About Crazy 88 MMA
About Crazy 88 Mixed Martial Arts
Train Like a Champion, Belong Like Family
Crazy 88 Mixed Martial Arts is a Maryland martial arts academy founded in 2005 by Julius Park. We teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, MMA, and kids martial arts at three locations: Elkridge in Howard County, Owings Mills in Baltimore County, and Severna Park in Anne Arundel County.
Battle-tested & Proven
Our Story
Crazy 88 opened in 2005, when Julius Park began teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to a handful of students. He had been coaching since 1999, when he ran the jiu-jitsu club at Cornell as a blue belt under Renzo Gracie, and he opened the academy for a straightforward reason: he wanted to train more often, with more partners. He earned his black belt from Lloyd Irvin in 2013.
Twenty-one years later, that room has become three academies across the Baltimore and Annapolis corridor, with full-time professional coaches teaching classes seven days a week. Our athletes have competed in the UFC, medaled at IBJJF Grand Slam events, and cornered on international cards.
The number we are proudest of is quieter than any of that. We are now teaching the children of students who walked in during our first few years. Twenty-one years of continuous operation, three counties, and a second generation on the mats is the record that actually describes us.
Ready to join the family?
Life-changing benefits
Why Students Choose Crazy 88
Structured Training
Curriculum-based programs with scheduled performance reviews, so you always know what you are working on and where you stand.
Elite Instructors
Full-time professional coaches who are background checked, First Aid certified, and still competing or cornering.
Welcoming Culture
Beginners, teens, parents, career professionals, and pros train in the same building, on classes matched to experience level.
Proven Track Record
Home to Grand Slam medalists, UFC athletes, and thousands of transformed students.
Looking for a better experience?
How Crazy 88 Compares
| Benefits | Crazy 88 | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Facilities | ||
| Professionally Cleaned | β Yes | π No |
| Professionally Maintained | β Yes | π No |
| Dressing Rooms | β Yes | β Some |
| Private Training Room | β Yes | β Some |
| Gear Available on Site | β Yes | β Some |
| Rental Equipment & Uniforms | β Yes | β Some |
| Instructors | ||
| Full-Time Professional Instructors | β Yes | π No |
| Instructors with Competitive Experience & Coaching | β Yes | β Limited |
| All Instructors First Aid Certified | β Yes | π No |
| All Instructors Background Checked | β Yes | π No |
| All Instructors Consistently Training & Learning | β Yes | π No |
| Student Experience | ||
| Ample Students In All Disciplines | β Yes | π No |
| Group Travel To Competitions | β Yes | β Some |
| Coaches Present At Tournaments | β Yes | β Some |
| Men & Women on all teams | β Yes | π No |
| Easy To Find A Training Partner At Your Level | β Yes | π No |
| Classes for Various Experience & Intensity Levels | β Yes | β Limited |
| Training System | ||
| Competition Oriented | β Yes | π Hobby Oriented |
| Regularly Scheduled Structured Practices | β Yes | π No |
| Training with a Curriculum & Syllabus | β Yes | π No |
| Structured Lesson Plans | β Yes | β Some |
| Regular Scheduled Performance Reviews | β Yes | π No |
| Programs Offered | ||
| Classes 7 Days Per Week | β Yes | π No |
| Multiple Locations | β Yes | π No |
| Morning, Afternoon, & Evening Classes | β Yes | β Some |
| Muay Thai | β Yes | β Some |
| MMA | β Yes | β Yes |
| BJJ | β Yes | β Yes |
| Kickboxing | β Yes | β Yes |
| Boxing | β Yes | β Yes |
| Culture & Values | ||
| Results Oriented | β Yes | β Only for top students |
| Authentic | β Yes | β Limited |
| Focused On Progress | β Yes | β Limited |
| Desire To See Students Improve | β Yes | β Only for top students |
| Family / Respect / Camaraderie | β Yes | β Limited |
| Recognition | ||
| Grand Slam Tournament Medalists | β 97% | π 3% |
| Active UFC Members | β Yes | π No |
| Roster of Professional Athletes | β Yes | β Limited |
| Years of Experience | β 20+ | β Limited |
| Extras | ||
| Strength & Conditioning Services | β Yes | β Limited |
| Meal Replacement Services | β Yes | π No |
| Day Care & Summer Camps | β Yes | π No |
Discover the Difference
More Than a Gym β A Legacy
Students stay at Crazy 88 for years because the structure produces progress you can measure and the room is worth walking into. Parents train while their kids train. Beginners who came in at 35 are coaching beginners now.
- Generational membership, with parents and children training together
- Students range from absolute beginners to professional competitors
- Curriculum-driven programs with scheduled, measurable progress checks
- Classes for kids, teens, and adults at every experience level
- Coaching that starts where you actually are
When you step onto the mats at Crazy 88, youβre not just signing up for classes. Youβre becoming part of something bigger, a team with a shared commitment to hard work, progress, and mutual respect.
Get Our Free Starter Kit
The Crazy 88 Starter Kit has everything you need to know about our programs.
Topics Covered Include:
- Tuition Guide - How Much Does Training at Crazy 88 Cost?
- 6 Common -But Easily Avoidable- Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Martial Arts School
- Six Costly Martial Arts Misconceptions that Parents Mistakenly Believe
- FOR COMPETITORS - The Dirty Secret that Baltimore-area MMA and Jiu-Jitsu Schools Donβt Want You To Know
Rave Reviews from Current Crazy 88 MMA Students
Ready to Start? Your First Week Is On Us
Hundreds of Maryland residents across Elkridge, Owings Mills, and Severna Park have already made the decision to train. Now it's your turn. Join the Crazy 88 community and discover what training like a fighter can do for your life.