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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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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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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Paddle Boarding = Fun

Devin has been offering individual instructional classes for a while, but now he'll be offering a full beginner's level course. It's a great way to learn to paddle board without having to pay an instructor an arm and a leg for private lessons. Everyone who's gone has loved it, and it is a fun way to get in shape. There will be two camps: one in the AM and one in the PM.

The Break Down:

• It's a six day beginner's course.
• May 11 & 12, 17 & 18 and 23 & 24
• Classes are about 90 minutes
• AM camp is at 8:30, PM camp is 5:30
• All equipment is provided
• Both sound and ocean, dependent on the weather
• Only 14 spots total. Seven in the AM and seven in the PM

Devin, who also does Ocean Rescue,  has a full curriculum that begins with teaching safety and progresses into beginner stand-up paddle technique. After that, students will advance at their own pace.

If you want more info, make sure you check out the Outer Banks Paddle Board School on Facebook. This is a great way to stay in shape while learning a new skill just in time for summer.

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Gary competed in the No-Gi competition and went through several opponents, before finally coming in second. Morrison said Gary's first opponent came of the mat muttering he "picked a fight with a warlock." Congratulations, Gary!

Different How? Tiger Blood!

But the big victory Saturday came from Morrison himself. Morison came in first for both his division and the absolute! Not only did he beat everyone in his weight class and skill level, he also beat everyone else in the absolute! When asked how he achieved such a remarkable victory, Morrison says, "I’m different. I have a different constitution, I have a different brain, I have a different heart. I got tiger blood, man."

I Win Here and I Win There.

This is two more medals in a recent string of victories for Morrison. “I probably took more than anybody could survive. Because that’s how I roll. I have one speed. I have one gear: Go."

Morrison and the rest of Team KnuckleUp are eagerly awaiting the next tournament. Morrison assures us they'll do even better at the next one. "I’m not fair game. I’m not a soft target. It’s over. There’s a new sheriff in town. And he has an army of assassins."

When asked about the secret to his impressive skills on the mat, Morrison says he has "magic and poetry" in his fingertips, and that jiu jitsu is almost entirely mental.“If you borrowed my brain for five seconds, you’d be like, ‘Dude! Can’t handle it, unplug this bastard!’ It fires in a way that’s maybe not from, uh… this terrestrial realm.”

Good Job, Team KnuckleUp!

So congratulations to Team KnuckleUp! You guys did an awesome job, and we're all proud of you. We can't wait to see how everyone does at the next tournament!

And remember, if you, too, want to live "the life of a rockstar vatican assassin", "partyin' in my oceanfront home in Duck", call someone else. But if you want to be part of one of the best grappling teams in NC, or you're looking for the best place for fitness on the Outer Banks, then KnuckleUp is your only choice!

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Can You Believe Shes a Mom?

First up, is Amy Eaton. Amy just won a National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship. She's 39 years old and a mother of two, and she beat out a bunch of 20 year olds. That's Amy in the picture, and there's not much doubt why she won. Congratulations Amy!

Runners!

Last weekend was the Flying Pirate Half Marathon and Matt Costa and several of his masochi- er,...bootcampers were in the race. Once I get everyone's times, I'll post them. But I was looking through the results, and I saw several people from the club in the top 100, including Super-Trainer Matt, who cam in an impressive 75 in mens and 93 overall! Congratulations bootcampers! You worked hard and it paid off. You should be proud!

Let's Roll!

Also, this Saturday, Morrison Butler is taking Team KnuckleUp to Williamsburg for a grappling tournament. They've really been cleaning up lately, and I know we've all seen how hard they've been training. We have no doubt that they'll clean house at this one too. Good luck guys!

Also, this weekend I'll be talking to Devin Saylor. Devin recently joined the staff at KnuckleUp, and is starting the Outer Banks Paddle Board School. Follow the link to check out his Facebook page and make sure you hit the Like button! After I talk to him, I'll put up all of the details. This gives us yet another option for fitness on the Outer Banks.

All right guys, make sure you check back for the updates, and until then,

Hands Up, Chin Down!

If you like the photos above, then you should consider professional photography for your next big event.  We recommend the best Outer Banks Wedding Photographer for all of your professional photography needs.

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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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Master Kazeka Muniz. Notice the awesome gi.

Next Friday, October 15th, Master Kazeka Muniz is flying all the way from Palmdale, CA to teach a seminar in Norfolk. If you have any interest in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, or grappling in general, you really need to be at this seminar.

Why? Because Kazeka Muniz is the man.

If you know Chris Stolzman, you've probably heard of Kazeka. He's Chris' BJJ coach and used to work for KnuckleUp in Atlanta. He now runs a fitness center in Palmdale, Premium Fitness. And there's plenty more reasons he's awesome!

• He's a black belt under Carlos Gracie Junior at the Gracie Barra Academy.
• He trained with the Russian AND Georgian Olympic Wrestling teams.
• He coached the Cuban Olympic Wrestling team, including 4 gold medalists. He is still welcome on the mat with them at the Olympics.
• He coached both Michael "The Count" Bisping and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
• He trained at the Wolfslair.
• 2x World Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Champion.
• 5x Brazilian National Champion.
• He's gotten gold medals twice for Sambo.

Kazeka "demonstrates" a triangle on Chris.

Are those good enough reasons for you to hop in the car and take a ride to Norfolk? I was ready to go just because he's Chris' coach. The rest of it is just gravy. But really, Kazeka's achievements are pretty damn impressive.

So if you think you'd be into it, and if you read this far you probably are,  here are the details. The seminar is being hosted by Kobukan Karate and it is being held at the Norfolk Masonic Temple. The address is 7001 Granby street, Norfolk.

It starts at 7:30 PM. Bring your gi. Tickets are $10.00 for general admission, and $15.00 for hands on floor seating. Participants on the floor must be 8 years old or over.

So if you like grappling of any sort, there's no reason not to go.And even though you work out at the best fitness gym on the Outer Banks, it's still a great idea to see how other people are doing it.

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Christina and Aaron of OBX Massage Therapy

The Get Pumped for Pink 10K is coming up next Saturday. Have you registered yet? Make sure you do, it's going to be a blast! UFC veteran Junior Assuncao is going to run the race right off the heels of his seminar Thursday evening, which you also shouldn't miss.

And now we bring you news of another reason to come down and support the race. Aaron and Christina of OBX Massage Therapy will have their services on hand. Either before or after the race you can get a massage to get your blood pumped, or to relax sore muscles after the race. Or just get a massage because they feel really good!

Aaron and Christina will be offering massages by the minute. So whether you want a brief rub down to get you started, or a little work to get the knots out of a sore muscle, they've got you covered.

They'll be set up inside the club, and will donate a portion of the money to the fight against breast cancer.

Aaron and Christina own and operate OBX Massage Therapy, and provide a variety of at-home massage packages. They offer Swedish, deep tissue, facials and more. They also feature a range of bridal packages for both grooms and brides.

When the race is over, don't forget to cool down and work out the kinks with some light physical activity.  A great way to do it is with a few rounds of cornhole using some custom cornhole boards!

So come down to the gym a little early, or stay a little late, and ease your tired muscles. Running 10k is a perfectly valid reason to relax and pamper yourself a little bit, even if it's just a minute.

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