The Fighter’s Life 6.03.08: Combat Sports Center Profile
Posted by John Curry on 06.03.2008
411mania.com presents a new column in which we will profile one of the most important aspects of a fighter’s life, their schools. The schools are where fighters spend the majority of their time training for a fight so in order to give you a better look at the sport of MMA we will profile the schools in which they train so that when you read that certain fighter trains out of a specific school you will have the knowledge to understand what they are talking about and why it is important.
School Name: Combat Sports Center
Location: Combat Sports Center- Richmond
Gleneagles Shopping Center
10454 Ridgefield Parkway
Richmond, Virginia 23233
Combat Sports Center- Baltimore
Powerhouse Gym Essex
8502 Kelso Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21221
Phone: Combat Sports Center-Richmond: (804) 381-6098
Combat Sports Center-Baltimore: (410) 988-4541
Gym Information: The gym is a up and coming gym that has everything a fighter could ask for to improve their conditioning and training. It is located in a nice part of town with great visibility from the road. Many fighters, both professional and amateur have trained at this school. There is a large emphasis on the family style setting. All of the fighters at this school feel as if they are a family. The atmosphere is laid back but serious.
Weight Training Information: While the Richmond location does not provide much in the way of weight lifting equipment and focuses more on the actual combat training, the Baltimore location has a full scale weight gym that offers a collegiate style program referred to as the ACCS. The Richmond location does provide some hand dumbbells and lightweight barbells for the fighters to use, in addition to the full gamut of heavy bags. In addition to weight training the gym offers a standard size boxing/kickboxing ring to train in, two full size grappling/submission mats, plyometrics, and exercise bikes.
Style Information: The school offers various styles for their students to train in. The school offers a European influenced Muay Thai Kickboxing class (they have an exchange affiliation with a school in Holland), boxing classes, various submission grappling classes which include jui jitsu, sombo, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Combat Sports Center also offers Karate, and a MMA class which combines all of the previously mentioned styles.
Classes Taught: The school teaches classes in the above mentioned styles with a focus on age groups. The school has a youth striking and grappling program for children ages 4 ½ through 12 years old which focuses as much on proper behavior outside the school as it does the sport itself. Combat Sports Center also offers a women's self defense class.
Coach Information:
The information on the coaches is as follows and is courtesy of Combat Sports Center.
Brian Crenshaw: Muay Thai Kickboxing Instructor:
- American Open Style Karate - 1st Degree Black Belt 1976
- Shotokan Karate - 1st Degree Black Belt 1979
- Kyokusinkai Karate - 1st Kyu (Brown Belt) 1984
- AAU Karate-ka of the Year Award - 1979, 1980
- 3x AAU National Karate Champion - Kumite
- Winner PKA's 1st Full Contact Karate Match (Junior division) - 1976
- PKA Full Contact Karate (Featherweight division) record of 7-1-1 - 1976 to 1984
- US Kyokusinkai Knockdown Tournaments (Super lightweight) record of 3-0 - 1983 to 1984
- Unsanctioned Muay Thai and Kickboxing bouts
- USAWKF National Full Contact Sanshou Competition (54-60 kg) Silver medal - 1999
- Former instructor Moy Yat Ving Tsun School - Richmond, Virginia
- Former Instructor Francis Fong Martial Arts Academy - Atlanta, Georgia
- Instructor certification, Thai Boxing Association USA - Ajarn Surachi Sirisute
- Former Georgia State Chairman of the Thai Boxing Association USA
- Apprentice Instructor Jeet Kune Do Unlimited - Sifu Burton Richardson
- Black Sash/Instructor under Sifu Frances Fong Wing Chun
- Extensive training under the tutelage of Kru Vut Kamnark and Kru Sakasem Kanthawong
- WKA USA Representative - Professional and Amateur Muay Thai, Kickboxing , MMA and Submission Grappling
- WKA USA Coach Amateur Muay Thai and Kickboxing Team traveling to Austria, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain
- WKA World Representative over Ring Sports Division
Brian Crenshaw is the man behind many of the fighters I have listed. He is responsible for bringing Amir, Diesel and Jack Greene up in the sport. The best thing I noticed about Brian, in addition to his humor, is the heart that lies inside such a well trained fighter and coach. Brian is the man who saw something in Michael Goodman and took him under his wing. As a result of this tutelage, "The Kids" life did a complete 180 degree turn around. I applaud Brian for showing that teaching happens as much outside of the school and the classroom as it does in them. This is someone who sees the potential in fighters and is willing to train them and take them under their wing as a family.
Bertina Lee: Muay Thai Kickboxing/ Women's Kickboxing Instructor:
- Certified Muay Thai Kickboxing Instructor
- Apprentice Filipino Kali and JKD Instructor
- 3x WKA World Champion
- IKF North American Champion
- 4x WKA National Champion
- WKA Virginia State Muay Thai Champion.
While I did not speak with Ms. Lee when I entered the facility, I am not quite sure she would have talked to me if I tried. Determination is this woman's mantra. She is in the ring sparring, hitting heavy bags and jump roping. There is just something about the amount of power in her kicks that scares the hell out of me. Her credentials show her to be well qualified to train and as a result she trains the men as well as the women.
David Womack: BJJ Sombo/Submission wrestling Instructor:
Coach Womack's ranks.
- 5th Degree Black Belt in Sombo
- Black Belt in Judo
- Black Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Black Belt American Open Style Karate
- Coach Womack's Teaching experience:
Combat Sports Center 2006 - present
- Prodigy Martial Arts 2004 - 2006
- M.O.D. Martial Arts 2001 - 2004
- Prodigy Martial Arts 2000 - 2001
- McGhee Martial Arts Academy 1998 - 1999
- American Karate Center 1996 - 1998
- Day Cares and Recreation Centers 1997 - present
- Self-defense seminars 1997 - present
- American Family Fitness Center 1997 – 1998
Coach Womack is a guy who isn't afraid or above sitting down with you and explaining exactly what the submissions you are doing are, why they are used, and how to enact them. The man is just a presence in the room and a guy you would have no trouble drinking a beer with. On an interesting side note, David Womack is only one of three guys to have 3 black belts in his respected styles.
Fred Corritone: Youth Karate/Boxing/Kickboxing Instructor:
He founded the New York Karate-Boxing Athletic League in 1974, which has been represented by 58 rated fighters. Corritone's training has produced Golden Gloves Champions, Regional Star Champions, Police Olympic Champions, as well as U.S. and World Champions. Sensei Corritone has coached six U.S. teams for both national and international competitions. In addition, he has coached the NYPD boxing team.
Instructor Corritone holds a sixth-degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, and his 40-plus-year martial arts background also includes Arnis, Aiki-Ju Jitsu, Goju, Boxing, and Kickboxing.
Fighter Information:
Some the fighters to keep your eye on from Combat Sports Center:
Dwayne "Diesel" Shelton: A 5' 7" fighter on a good day with a 74" reach who has fought Din Thomas and Cole Miller in his first two professional fights. If he could find some fighters willing to fight him at 145lbs he would be a star but the entire division is afraid of him so he is forced to take fights at 155lbs.. Behind the fighter lies a great guy with a love for children. He is by far the most popular guy with the kids at Combat Sports Center.
Amir Sadollah: The lanky but strong MMA star who is currently fighting on The Ultimate Fighter with a humor to make anyone laugh (The guys Myspace page lists Optimus Prime as one of his Heroes.) With a 0-0 professional record Amir is often overlooked but anyone who saw his fight against Gerald Harris on TUF knows that he is ready to make his mark on the MMA world. Did you see Dana White praising the hell out of this guy? He deserves this praise. Amir came up through Combat Sports Center and look at where he is now. That is what you call results.
The Ultimate Fighter 7's Amir Sadollah
Danny Ivy: A hell of a great guy and a great grappler/submission artist. This guy has the passion, drive, physique and most importantly the personality to succeed at the next level.
Jack "The Ripper" Greene: Greene is one of those up and coming MMA fighters who's potential is through the roof. He is currently 2-0 as a professional and has won those fights in exciting fashion. If you don't believe me take a look.
Jack Greene Fight Video
Michael "the Kid" Goodman: This 17 year old prodigy is a testament to how the sport of MMA can change a troubled kid into a true man. This kid is phenomenal. When he turns 18 and is allowed to go pro he will be an immediate force in the sport. At 17 "the Kid" is already throwing full grown men around the cage without any trouble.
Michael "The Kid" Goodman
Bertina Lee: With the increased interest in the women's MMA it will not be long before they come knocking on Ms. Lee's door. This woman scared me enough not to approach her at all. The kicks and punches she delivered were on par, if not better, with men. The determination in her face shows that she does not play games, not in practice and definitely not in competition.
Famous Fighters who pass through:
- Randy "The Natural" Couture
- Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk
- Pat Miletich
- Jens "Little Evil" Pulver
- Brandon Vera
- Buddy Lee
Overall Thought about School:
While to the untrained eye the school would seem small but it is the atmosphere and quality that allows it to compete with the larger mega-schools. The school is a relaxed and full of personality. The school is what MMA is really about, the family that these schools form. The personalities all vary in many ways and the stories are all exciting. I sit listening to the stories that the students told clinging on their words in hopes the story wouldn't end. If there were a reality show that just focused on these guys and their school, the world of MMA would be changed forever for the better, namely the fans understanding of the MMA life. The students, while the majority of the school's focus, are not the only thing that contributes to this school. The coaches are personable and knowledgeable. In addition to this they are not above helping their students succeed. They are willing to get on the mats and in the rings to roll around or hold pads rather than stand around holding stopwatches. Everyone here feels the need to help each other in any way they can and no one is above their positions. Brian Crenshaw holds pads just like the next guy. David Womack rolls with his fighters and me just like they were brothers. The one aspect I was really impressed with involved watching Sensei Fred Corritone's youth striking class which had more of an emphasis on the respect and confidence development of the students rather than the aggression of the sport. This class offers the full spectrum of what the martial arts are all about, teamwork, discipline, confidence, honor and respect. Overall, there should be no hesitations about a fighter wanting to train for any aspect of MMA at this school.
For more information on the fighters and the school check out Combat Sports Center's Website
Combat Sports Center Commercial
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