking out combos, 1-2-1-1-3-2. I see the apprehension pass fleetingly over your face as you try to remember the punches that those numbers mean and the look of satisfaction as it comes to you. I feel your blows, but they don’t faze me.

Every day, I watch you come and sweat. I see your pain. I see your struggle.

But I also see your triumphs.

Your Victories.

The way your face becomes tranquil as you find that sweet spot where your muscles take over, and your blows come with speed, force and, most importantly, determination.

No longer do you need to stop and catch your breath every ten minutes. Now you lead the class! You are lean, defined. You are strong!

Now, now I feel your punches as they land! Your kicks lift me off the ground! My chain keeps me tethered, but I swing madly!

And you never relent! Mercilessly, you throw combos that land viciously and accurately.

I feel the sting of every blow as it lands.

And I Am Proud of You.

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Bryan Maher, Slim and Trim

Hey everyone! Big news today, or should I say slim news? I'm not sure, but either way, Bryan Maher is back on the site with a new weigh-in! You might remeber the last post about Bryan, where we detailed his journey from pizza to punching bags. Well, the story didn't end there. Bryan continued his journey of physical improvement, and has achieved a level of success that should inspire us all.

As we said before, Bryan came in to KnuckleUp in early March weighing in at 350 pounds. Bryan worked hard in the kickboxing class, and had numerous privates with super-coach Matt Costa. Bryan has worked hard for the weight he lost.

The last time we talked about Bryan, he had gone from 350 to 261 in ten weeks. And his target weight at the time was 220.

Well, he met his goal of 220 and flew right by it, because now he's at an amazing 175! That's right, Bryan has dropped an incredible 175 pounds during his time at KnuckleUp. We really are the best fitness gym on the Outer Banks!

It took a lot of effort, and a lot of determination, but Bryan has proved what we all know. Time and effort always prevail in the end. And it wasn't even a lot of time, if you think about it. Ten months to lose 175 pounds is pretty damn quick. It probably took a lot longer to put it on.

And how do you keep losing so much weight, when you work at Cosmo's, and not just any Cosmo's, but the Cosmo's in Corolla, which, with out a doubt, makes the best pizza on the Outer Banks? I can barely stay away from a frozen pizza from Foodlion, much less the best pizza near Corolla luxury homes.

So hey Bryan, congratulations! You did an outstanding job, and we're sorry if you're embarrassed to be in the blog again. But yours really is a success story, and you should be proud. Great job!

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Hey KnuckleUp crew! Been an exciting past couple weeks, huh? Had the Jiu Jitsu tournament where Team KnuckleUp had some impressive victories. Then we had the Outer Banks Marathon the very next day and our Boot Campers had some pretty impressive finish times. And of course, our favorite super-trainer hit some Kryptonite, and had to have surgery on his knee. But Matt's doing better, and seems eager to show everyone his new war wound.

Also new is a pretty cool sports recovery drink head-trainer Morrison Butler brought back from the ATL, Kill Cliff. I don't put much stock in energy drinks, recovery drinks, or that sort of thing, I just like the taste of one or two, but to be fair, I actually had a great experience with this one. My elbows were screaming one day after a hard Jiu Jitsu class, followed by some sparring in the ring.

I was thirsty, hit a Kill Cliff, and resigned my self to the agony of my elbows for the next few days. But the following morning, it was gone. Was it Kill Cliff? I don't know, but I like the flavor, and I'm still drinking it.

Another person who was caught using it was Devin Sailor. Everyone know Devin? He's the blue belt that's strong as an ox. If you've rolled with him, you remember him. He's also the head of Ocean Rescue and an all around great athlete.

So Devin liked it enough to do a video that Kill Cliff is using in their promotions. They already sponsor a number of UFC fighters and professionals from other sports., and now they want to focus on regular people who work out. I'm not sure that Devin really qualifies as "regular" but it's a pretty cool video, right?

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The medals for the first 125 to finish.

I hope so!! Or Matt's going to have you doing push-ups til your arms fall off!

But really, it was an awesome race. Our favorite Super-Trainer, Matt Costa, and his right hand man ,Rev. Jay Bowman, were really instrumental in pulling it together, and was undoubtedly a resounding success! There were over 150 runners, and everyone had a great time.

The race started at 8 AM, and since the Boot Camp was a sponsor, Matt had everyone do 10 push-ups in the parking lot. Judging from some of the runner's faces, I'd say they this early morning work out was less than expected.

C'mon y'all, it's Matt. You should have known better.

The 1st place finisher for men was Eric Torrey, with an impressive 41:56. 1st place for women was Jessica Witter with an also impressive 45:32.

Junior knows how to warm up for the race!

XFC Lightweight Champion Junior Assuncao came from his MMA gym in Roswell and ran in the race. Junior had held a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu seminar on Thursday, and he donated all of the proceeds to the Get Pink campaign. His time was 51:41.

Also in attendance was Outer Banks Massage Therapy. They provide in-home massage on the Outer Banks, so it was no problem at all setting their tables up at the race. They were giving massages by the minute, and donated a portion of the money they made to the charity as well.

After the race, there was plenty of food and drink for everyone. A lot of people donated food, and we want to thank all of you. We also want to thank everyone who helped sponsored the race.

Morrison, Matt, Junior and Jay after a great race!

And a great big thank you to all the people who volunteered their time into making this race possible. Without you, it would never have happened.

And for those of you who missed it, for the next four Mondays, Matt's holding the O2BC Adventure 5k at 7 AM at the Black Pelican beach access in Kitty Hawk. If you complete these four races, you'll definitely be ready to Get Pumped for Pink next year!

If you'd like to see the times, here is the full list of runners for the Get Pumped for Pink 10k

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Almost looks like Matt's about to take one on the chin!

Everyone's favorite kickboxing instructor, Matt Costa, spent some time in the ring with him and says that Church is really talented. When Matt was wearing the pads, Chance knew where to hit without it being called. Matt moved the pad, and Chance hit it.  He also says to stay away from his left. As you can see in the video, Chance is pretty fast!

In 2009, Chance won the East Coast 60 lb. tournament. He also won the VA State 65lb. Silver Gloves Championship the same year. This year, he has already won the State 65 lb. Junior Olympic Championship. At this point he has had 8 fights in four different states. And Chance only turned 9 years old in May! He’s been boxing since he was six!

Hands up, chin down! Nice form!

Chance liked to watch boxing and UFC on TV, and surprised his father, Ronnie, by asking for boxing gloves on his sixth birthday. Ronnie got in touch with the Staunton Boxing Club, and Coach Bruce Frank saw potential in Chance and let him train there. Chance works out four times a week, two hours each time.  He is the youngest at the gym, and has to spar with the older kids and some of the older competitive boxers in the gym.

Chance does all his fighting in the ring, and doesn’t even talk about boxing at school. He gets along with all his classmates and teachers, and is a straight “A” student.

Chance also plays football and basketball, and now after working out at KnuckleUp, is looking to get into Kickboxing and BJJ as well. Good luck finding time for all that!

Chance has an amazing talent and a lot of potential. His dad’s really proud of him, and it’s easy to see why. If Chance keeps this up, there is no doubt you’ll be watching ESPN someday and hear the name Chance Church again!

How many 9 year-olds have six-pack abs?

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Matt Costa and Bryan Maher

If you could pick one job that had to be bad for your figure, what would it be? How about running a pizza shop? Bryan Maher works at Cosmo's Pizza in Corolla, and it's taken it's toll on his waist line. But Bryan got tired of it, and came to the best place for fitness on the Outer Banks to get back in shape.

Bryan came in to KnuckleUp in early March weighing in at 350 pounds. In his younger days, Bryan wrestled at 180, so working out hard is nothing new to him. He just had to get back in the rhythm.

And did he ever! Bryan has been working hard in the kickboxing class, and has had a few privates with super-coach Matt Costa. Bryan has worked hard for the weight he lost.

And just how much has he lost? In the past ten weeks, Bryan has gone from 350 pounds down to an amazing 261 pounds. That is phenomenal!  He has lost over 90 pounds in 10 weeks! That is a level of determination that doesn't come around too often. Bryan should be an inspiration for people everywhere.

Great job Bryan! Working like that, you'll see your goal of 220 in no time!

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Not so nimble right now.

We know you want to live a healthy and active lifestyle. That’s why you come to the number one Outer Banks fitness club, and work out regularly. And that’s awesome! However, be careful. If you push it too hard, you could get in trouble.

Take our friend and kickboxing trainer Matt Costa, for example. Matt was pumped up and excited for the Flying Pirate Half Marathon, and since Matt runs the Knuckle-Up Boot Camp, this was not even close to outside his abilities.

And Matt went about it smarter than most too. He started training for it seven weeks before-hand. He trained three times a week, cyclically, going three miles, then five, then eight. Everything was fine. That is, until his knee started swelling.

But no worries! Matt’s a pro. He rested it, iced it, and did everything by the book. He didn’t even work it the last week, because, let’s face it, if you’re not ready by then, seven more days isn’t that significant.

KnuckleUp at the Flying Pirate Half Marathon

The day of the big race came, and Matt was ready. We already know Matt placed very well in the half marathon. Matt was up against some serious competition from professional marathon runners. But he was determined to keep up and represent for Knuckle Up. And he did! How many people reading this could run 13 miles at all, much less run it in well under two hours? Matt can and did.

However, it came with a price. That knee went in a big way. Thankfully, one of our members,  Dr. Craig McGiffin, who is a chiropractor on the Outer Banks, has been helping Matt. Now you know why Matt hasn’t been quite as nimble as usual, and is wearing a knee brace.

But seriously, Matt is a pro. If he can get injured from over-training, so can you. It’s important to know your limits, and to not exceed them too much at once. Or you, too, will be hobbling  around the gym like Matt.

Step back from the line of over training and do something else for a day.  Gather your friends and celebrate all the hard work you have done.  A great place for your event is the best Outer Banks Wedding Venue, the beautiful, soundside Grande Ritz Palm in Duck.

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This is a video of Matt Costa's Kickboxing class at 8 AM on Cinco De Mayo taken by Rev. Jay Bowman.

Do you see how many people there are? Matt had people running outside because there too many to run inside. And notice how EVERYONE is smiling. They know what's up!

Matt Costa knows how to make your workout fun!

Matt Costa heads the kickboxing classes at KnuckleUp and he's not afraid to make you work. The classes are intense, and you will definitely feel like you worked out after you're done.

And while every gym says their classes are fun, Matt makes sure his really are. You're never doing the same thing over and over again. Matt mixes it up almost every other minute, and you're never sure what you'll be doing next.

If you want to learn kickboxing, or even if you just want to get in shape, try out Matt's Kickboxing class. The class is offered at least twice everyday, usually three or for times, except Sundays,  so there's a time for just about anyone. Check the schedule to see when you can try it.

And don't worry, not every class is packed like this one.

You would be hard pressed to find a better, or quicker, way to get in shape. Give Matt your time, and he'll change your life.

For another change for the summer, think about some home remodeling.  You can get the home of your dreams with some help from the best Outer Banks Home Contractors, OBX Master Builders.

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KnuckleUp at the Flying Pirate Half Marathon

The Flying Pirate Half Marathon ran Sunday April, 18^th, and some of our members were in it! Of the 1,500 runners who participated this year, 18 were members of the KnuckleUp Beach Boot Camp. These are 1,500 of some of the toughest competitors from the Mid-Atlantic, and our people were able to hold their own. Congratulations!

The Flying Pirate Half Marathon is the first half of the Outer Banks Marathon which will be held this November. It is approximately 21 km and is part of a series of marathons. It started in Kitty Hawk and ended in Nags Head, where there was a celebratory party and award ceremony behind Wings.

Leading the KnuckleUp crew was Coach Matt Costa with a finish time of 1hr and 46min, followed closely by Allison Saunders-Broughton, the wife of Matt Broughton, owner of Cosmo's Pizza in Corolla. Allison placed 4th in the ladies 25-30 age group. Congratulations Allison!

Other notable participants were the father-daughter team of Preston Carswell and Shannon Clift, as well as newcomers Mishelle Musika and Lisa Cafferty.

Congratulations to all of the competitors of the Flying Pirate Half Marathon, and especially to Matt Costa’s Boot Camp class for making us proud!

We’d also like to extend a special thanks to our volunteers: Kathy Farmer, Mary Luton, and Sharon Elliot.

A complete list of KnuckleUp runners in the Flying Pirate Half Marathon:

Matt Costa, Allison Saunders-Broughton, Franco Mineo, Reverand Jay Bowman, Jody Long, Rob Defazio, Shelley Tolbert. Morgan Carter, Preston Carswell, Mishelle Musicka, Lisa Cafferty, Donna Black, Christi Rauscher, Danielle Suarez, Cheryl Wiggins, Shannon Clift, Sylvia Wolfe.

We would also like to send a thank you out to the Dean Agency for all of their help.  When you are in the market for a new place, take a look at a Nags Head oceanfront home.

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Congratulations to ALL of the participants of the Biggest Loser Challenge Boot Camp!

The Biggest Loser Challenge Boot Camp is now finished and the stats are in! There were 20 people who took part in the Boot Camp and the combined weight loss was 177 pounds. That’s a lot of weight! That’s a whole person! Congratulations to all the people who took part, you did a hell of a job!

However, as with any competition, there can be only one winner. Well, one woman and one man in this case. And the winner for most weight lost in the women’s category is Mishele Musika, who lost an incredible 16 pounds! And the winner in the men’s category is Steve Gibbons, who lost a whopping 18 pounds! That’s a lot of weight to lose in just six weeks. Congratulations to both of you! You obviously worked hard!

Mishele will be receiving a $200 gift card and free consultation from MidgettGray.com and Steve will receive exclusive fight gear – brand new MMA gloves from Ring To Cage that are perfect for training and competition.

The Biggest Loser Challenge Boot Camp was run by instructor Matt Costa, who runs a normal boot camp throughout the year. He was assisted by Rev. Jay Bowman, who is your source for Outer Banks wedding information. So thanks to both of them for a great job as well.

And if you didn’t enter the Biggest Loser Challenge, you can still lose weight in the next Boot Camp. Keep checking in to see when the next one starts.

Once again, congratulations to everyone who lost weight in the Biggest Loser Challenge Boot Camp!

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