Melvin Vega is the new 2012 Golden Glove 108lb Open Class Champ!!!!!!!

On Wednesday, March 14th Rockaway Park resident Melvin Vega won the 108 pound open division of the famed Golden Gloves Amateur boxing tournament at the Empire Casino in Yonkers, NY. Vega took on a more experienced opponent in Daveshua Sepulveda from John's Gym in the Bronx who was this year's returning and reigning Golden Gloves champion. With Melvin being the underdog, though it was his 3rd attempt at the Golden Gloves championship, he showed great heart and tenacity while keeping his opponent on his heels. The open class competition for the Golden Gloves was a scheduled 3 round, 3 minute bout where both fighters put on a classic display of boxer versus puncher. Through out the fight Melvin was the aggressor, landing the more significant power shots in the 9 minute battle.

With his hard earned win this past Wednesday, it's hard to believe that just 5 days earlier Melvin debuted at the Friday Night Fights NYC Broad Street Ballroom show as a 115 pound amateur Muay Thai contestant. As with Wednesday, Melvin was victorious on Friday, March 9th with a dazzling non stop action filled performance using his Muay Thai skills aka "the science of the eight limbs".

Melvin is not only a devoted student and fighter representing CROM Martial Training but also an instructor at the facility. He looks forward to defending his title at next year's Golden Gloves Tournament as well as continuing his journey in Muay Thai boxing.

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.

What's new at CMT

NEW CLASSES & INSTRUCTORS AT CROM MARTIAL TRAINING

The new year is right around the corner which means only one thing...for those of you who have been grubbin' it up...STEP UP YOUR TRAINING...and for those of you have become one with the couch for the last few months- time to start fresh..at one of our new class offerings at CROM Martial Training!!


The MMA/BJJ program at CROM Martial Training is geared towards teen and adult students who are looking to experience a well rounded education in Mixed Martial Arts in a fun, yet safe learning environment. With this program you will be eligible for 2 MMA classes and 2 BJJ classes per week. See class description below:

Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes are taught by black belt and veteran MMA coach, Professor Clarence Everett. "Cee" is known for his comprehensive instruction and teaches the nuts and bolts of this very technical art. The objective of this class is to teach students the fundamentals in the art of “ground fighting”. Students will drill movements to learn how to get from position to submission, thereby constantly reinforcing the most efficient strategy for real life confrontations or for sport.
WHEN: Tues: 8:00-9:30pm & Thurs 8:00-9:30pm INSTRUCTOR: PROF CLARENCE EVERETT

MMA classes are taught by our head instructor, Chris Romulo, from a stand- up perspective, giving you all the tools necessary to stay on your feet and work your boxing and muay thai. This class will help bridge the gap between standup and ground fighting. CROM's MMA program will cover the basics of wrestling and jiu-jitsu while still adhering to our preference to "sprawl and brawl". 3 months striking/standup training is recommended for participation.
WHEN: Tues: 6:30-7:45 & Sat 11:30-12:30pm// INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS ROMULO


CROM FIT- Strength & Conditioning

CROM Fit is a Strength & Conditioning program created by our very own head instructor, Chris Romulo, to get in to optimal shape for his competitions. This program is comprised of tried and true old school training methods mixed in with cutting edge fitness exercises. Students build strength, flexibility, stamina, agility and balance through circuit style training that keeps one’s body guessing from work out to work out. The tools used include a mix of home made medicine balls, kettlebells, dumbells, climbing ropes, gymnastic rings, and chin up bars to give our students a back to basics, hard core work out. Students of all levels are welcome!
WHEN: Tues: 5:15-6:15 & Thurs 7-8 pm// INSTRUCTOR: CHRIS ROMULO

LADIES BOXING
This class is geared towards women looking to learn authentic boxing in a fun, safe and structured learning environment. Boxing not only offers benefits such as a well-toned body and increased stamina, but also the intense training will undoubtedly improve one’s determination, focus, patience and self-confidence. Students walk out of each class feeling empowered, confident and relaxed. Training involves skipping rope, bagwork, mitt work, various conditioning, and core exercises.
WHEN: Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30am// INSTRUCTOR: SARAH ROMULO

GET TO KNOW OUR INSTRUCTORS:

Since his involvement in Muaythai, Chris Romulo has won regional and national professional & amateur titles and has fought in Thailand in the IFMA-WMC World Championships. As a professional, he is currently the North American champion and continues to dominate the east coast's Muaythai middleweight division. Even with his success in Muaythai, Chris strives to live by the code of the Martial Artist. Deeming that competition should never be about personal conflict, but rather about the respect and the passion for learning and growing through Martial Arts. The valuable lessons that he has learned from years of training in the Martial Arts is what he anticipates to pass on to his students. Building a gym in the same community that he lives in has been Chris Romulo's ultimate dream. Chris sees this as a chance to work with the youth and give them opportunities that he wasn't exposed to growing up as a child.

Record: Professional Muay Thai: 13-1 (10ko)Amateur Muay Thai: 18-3-1

Titles:

2010 Professional Super Middleweight North American Champion

2004 Amateur IFMA-WMC Muay Thai World Cup Bronze Medalist

2004 Amateur WKA North American Muay Thai Champion

2004 Amateur WKA US National Muay Thai Champion

2003 Amateur WKA US National Muay Thai Champion

2003 Amateur WKA NY State Muay Thai Champion

Professor Clarence Everett

is the 1st American Black Belt

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under
Professor Alexander "Soca"

Freitas. Professor Everett also
earned rank in Kodokan
Judo and is a lineage
holder in Southern Chi-
nese Martial Arts.
Everett coaches MMA
competitors and has
served as a professional
corner-man for UFC fighters
Phillipe Nover & Dave Branch.



Eddie Marini has competed
in both amateur boxing
and muay thai and has
a great passion for the
martial arts, which gives
him great teaching skills.
Eddie has trained under
both Chris Romulo and
Jason Strout, and traveled
and trained through out
Thailand. He is currently
the North American Amateur
champion in his weight
class and holds a 3-1
record in amateur muay
thai and a 1-0 record in
amateur boxing.
Eddie teaches boxing on mondays at 6pm





Sarah Romulo, our ladies
boxing instructor, came
in to the sport 3 yrs ago
as merely an enthusiast
and desiring a better way
to get in shape, which
eventually turned in to a
need to test her skills
through competition.
Sarah encourages students
to not only get in the best
shape of their lives, but
have FUN while doing it!

We're almost there!!

They said we were crazy...they said we couldn't do it....they said we'd never amount to anything (well not exactly)......Ladies and Gentlemen...Exactly 1 month after signing our lease, CROM MT is cutting the tape tomorrow afternoon with a soft opening. A grand opening with a smoker and exhibition is slated for sunday, 11/21.

We have so many amazing students and friends that have given of their time and expertise. We are so thankful and can not wait to share our space with all of you to show all the blood, sweat, and tears (just a few) that have gone in to this joint.

Enjoy the new digs!!

CROM MT...A NEW BEGINNING

2010 has been a year that will leave a mark in our memories for decades to come. Though this year has not yet come to a close, we have one more vision that has begun to take shape. For as long as Chris has been teaching and studying martial arts himself, he has always wanted a place to call his own. CROM Martial Training has spent almost a year on Rockaway Beach making a name for itself. Within this year we have accomplished many goals and the ultimate has now become a reality.

Scheduled for November 1st, 2010, CROM Martial Training will open its doors to the Rockaways, NYC, and around in a new location that we can call home. We now have 1,300 square feet of space to fill with everything a martial arts, boxing, and physical training gym can have. Our space will be filled with a 16 x 16 foot ring, sitting as the centerpiece of CMT, and surrounded by top quality MMA mats. Lining the rest of the gym will be various muay thai and boxing bags just waiting to be broken in. Our strength and conditioning equipment will include home made medicine balls, kettlebells, dumbells, climbing ropes, gymnastic rings, and chin up bars which will supply plenty of tools for many of the new classes added to our roster. By mid November you can expect to see CROM MT operating 6 days a week, with new classes such as MMA, Women's boxing, and Strength and Conditioning for starters. Our goal is to provide old school training in a throw back gym balanced with the up-to-date fitness methods for no-frills results.

All this would not be possible with out the the help from students that we can now consider part of the CROM family! Big thanks to Chris & Brody Quinn, David Sanchez, Mike Sapirstein, Tom aka "Cloudy", Eddie Marini, Kieran Rogers, Charlie, and Roger Vargas.

CROM MT Summer Re-Cap

Summer 2010 wasn't a time for CROM Martial Training to slow down and take a vacation (although we did a bit of that)...It was a time for us to help our school make a name for itself. Sarah Romulo and David Vega stepped up to the plate and swung for the fences competing in 2 Friday Night Fight promotions this summer, in turn leaving behind 2 great performances in amateur boxing and muay thai.

David Vega stepped up on July 22nd for the Friday Night Fights promotion at the Broad Street Ballroom in Lower Manhattan. His opponent Ragello Castillo of Anderson's Martial Arts of NYC was a game competitor with already a couple of fights under his belt. David, with only less than a year of training was ready for the challenge. The fight started out aggressively on both sides with each of the fighters wanting to establish the pace. Vega came out first gaining respect with strong punch combinations followed with the lowkick. Castillo readily returned fire. As Vega set up great lowkicks, Castillo was forced to counter by catching and sweeping David Vega off of his feet, making it a hard round to judge. The second round Vega was able to counter Castillo's counter attacks with again, strong punch combinations and dominating in the clinch with powerful knees. With the 3rd round, each fighter knew this would be the deciding round for the victor. Vega turned up the attack, pushing Castillo back with heavy punches and a powerful push kick that sent Castillo in to the corner. A final dump in the clinch from Vega left him standing at the end of the bout with Castillo climbing to his feet.

With it being a very close bout, we were sure rounds 2 & 3 belonged to David Vega.
Unfortunately the judges saw it another way and Castillo walked away with the controversial split decision. Vega proved himself to be a very worthy newcomer with a set of skills that can only get better. We are proud of his effort and display of heart. We look forward to building his amateur career.












































Next up to bat, Sarah Romulo made her amateur boxing debut in the master's division with the Friday Night Fights, Rumble on The River boxing show located next to the world famous Intrepid aircaft carrier museum. The Rumble on The River boxing show attracts 2-3,000 people during their free summer events and Sarah Romulo was eager to make her presence known at this awesome venue. Sarah began her boxing training 2 1/2 years ago as a way to stay in shape and learn something she was always interested in. With Sarah being a natural competitor, her curiosity for the sport gradually became a desire to test herself. When she made the decision to jump in the ring and make her mark, she called on a great team of fighters out of Church Street boxing gym and Team Strout to help her prepare. She dialed up the notch on her training, making boxing not just a hobby, but now a lifestyle. With Sarah being part owner of CROM MT, this upgrade was challenging yet simple. Sarah incorporated not only boxing, but muay thai, strength and conditioning, and postcard perfect workouts in Rockaway Beach.

Sarah's opponent would be a recently turned masters boxer with golden gloves experience as her first test. Kaori Oiwa of Arden's Sweet Science in Brooklyn, NY was more than happy to make Sarah's introduction to boxing a challenging endeavor.

In the first round, Sarah and Kaori spent very little time feeling each other out. The pace picked up quickly as each fighter vied to establish the all important jab. Sarah's jabs were followed crisply with right hands to the head and body, and with Kaori being an experienced boxer she began to turn it up also, sensing she had her hand's full. Though the round was only 2 minutes long, the pace became furious, forcing the crowd to the edge of their seats. In the second round, with Sarah's first round jitters out of the way, the fight went in to overdrive. Sarah displayed a meaningful jab and decided to use her countering and effective combinations to keep Kaori on the defensive. In the 3rd round with the crowd now in a frenzy, both fighters felt the urge to not leave it in the hands of the judges. Sarah already countering Kaori's right uppercut, found more of a home in the 3rd round as her left hook was the icing on the cake for this battle. With both fighters landing heavy shots and feeling fatigued, Sarah was able to keep Kaori on the ropes and back peddling most of the 3rd round. The round ended with both fighters still throwing punches in the middle of the ring. With the crowd in a roar, Sarah Romulo was awarded a unanimous decision with a huge smile on her face and an even bigger smile in her husband's heart.