MUAY THAI FOR STREET OR SPORT- Daytime classes @ CMT!!

Reviews on CROM Martial Training

We can't thank our students enough for all the glowing reviews they posted on Yelp and various sites.  We truly value our community and the students who have become friends and family at our school.  We are truly blessed!!  

Here's a few:

Tricia C

I usually hate the gym.  I have a serious fear of exercise all together.  When I started this gym in January I was completely out of shape, had trouble with physical exertion, especially climbing a flight of steps, and was eating my way into plus sizes. However, I was hooked after my first ladies boxing class. I had never boxed before, I h

ad never even had a fight before, heck, I'd never even yelled at anyone before, but I didn't need any of those skills when I walked in.  I just needed to be ready for an hone

st workout.  I got that and so much more.  Now, not only am I returning two my 'two years ago' weight, but I am building stamina, boxing skills and self esteem with each session.  I truly value CMT because it has helped me to arrive at a place emotionally that I had lost all hope of finding!

Cortney W.

I have joined EVERY gym (yes every single one), but I have never, ever felt as comfortable nor at ease as at Crom Martial Training.  This family owned business is a great asset to all it's members and the community that it serves.  

I started with CROM when it was based in Manhattan.  I've recently returned to their Queens location and took a ladies boxing class.  I asked myself all throughout the class why I had left!   Sarah, is an exceptional teacher for the ladies boxing class.  She is patient, yet pushes you to give it your all.   The ladies in the class were all returning students who had a wonderful energy as well.  Chris is equally dedicated & also an excellent instructor.  He brings an expertise that is unparalleled.

CROM Martial Training is THE place to come to get in shape & stay in shape!  It is good for all ages, shapes, & sizes!

 

Jason A

Rockaway is its own little corner of New York; not really too far but often overlooked.  The beach and boardwalk are there, some great restaurants, and what seems to be a fitness revolution going on.  They just had a St. Patrick's Day 5K with local businesses participating, there're a few standard gyms and what looks like a great hot yoga studio.  All set against the surf.  If you let it, the whole neighborhood will let you feel like getting healthy.

At the center of it all is Chris Romulo's new, clean martial arts facility.  Though the space and the equipment are brand new, it's impossible to escape the gym's old school feel.  Even as you approach you can hear the sounds of the pads, the music, and the timer.  The fogged-up windows foretell what's waiting inside.

Six days of varied classes -- muay thai, boxing, and strength and conditioning, all taught by Chris or Sarah.  The kids' classes are affordable and everyone is included -- no one is stuck in a corner.  They learn discipline and respect not because it is drilled into their heads, but because they're learning from someone who is passionate about what he's teaching them.  There is a major difference between being forced to respect a person because "mom dropped me off here" and learning to respect a sport/art because of how much it has done for so many people.  Crom Martial training has it right.

The adults are the proof.  I suspect there will be a bunch more glowing reviews, but until that time I can tell you that over the years we've all seen Chris as teacher, fighter, and friend.  People have lost weight, gained strength, even worked through nagging injuries.  Some just wanted to be able to say they trained in muay thai, others in boxing or MMA, others want to get in the ring.  They all had to earn it.  Personally I am getting more into strength and conditioning lately and Chris is always learning more and teaching more.  This gym has olympic rings, kettlebells, even a large drum partly filled with water (my favorite -- hoist THAT over your head and keep it there, and every second is like 50 crunches).

Now with Sarah, an experienced boxer teaches the women's classes and has a devoted following.  Everyone is welcome in her classes and there is no barrier to entry.  The gym's entire vibe is welcoming, and it's no surprise that absolute beginners continue to come back.

I recommend you try it out on a weekend.  Take a class, hang around and talk to others, jump in the surf afterwards, go for a run if you still can.  It's a chance to be a part of something new and exciting.  Something hundreds of years old!  

Jerwin F

The training and atmosphere in the gym is just great because the teachers and students respect each other regardless if you've been training for a while or just starting. i have only been training since december but i have enjoyed every single training session i have had. chris and sarah are very nice people and some of the best trainers me and my wife have had in the martial arts world.

 Sony F.

 I love this place. I've trained at a bunch of different gyms in the city and Queens. Even though I am a part of a different stable, I try to stop by Crom Martial Training every chance I get! Chris is an amazing fighter/trainer: all you need to do is google his fights or see his students compete to know that. Even if you're not competition oriented, the classes are great to get in shape. Aside from that, the way that Chris and Sarah run the establishment is second to none. It's hard to describe, but CMT just has that... family feel. They are super welcoming and friendly. These are two people who truly love the sports of boxing and muay thai and it shows in their training, teaching and all the involvement Chris undertakes as one of our best ambassadors for the sport. The facility is also brand new and super clean, which is always a plus! I can't recommend this place enough! Give it a shot. After all "All it takes is heart"!!!  

Yoga at CMT

CROM is happy to present yoga to you on tuesday and thursday mornings at 9:30am.  Not many martial arts practitioners would think of using Yoga as a part of their training, but in actual fact the skills and attributes that you develop through the practice of Yoga are exactly the kind of thing that any sports person needs to develop, and are particularly important and relevant for something like martial arts.  Improve flexibility, balance, and focus by our attentive and experienced yoga teacher, Kevin Campbell.  Kevin is a Rockaway native and has trained in India and at many notable academies in the states.  All levels are welcome!

YOGA Tues/Thurs. 9:30-10:30am

$10/per class

OPEN LEVEL

CROM Martial Training 2nd Sparring Exhibition

Come watch our students test their skills and help CROM MT kick off it's 2nd year on Rockaway Beach!

ALL IT TAKES IS HEART!

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS NYC had its season opener for 2011 this past January 14th featuring a packed house with a full card of muay thai and amateur boxing. There were a lot of great pro and amateur match ups through out the night with our very own "Mr. Classic" headlining the show. Friday Night Fights NYC imported Alexandre Lavrushin with Cool Hearts Muay Thai out of Philly VIA Russia. Alexandre is a former national russian champion in Ashihara Karate while currently making waves in the muay thai world.

With both fighters understanding the international scope of this match up the fireworks were set off early in the bout. Chris came out as usual, trying to get a feel for his opponent with carefully placed shots and using his left leg as a rangefinder. Alexandre feeling the pressure of the foreign crowd wasted no time trying to set the pace. He brought his european style of muay thai with strong hands setting up his low kick attack. Chris felt comfortable working out of long range using his left leg and footwork to keep his distance. First round could have gone either way.

In the 2nd round the pace intensified as Alexandre ended the round with a strong right hand putting Chris on uneasy feet, backing him up against the ropes. Before the end of the round Chris was dropped with a furious flurry resulting in a standing eight count from his russian opponent. Making his way back to the corner, Chris was now behind in the fight. Both fighters came out in the 3rd round with a sense of urgency. Early in the 3rd round, Alexandre now in full throttle, landed a heavy left knee in the clinch on the chin of Mr. Classic, dropping Romulo to his knees for another standing 8 count. By the count of 6 Romulo was determined to finish what he started. Finishing the round, Romulo knew that there was only one way to win the fight.

Regaining his composure through the 3rd round gave Romulo the confidence necessary to go on the counter attack for the last couple of rounds. With his head now clear and Alexandre low on gas, Mr. Classic started to show how he earned his name. Staying technical and true to form, Romulo was able to start sending the Russian back on his heels and put the crowd on their toes. Romulo outlasted his Russian counterpart to the very last bell but unfortunately there wasn't enough time. Romulo lost an unanimous decision to the game Alexandre Lavrushin.

Mr. Classic put action behind his school's motto "All it takes is heart" on this evening and gave the crowd a performance they surely won't forget. With his 2nd loss on record, Romulo is eager to get back to the drawing board and make 2011 another year of representing muay thai to the fullest.

Another goal of Romulo's for 2011 is leaving his school's mark through his newly formed competition team. On January 15th, Melvin Vega fought his first official fight as a CROM Martial Training representative. Melvin Vega is a dedicated student of CMT training in all ranges proving himself to be a mixed martial artist. On saturday night at Gleason's he tested himself against yet another russian opponent, out of Fight Factory in Brighton Beach. Melvin came to CMT as an 0-1 boxer but that night he proved that he has learned a lot since his 1st loss. Melvin Vega proved to be more technical, in better shape, and with a bigger heart, outpointing his opponent for a majority decision. Vega showed why a consistent body and head attack is a crucial component to the sweet science. Congratulations Melvin- you've made CMT proud!

And finally, this saturday evening, 1/29/11 come out and support David Sanchez as he represents CROM Martial Training in his amateur debut Saturday 1/29/11 at Muay Thai Challenge War 5 at the World Wide Boxing Gym in the Bronx.

Date & Time: Saturday @ 1/29/11 - Doors open @ 6, Show begins @ 7:30

Location: World Wide Boxing Gym 3134 Jerome Ave. Bronx, NY

Ticket info: Available at the door for $35.

Chris "Mr. Classic" Romulo named WKA Fighter of the Month

I am blessed to start of the new year with such great recognition from the WKA as Fighter of the Month. The story below is copied from http://www.wkausa.com/fotm-moreinfo12.html
READ ON!....

Like many of our champions, Chris Romulo first became interested in traditional martial arts when he was a child. His father was a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and after many visits to the dojo, Chris decided to try it out at the age of eight: “I was hooked from the first day!” From there, Chris went on to practice his primary art, Muay Thai, as well as boxing, wrestling, BJJ, MMA, and Escrima.

Chris got into Muay Thai in 1996 under Sitsutam “Tommy Thai” Watcharanantakul, an ex-fighter from Thailand, under whom Chris first fought. Unfortunately, Watcharanantakul moved back to Thailand, forcing Chris to seek another trainer. Romulo then trained and fought under full contact champion Francisco Burgos. After a brief hiatus from training to spend time with his newborn son, Chris trained and competed for a couple years in shoot boxing under Geoff Roesch, finally returning to Muay Thai at Ultimate Gym under Ajarn Prasit Thong Dong from Saktaywan Muay Thai Camp in Thailand. However, after only one fight, Chris once again lost his instructor, as Ajarn Prasit left the US to go back to Thailand.

In 2003, a string of fortunate happenings led Duke Roufus student Jason Strout to New York. Romulo and Strout found themselves training side-by-side, and, recognizing the potential, Romulo asked Strout to stay in New York indefinitely to be his coach. The pair ended up at Church Street Boxing Gym, working together and developing Church Street’s Muay Thai program. An eight-year training relationship developed a trust and confidence between coach and fighter that helped Chris build his spectacular record of 18-3, with 7 KOs as an amateur and 13-1, with an amazing 10 wins by KO, as a professional. Chris cites Strout’s knowledge and skill as a coach as a major inspiration and catalyst to his own fighting and teaching.

About a year ago, Romulo opened his own gym, CROM Martial Training, to bring Muay Thai to a neighborhood in Rockaway beach that Chris loves but which, he admits, has few options for keeping youth off the streets and out of trouble. Chris’s impetus for much of his own program is to fill this need. He is a spokesperson for Bullying: We’re Kicking It!, and through this program, he speaks at many schools in New York and New Jersey, talking to kids about growing up and how martial arts helped him keep safe and focused. In addition to helping local youth find new paths, Chris wants to increase the prestige of his gym by providing quality training and developing a respected fight team.

Though running a gym and training fighters keeps Romulo quite busy enough, he endeavors to maintain the integrity of his school by continuing his own very successful fight career, fighting consistently despite his busy teaching schedule. He eagerly anticipates his next fight against Russian fighter Alexander Lavrushin on Justin Blair’s next Friday Night Fights card on January 14th, 2011. Later, he looks forward to rematching Canadian Alex Ricci, Romulo’s first and only professional loss and only loss by KO. Chris looks at this fight as a test of his immense growth over the past four years, when the two first fought.
Something that always stands out about Chris at fights is his performance of the Ram Muay and Wai Kru. Anyone who has seen this performance—or even a photograph of it—can tell that this is about more than just fighting to him. Says Chris of his own attitude to the sport and to competing: “I don’t look at competing solely as fighting. I view it as a true expression of my soul. I love to win, but more importantly I like to leave an impression. Like a painter, I always try to create the ultimate masterpiece on the canvas.”

Best of luck to Chris with his gym and his upcoming fights, and we eagerly look forward to seeing him defend his WKA Professional North American Middleweight Title, which he won over Sean Hinds in May of 2010.

CROM makes his return to the ring- Friday, January 14th, 2011

Mr. Classic is set to make his return to the ring where he will meet up with Russian champ Alexander Lavrushin on January 14th, 2011. Lavrushin is a well respected competitor from the Eastern block who is looking to leave a mark. CROM is prepared to welcome his opponent with heart felt intention in this muay thai battle.

WHAT: Friday Night Fights NYC Main Event
Chris "Mr Classic" Romulo VS. Alexander Lavrushin
WHERE: The Hall at St. Paul
Columbus Ave.@ 60th St.
WHEN: Friday, January 14th, 2011
Doors open: 7:30 pm
First bell: 8:00 pm
WHY: Come support an international showcase of talented fighters from the state and abroad.
HOW: Contact crom.mt@gmail.com for tickets