A few months ago, I happened to catch the UFC 145 fight between light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. I had always been more of a boxing kind of guy, but this fight was so fast and raw, and the hype around the match was so intense, I became immediately hooked.
These UFC fighters only wear gloves for protection and are allowed to kick, punch, elbow and knee the life out of each other until someone taps out. I didn’t just want to be one of those fans that follows stats and puts money on the next big fight though – I wanted to learn how to be Jon Jones. Apparently I wasn’t the only one, as it only took a small amount of digging before I found the Class One Mixed Martial Arts & CrossFit gym in Brooklyn.
Just a few steps away from the new home of Jay-Z‘s Nets, this gym specializes in Mixed Martial Arts – specifically Muay Thai, which is the most aggressive form of stand-up fighting. While it’s not fancy nor does it have a certain celebrity clientele like most fitness places in New York, this gym has a cult following of people interested in MMA. If you’re looking for a more thrilling workout than running in place and looking cute, this is the gym for you.
The real draw for me was that not only did you get trained in MMA, but Class One also includes a conditioning CrossFit workout that I was eager to try. While I wanted to learn how to make someone beg for mercy, little did I know CrossFit was out to do just the same to me. If you’ve ever attempted a session of CrossFit, you know it involves what seems like a detrimental amount of squats, kettle bell swings, and dead lifts. Sure, there’s been plenty of buzz about CrossFit lately, especially from the celebrity and corporate circuit (Jessica Biel, Jason Statham, Cameron Diaz and Reebok), but Class One delivers a straight to the point, unpretentious workout that delivers results.
For the ass-kicking skills see Class One trainers Luis Azeredo, Sam Gaberal and founder Ken Ng to master a mean roundhouse kick and elbow strike. These guys are not just trainers — Luis Azeredo, a former MMA fighter, is most noted for his decisive victory over Anderson Silva, who is considered pound for pound the best MMA fighter in the world.
Needless to say, after just a few weeks of classes, I’m fully confident I can get in that ring with any of those chumps – kidding! But really, Class One Mixed Martial Arts & CrossFit is definitely a fitness must-do – I’ll definitely be back for more.
