New Youth Boxing Classes Have Arrived!

We have officially added Youth Boxing Classes age 5-14 to our roster of programs here at Level Up!

The classes are on Wednesday and Friday from 6:30pm until 7pm. During the class the students will begin with an active warm to prepare for class. The warm up is important as it gets the blood flowing and prevents injuries.  During class we will go over specific technique, then turn that technique into a workout. The workout portion is either done on the Heavy Bags or on the Focus Mitts with an instructor. As our program grows we will offer adavanced classes as well. This class is for all levels. So if you are looking to help your child build confidence, learn to defend themselves, and just be generally active this is a great program for them. 

 

“Our focus is to give youth a positive environment to grow in. We want to be in contact with parents and stay up to date with how school is going and be sure to assist in any way we can. As the program grows we will offer after school programs as well.”   

 

coach j and patrick

 

If you think your child could get on to the path to competition one day, we can guide them there as well.

Coach Jason has a group of young men that began with him as teenagers that are very promising fighters now. Including WKA National Kickboxing Champion Jared Tipton. When Jared first began training he was very quiet and shy. Not the type of personality you would peg for a fighter. Jared came everyday, trained hard, asked Coach Jason to fight, and has been on a roll since. Later this year Jared will travel to Italy to fight for a World Title at the WKA World Championships. Jared is only 20 years old and has limitless possiblities going forward at a young age. 

 

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Jared & Coach Jason

 

This and all of our programs are offered to you for 30 Days Free! Come in and let the training speak for itself. We guarantee you’ll love it! 

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2 Fighters 2 Victories At Lion Fight 17

I had to take a couple weeks to get my thoughts together for this blog. The events that took place, and the road to get there still seem surreal. My journey as a Martial Artist began 28 years ago. Although I’m nowhere near where I would want to end my journey, if I was hit by a bus tomorrow I’d have no regrets. I’m so proud of what my team has done in this first year. My ambition to be a major part of the growth of Muay Thai and Kickboxing here in America drives me to take on more than I probably should. Knowing that I have the Level Up Team behind me every step of the way makes it all possible. I’m honored they put their faith in me to lead them into all the craziness I seem to get us into.

Taking It All In

Taking It All In

 

I joined an MMA gym in 2006. MMA and BJJ were the programs that got the most attention. It always felt like the Muay Thai program was like the step kids in the family (haha) So I decided that I would help to lead the way for Muay Thai here in Maryland. In 2008 I was given the opportunity to Teach Muay Thai at two gyms. I spent 5 years building those programs to the best of my ability. In the end I still felt like I wasn’t able to push the program forward the way I wanted. So in July of 2013, I started running classes in my hometown of Bowie, MD. August 1st became our official opening of Level Up. In that time we have had over 30 fights, won 3 National Titles, and had 3 fights on Lion Fight, and on our 1 Year Anniversary, August 1st 2014, Jared and Pat fought and won on Lion Fight 17.

 

Your Winners

Your Winners

 

We drove down the night before weigh ins so we could wake up in Connecticut Thursday morning and cut any weight that needed to be shed. We checked out of our hotel and headed over to the Foxwoods Spa. Around 1pm we went down to check the guys weight on the official scale. Both fighters were on so we went to check into our room at the Two Trees Hotel. Weigh Ins went pretty quickly, after you could find all the fighters munching on whatever they had with them until they saw the doctor.

In what definitely rates high in being one of the coolest moments of the weekend, I got a text from Kevin Ross asking how the guys were. We were headed to get food and invited him to come with. He graciously accepted so we scooped him up and headed to Koto our favorite Habachi restaurant near the Casino. We have a ritual of seeing a movie after weigh ins, so the 4 of us shot over to the local theater and caught Guardians of the Galaxy. Just when you think Kevin Ross can’t get any cooler, he buys all of our tickets to the movie. I’m forever grateful to Kevin for hanging out with us. They always say “never meet your heroes”, I can tell you that if Kevin is one of your heroes you will not be disappointed, and if he isn’t one of your heroes he should be. I know it meant so much to Jared and Pat. It was a genuinely cool move from a genuinely cool guy.

Chillin With The Prez

Chillin With The Champ

 

Fight day we pack up what we need and head to the venue. We were able to share our warm up area with our friends Jeremy Carper and Jessica Palencer from West Virginia. Jessica stepped up late to take a fight at a lower weight class than she has ever fought, and went out there and fought her as off. We were all very proud of her.

DMV Crew

DMV Crew

Jared was first up for us for the night. Jared is a tenacious fighter. He is building a reputation for his non stop action performances. He rarely ever stops coming forward, and if he does, it’s only to give his opponent an opportunity to miss before his next onslaught. In the end Jared won a unanimous decision. Jared displayed all his weapons, big punches, hard low kicks, vicious clinch knees, and when the dust settled, his hand was raised. I’ll let the incredible work of our friend Dan Eric tell the story.

Patrick would headline the amatuer undercard against a game Nathaniel King. Patrick fought a very smart fight as he always does. Picking his shots carefully, landing clean punches and hard low kicks. We are big fans of catching kicks and dumping people at Level Up. It’s become part of Patricks signature in all his fights. If you like to throw body kicks, you can count on ending up on your back. Kevin Ross is one of the best in the biz, and someone we study regularly. At dinner the night before Pat told Kevin that “when” he got a big sweep he planned to find Kevin in the crowd and pay him respect. Pat was able to sweep Nate a few times but one was super clean, and Patrick seized the moment to honor his word. Kevin smiled from the crowd, noded, as in to say good job, now get back in there! In the end Patrick would also be awarded a unanimous decision Win. Again, Dan’s pictures tell the story better than I do.

 

 

To have a night like this on our one year anniversary is more than I can ask for. As I sat there ringside watching the Pro Card, I couldn’t believe what we had done. This first year has been a constant grind. We are all hungry lions with insatiable appetites. We are on the hunt for whatever it is we want of life. I’m excited to see where we are a year from now.

The Ayy Team

The Ayy Team

 

Thank you for all your continued support. I know that none of this is possible without the love and support of EVERYONE at Level Up!

Thank you to Scott Kent and Christine Toledo for giving us the opportunity. The work these two have done with Lion Fight and for the sport of Muay Thai is incredible.

Kevin - Christine - Scott

Kevin – Christine – Scott

Thanks El Presidente!

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Thank you to our sponsors!!

Ink Generation – The Best Screen Printers in the Game!! Check out their website –>HERE!<–

ink gen

 

DipGrips – This home workout tool is revolutionary!! Available right on –>Amazon.com/dipgrips<–

 

Dapper Getup Apparel – Check out their fresh gear right –>HERE!<–

 

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Urban Ninja Apparel – Check out their T’s –>HERE!<–

 

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Roosters Nest Novelties – For Sponsoring JaredCheck them out HERE!

 

roosters

 

 

NEW BoxFit & KickFit Classes Have Arrived!

Over the next couple of months, we will be adding tons of NEW Classes here at Level Up!!

If you have not heard yet, we recently took over the entire facility. So it’s time to fill this place up with classes and with people looking to get in shape, and have fun while they do it! Two of the new classes we will be adding are BoxFit and KickFit

 

“What is BoxFit?”

BoxFit is a 30 Minute Intense Cardio work out that concentrates on the movements, muscle groups, and endurance you need for Boxing. We will incorporate different footwork, bag work, and calisthenic drills to increase your endurance and overall Boxing skills.  

 

boxfit

 

 

What you can expect to work in BoxFit

  • Biceps and Triceps
  • Shoulders/Lats
  • Chest & Back
  • Core / Abdominals
  • Lower Leg Muscles / Calves

 

 

“What is KickFit?”

KickFit, much like BoxFit, is a 30 Minute Intense work out concentrating on the movements, muscle groups, and endurance you need for Muay Thai and Kickboxing. For Muay Thai and Kickboxing, you need a strong core and muscle endurance. This class will incorporate different kicking techniques and drills to not only increase your ability to maximize your output of kicks per round but also burn tons of calories in a short amount of time. 

 

kickfit

 

 

What you can expect to work in KickFit

  • Core / Abdominals / Obliques
  • Quadriceps
  • Hamstring Strength
  • Glutes
  • Calves
  • Shoulders
  • Neck Strength

 

What YOU Gain from both of these classes!

  1. Burn Max Calories in Minimum Time
  2. Increased Stamina
  3. A More Defined Physique
  4. Increase In Confidence 
  5. Boost In Energy Levels Throughout The Week

 

If you’re a Current Member, on your 30 Day Free Trial, or havn’t started you’re training with us yet, come check out these ALL NEW Classes!! 

BoxFit – Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5pm-5:30pm

KickFit – Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5:30pm-6pm 

Starting August 26th

 

 

Early Morning Yoga Classes At Level Up?? You Decide!!

We are thinking of adding in Yoga in the mornings and possibly in the afternoon as well! Hit the poll and let us know if you’d be interested!!

 

Team Level Up! 

 

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We Have Showers!

The showers are no officially complete and ready for use!

 

 

This is exciting as it opens the possibilty to add more classes as well. We would like your input. The plan is to add 2 morning classes to begin with. We are thinking 6am or 6:30am. To begin we would hold the classes either Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday. As attendence grows in the morning we will eventually run these classes Mon-Thurs. To start which of these would you prefer?

 

 

[polldaddy poll=”8241492″]

 

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2 Fighters From Level Up On Lion Fight 17!

Jared makes his Lion Fight Debut, and Pat returns as the Amatuer Card Main Event!

lion fight full card

 

August 1st Lion Fight Promotions will run their second East Coast card featuring some of the Best Muay Thai fighters the East Coast has to offer. Including our very own Jared Tipton and Patrick Rivera. The event takes place at the illustrious Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. Patrick fought and won on LF’s first East Coast show. We are very excited to have back on a Lion Fight event. For those who don’t know, Lion Fight is the premier Muay Thai organization in the World. Fighters from all over the globe are hoping for a chance to be a part of these incredible events. This is a huge step forward for Muay Thai, the East Coast, and Level Up! 

pat and jurt

 

Lion Fight runs the majority of their shows in Las Vegas. They recently signed a deal to run multiple events with Foxwoods giving fighters from this side of the US a chance to shine. It is of utmost importance that we support this show every time! Without them there is no great stage for all our hard work to be displayed. The fight game is a Team effort. Everyone involved is important. The promoters of these events need us to spread the word and bring as many people to cheer on our fighters as posisble. Just like we need our fighters to work hard in prepartion for these tough fights. 

At Level Up we need the SUPPORT of YOU!! Our loyal teammates. To make sure Lion Fight is succesful and continues to return to the East Coast, we need to sell tickets to this amazing show!! Even if you can’t make it, show your support of Pat and Jared and pick up a ticket! Lets show Lion Fight we are not only a vicious Fight Team, but more importantly a Family the supports each other! 

The tickets are $55. We have a few different people driving up, so we can help get people together for car pooling. Just speak to Coach Jason about getting teamed up! If you can help out by buying a ticket, but can’t make it up to the show, NO WORRIES!! Coach Jason will be running a seminar in September going over some new things he picked up on his trip to California. Your ticket gets you into that seminar for FREE! The seminar itself will be $60. 

 

We will have Walkout T shirts for Pat and Jared also. If you would like one they will be $10 per shirt. We have been fortunate to have some amazing sponsors join the cause to help these young athletes move forward with their careers! 

walkout shirt

 

Thank You to our Sponsors!!

Dipgrips

 

 

Dapper Getup

 

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Ink Generation

 

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Urban Ninja

 

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Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support!!

Attacking The Rear Leg From A Southpaw Stance

In this video we review how to attack your opponents rear leg, and its effectiveness. The rear leg doesn’t see the day to day punishment your lead leg does. So for many fighters it’s not as well conditioned. This is a great way to end a fight quickly if you know how to attack it properly. We have a Low Kick system that we teach in our Muay Thai and Kickboxing Classes here in Bowie Maryland thats designed to damage opponents quickly. Understanding when and why to do certain things makes a huge difference. Anyone can learn to throw a kick. When, why, and where is the difference between a good fighter and a great one. Understanding how to fight a Southpaw, or as a Southpaw is another factor. The beauty of a Southpaw vs Orthodox fighter is there are set parameters based off how you square up. Understanding these parameters can  simplify your strategy to win.

 

 

Thepnimit Sitmonchai aka Mr Knock aka Jun is well known for his finishing abilities, as you can see in this video. He is one of the best Southpaw fighters in the World. Our Head Coach Jason Farrell  was fortunate to train with Thepnimit for a few weeks in Thailand and get a better understanding of his devastating style. Jun makes his Lion Fight Debut August 1st 2014 at the Foxwoods Resort in CT. For more info on learning REAL MUAY THAI IN MARYLAND contact us at any of the options below.

 

Call us at : 240.206.8505

Email us at : levelupboxing@gmail.com

Visit our website at https://www.levelupgym.com

Or just stop by and see the facility in person

4891 Telsa Dr. Suite G
Bowie MD, 20715

Level Up Fights For America

Three of our fighters from Level Up have been selected to compete at the WKA World Championship Tournament in Tuscany Italy. Patrick Rivera, Luther Smith, and Jared Tipton will be looking to bring three World Titles back to Maryland. Coach Jason Farrell will also be traveling with them  to Coach for Team USA. This is an amazing opportunity for Level Up. We are fortunate to have Ink Generation sponsor us in effort to help make this trip possible. All the proceeds from the sales of this shirt goes directly to getting the guys to Italy. 

Our Fighters & Eze Of Ink Generation

Our Fighters & Eze Of Ink Generation

We Have Youth Large & Medium Available

We Have Youth Large & Medium Available

 

As you can imagine sending 4 people to Italy is not cheap! With your support, and the support of our sponsors we can get these guys there! The shirts are $20 and can be ordered at the Urban Ninja Shop online, or you can pick them up at Level Up in Bowie Maryland. 

 

Coach Jason & Eze

Coach Jason & Eze

 

Our deepest gratitude to Eze Cembalo of Ink Generation for his more than generous donation to Level Up. Ink Generation is the best Screen Printing Shop in Maryland and can print short and large runs of T shirts. Their customer service is the best we have ever experienced. Eze’s attention to detail and commitment to quality makes him stand out among other printers. He has been a pleasure to work with over the last year and in that time has become a true friend to Level Up. 

 

For Screen Printing Contact Ink Generation 

By Phone – 443.254.8655

By Email – eze@inkgeneration.com

Visit Their Site – Inkgeneration.com

Level Up Sparring Event

This Saturday May 31st at 3pm we will be holding or second Sparring Event here at the gym. The idea behind these sparring sessions is to help students that are planning to compete get out of their comfort zone a little and get a taste of what competition will be like. There will be no winner announced. Again this is soley for experience. Part of making this experience special is getting a chance to spar in front of friends and family. So please feel free to invite them! They will be your biggest supporters through out your career, show them what all those hours at the gym have done for you.

 

We will weigh all particpants at 12pm. Just to make sure everyones weight is close for match up purposes. Sparring will begin at 3pm, so everyone has plenty of time to eat and warm up. We will let each group go for 3 rounds, each round will be 2 minutes in a controlled environment to ensure safety.

 

We will be accepting $10 donations from guests. This money will go towards getting 3 of our fighters to Italy in October for the WKA World Championship Tournament.

 

Also you’ll get a chance to meet two special visitors at the weigh ins. Glory World Series Welterweight Fighter Francois Ambang, and Pro Kickboxer Brandon Mickens who faces Rami Ibrahim at Combat at the Capitale next month!!

 

Thanks for your support!

Coach Jason

sparring event

1st Muay Thai Fighter From Maryland Wins At Lion Fight

This past Friday May 23rd, Level Up took another huge step.

Patrick Rivera, would become the first fighter from Maryland to fight in the biggest Muay Thai promotion in the world. Lion Fight has run all their shows until now in Las Vegas. There was whispers that they planned to run a show on the East Coast, the excitement was in the air. This show has quickly become the equivalent of the UFC to MMA fans. So far Lion Fight Promotions has run incredible shows starring the American Pioneers of the sport, as well as big name fighters from all over the World. This event would take place at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. The card would feature some of Lion Fight and Muay Thai’s brightest Stars, including Jason Andrada, Cosmo Alexander, Tiffany Van Soest, and Kevin Ross. The East Coast has a thriving Muay Thai scene, between New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Virginia, you can find some high level fighting. Having Lion Fight come to the East Coast proved to be a monumental step in not only the state of the sport here on the East Coast but also for the sport in general.

 

The instant we heard that the show was definitely coming to the East Coast Coach Jason contacted Lion Fight. After a few emails, we were in. We drew a tough opponent from New York named Pawel Zawistowski. Pawel was listed as 13-2 with 8 Knockouts. Pat has only 6 Muay Thai and Kickboxing fights. With a record of 4-2. The last fight Pat had was at WKA nationals and was a controversial Decision loss. Coach Jason believes that Patrick is one of the future stars of Combat Sports and wanted him to get right back in the ring. When this opportunity presented itself, it was a no brainer. We had some bumps a long the road in training camp. Patrick injured his knee, and a few days later caught the flu which had him in bed and out of training all together for 5 days. We knew these variables would add extra pressure, but didn’t want to miss out on being a part of this historic event. We also had 40 people committed to coming up to support, so we couldn’t let them down.

 

cover pic

 

On fight day we would report to the dressing room area at 5pm. The dressing rooms, were literally dressing rooms for performers. The room we were in was pretty small. At first it was just us and another Amatuer fighter from the undercard. By 6:30pm, the room would fill up with Lucy Payne and her Coach, Chris Mauceri and his Corner men, and Mark Holst and his team. We did our best to warm up in the space we had. Before we knew it, the time had come to make our way upstairs. This would be the biggest venue Patrick has fought on to date. He made the adjustment to the crowd and the lights quickly after we were able to find where our team was located in the stands.

 

 

Once the fight began Pat would work through his punching systems, landing big shots in combination. Mixing in the the kicks to put an exclamation on his work. We knew that Pawel likes to stalk, so we used footwork to find angles after Patricks combinations to keep Pawel from being able to get set for returns. Toward the end of the first round Pat caught a lead leg kick from Zawistowski and swept him off his support foot. Round two was more of the same. Pat landing big punches, as well as some well placed low kicks to both legs. Closing in on the end of the second round Pat was also able to land a clean head kick. Seeing that we were up two rounds, the call was to play it safe in the third. Pawel has knocked out 8 people, and is known for being aggressive. So Patrick used his footwork and movement to stay busy without getting drawn into a last round slugfest. We would give the third round to Pawel based on his activity level. Two rounds to one secures us the fight. Two judges saw it that way, one did not. Patrick Rivera would be awarded a split decision victory.

 

 

We can’t thank Lion Fight Promotions enough for the opportunity to be on this historic event. This was a huge step for our gym. We have been open less than a year, in that time we have accomplished a lot, this being one of our highest achievements. We are thankful to Work Shop and Pawel for giving us a tough fight. We’d also like to thank everyone that came to support Pat in this adventure. Also to INK Generation for printing our shirts, which as always were a big hit. We’d also like to thank Steve Bauzen for catching each moment with these incredible photos

 

Up Next we have Patrick and Jared making their A Class rules Muay Thai debut at Warriors Cup in New Jersey June 14th!!

The Warriors Cup

The Warriors Cup