Mixed Martial Arts Head Instructor Robert Crawford

        Robert Crawford is considered to be one of the premier mixed martial arts, kickboxing and boxing trainers in the Baltimore Washington area. His resume is as complete and diverse as any mixed martial arts/boxing instructor in the country. His instruction focuses on training men, women, boys and girl who are at beginning or intermediate level in mixed martial arts but, as discussed below, Mr. Crawford students have gone on to compete in the upper elite among boxers and mixed martial artists in Maryland.

        Mr. Crawford has trained for more than thirty years in a variety of different disciplines, including Isshin Ryu Karate, for which he received a Black Belt in 1974 under 9th Degree Red Belt Steve Armstrong. Crawford also studied Hopkido in South Korea while in the military, and was a top ten karate competitor in the Northwest Region in the mid 70's. Additionally, he studied with Michael Lee, one of Bruce Lee's first students in Seattle, Washington in 1977, and still follows his training methods under Chris Sutton and Jessie Glover today. In the 1990’s, after watching the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

        In 2003, Mr. Crawford received his black belt from Roberto Marques Da Silva, known as the famed “Maguilla.” In 1991, with the help of Maryland Park and Planning as well as the Sugar Ray Leonard Gym, Mr. Crawford organized the Amateur Kickboxing Federation that provided safe competition for area youth of Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. Mr. Crawford was the Boxing Commissioner of The Laurel Boys and Girls Club from 1996 until May of 2003. He has been a licensed professional boxing trainer in Maryland, Washington DC, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nevada, Michigan, Texas, and Florida. He held his first Amateur Boxing Federation Coaching Certification in 1987 and has been a professional mixed martial artist for more than 30 years.

        Although Mr. Crawford focuses on begining and intermediate mixed martial arts and boxing instruction, many of his students have gone on to great accomplishments. students consist of William Joppy, Super Middleweight Champion of the World 38-4-1; Emil Baku, who boasts a 23-2 record for professional fights; Rufat Baku, with a 14-2 record in pro fights; Dwayne McRae, current Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champ; Tony Jeter, local middleweight with a professional record of 7-2; Thomas William, runner up to the ABF American Boxing golden gloves champ, and the list goes on but, more importantly, Mr. Crawford has trained hundreds of men, women, girls and boys who are beginners looking to add the discipline, self-defense skills, and fun that can be gained by participiating in mixed martial arts and boxing. His philosophy is that you are never to young, too old or ungifited physically to achieve great benefits from mixed martial arts, kickboxing and/or boxing training.

        If you are interested in learning more our our mixed martial arts program at Club One Fitness, call Christen Cunningham at 410-729-3900, email Club One Fitness at clubonefitness@earthlink.net or use this contact form to request further information. 

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