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 HOLDS A MID WINTER SPARRING EXHIBITION AND FUNDRAISER FOR THE CRUSH CANCER FUND FOR CLARE ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012

NEW YORK (Rockaway Beach) – February 28, 2012
Chris & Sarah Romulo, Muay Thai instructors and owners of CROM Martial Training held a Mid-Winter Sparring Exhibition and Fundraiser for the Crush Cancer Fund For Clare on Sunday, February 26^th.

The event included a Muay Thai boxing exhibition with the children from their youth program aged 8-14. Chris Romulo, a recently retired Muay Thai champion displayed the art of Muay Thai through the Martial Art’s distinctive pad work training. The students also demonstrated fundamental techniques in a sparring scenario and showed great skill and heart, which are synonymous with Muay Thai Boxing; the most distinguished Martial Art in the world! Sarah Romulo followed up the show with a pad work demonstration with Ladies’ Boxing student and Belle Harbor resident Amanda Boggiano. Sarah and Amanda displayed grace, beauty and teamwork with their demo of this unique fighting art. The expo took a step to the next level half way through the show when 8 adult Muay Thai sparring matches took place with students from CROM Martial Training (Rockaway Beach), Evolution Muay Thai (NYC), Church Street Boxing Gym (NYC), Coban’s Fight Camp (NYC), Lion’s Roar Muay Thai Camp (The Bronx), and The Mayo Academy (Ozone Park).

Legendary Muay Thai kickboxer and World Champion Coban Lookchaomaesaitong was in attendance with fighters from his camp. Coban, being the Muhammad Ali of Muay Thai was a treat for all the students to meet being such a great ambassador for their sport.

All the students who stepped in the ring tested their skill for a good cause! CROM Martial Training raised a generous amount for The Crush Cancer Fund for Clare Droesch through a raffle and cupcake bake sale. Clare Droesch is a lifelong Rockaway Resident, and at only 30 years old is suffering from stage 2 Breast Cancer which has unfortunately metastasized to her spine, and hip. Clare is an amazing person, highly respected basketball player (Christ the King, Boston College, etc.) and known for always helping others, and our community.

4 lucky winners were awarded with one of the following prizes:

1. A 1 month all inclusive membership to CROM Martial Training

2. A private training session with Chris Romulo

3. A t-shirt and $50. gift card from East Coast MMA in Rockville Center

4. 2 tickets to Friday Night Fights NYC Pro Muay Thai matches on March 9^th, 2012

Donations for Clare Droesch can continue to be dropped off at CROM Martial Training Monday- Friday from 5 to 9pm and Saturday from 10am-1pm. Checks should be made out the The Graybeards with Clare Droesch’s name in memo section of check. No amount is too small!

CROM Martial Training is located at 92-07 Rockaway Beach Blvd Rockaway Beach, NY 11693

For more info please visit www.crom-mt.com

Chris Romulo's Interview in Runner's World!

Click here to read up on Chris' interview in Runner's World article "Running is the Foundation"

Chris explains how running has roots in a more stand-up fighting style, such as Muay Thai . Chris states his opinion and remarks on how he advises his students to incorporate running to improve one's overall cardio.

Sparring Exhibition/Smoker this Sunday 2/26 at CROM Martial Training in Rockaway Beach!!!!

Come check out our 1st sparring exhibition of 2012... all donations and proceeds for our raffle will fund the Crush Cancer Fund for Clare Droesch. Please show your support! There will also be a bake sale with yummy home made cupcakes!

You can expect to see fighters from Coban's Muay Thai Camp, Evolution Muay Thai, Lion's Roar Muay Thai Camp, and The Mayo Academy this sunday, 2/26 starting at 2pm! Come through and support the art of Muay Thai!

Raffle tickets are on sale at CMT for 5bux a pop ALL WEEK in order to support the CRUSH CANCER FUND for CLARE DROESCHE...

Prizes include:
An all inclusive 1 month membership to CMT
A private training session with "Mr. Classic" either in NYC or Rockaway
... 2 tickets to the March 9th Friday Night Fights show
Tee shirt and gift card to East Coast MMA

We will draw 4 winners this Sunday 2/26 at CMT!

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!

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.

CHRIS ROMULO: WKA PROFESSIONAL SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION!

MAY 14, 2010 CHRIS "MR CLASSIC" ROMULO DEFEATS SEAN HINDS AT THE FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS SERIES HELD AT THE LEXINGTON ARMORY, NYC

From the opening bell, Romulo changed up his rhythm, coming out aggressive and setting the pace for the remainder of the fight. Hinds attempted to impose his will on Romulo, but good defense and strong countering attacks slowed down Hind's game plan significantly. As the fight went on, Romulo proved his skill by utilizing his weapons: powerful jab hook combinations, left leg body kicks, and acrobatic sweeps.

Many had Romulo pegged as the underdog in this fight, but as each round progressed, CROM displayed with skill, sharp technique, and a good game plan, he was the better man on this night.

Romulo earned bragging rights for NYC along with the title of WKA Professional Super Middleweight North American Champion.

CROM WINS VIA 5th ROUND KO

CHRIS "MR. CLASSIC" ROMULO DOES IT AGAIN!!

HIJAZI LIVED UP TO THE HYPE. THE YOUNGER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE FIGHTER CAME OUT GUNS BLAZING. HIJAZI SET A HIGH PACE AND CAME FORWARD THE ENTIRE FIGHT WITH BUSY HAND COMBINATIONS AND A STRONG CLINCH GAME. ROMULO WAITED PATIENTLY, CAREFULLY CHOOSING HIS SHOTS. WHILE LOOKING FOR OPENINGS, HE PICKED HIJAZI APART AND LANDED THE HARDER AND MORE DAMAGING BLOWS.

AFTER 4 ROUNDS OF A HIGH LEVEL CHESS MATCH, MR. CLASSIC KO'S HIJAZI VIA HEADKICK, ENDING THE FIGHT IN 1:08 OF ROUND 5.

CHECK MATE.