Martial Arts and the Annapolis area, IL MMA

Odd as it may be a lot of people over the years have asked me about Annapolis Maryland and why I choose to come here to open up an MMA academy. Funny as it may be I hadn’t planned on opening up shop here in Annapolis at all. I was going to relocate back to the Midwest and do some things there but things changed for the better…

Anyhow, below is the story of how Ivey League MMA came to be…

I was working for Master Lloyd Irvin at his academy in Camp Springs/Temple Hills Maryland. I was teaching most of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and nogi classes. It was December of 2007 and he told me it was time to get a move on and open up shop or at least see the world. At first I was kind of like “I think I’ll just do seminars and stuff like that all over the world for MMA and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”. At some point in January of 2008 I had lunch with Julius Park and he told me I needed to open my own academy, somewhere in Anne Arundel County. I’m glad I listened to him as it turned out to be great advise.

So then why Annapolis for MMA, BJJ and Kickboxing?

I chose Annapolis based solely on one experience. I was here back in I think January of 2007 and watched the Navy-Lehigh Wresting meet at the Navel Academy. After the meet I got to see the town some, saw downtown Annapolis like west street and the water and all that jazz. I liked it and thought it would be a good place to open a gym one day, because there wasn’t much here for MMA, Kickboxing or BJJ. A few places and they were doing a good job, I just felt that I could throw my hat in the mix too.

Phong “Pete” Do is a big reason for us being in Annapolis Maryland teaching MMA

My friend Phong Do really put the idea in my head that opening up shop in Annapolis Maryland would be a good idea. That plus talking with Lloyd Irvin and then Julius Park helped me stay on track to meet the goal of getting something in Anne Arundel County off the ground. One thing lead to another and boom, Ivey League Mixed Martial Arts was born on March 3rd, 2008 (2 days after Master Lloyd Irvin promoted me to the rank of Black Belt in BJJ). We owe a lot to Phong Do for pushing me to come here. Thanks man!

We taught classes at 2 different gymnastics centers while in Annapolis MD but in the end Severna Park proved to be the better area for overall Martial Arts and kids MMA classes so we moved to Severna Park, just 3 miles north of Annapolis. We’ve been here ever since (almost 2 years in Severna Park MD btw)

That’s the story, I hope all enjoyed it. Look for big news in the future from Ivey League MMA, proudly serving the needs of Annapolis MD and Anne Arundel County’s Martial Arts needs.