Some people are born leaders. Others learn how to be great leaders. In the end the goal is the same.

At Ivey league MMA our goal is to make normal everyday kids into the great leaders of tomorrow. Today is a cliff notes version of how we do that and It all starts with the great kids we have coming through our academy.

With that said I wanted to talk about a young lady we have in our teens program. Her name is Lauren Crino, and if I ever saw a born leader, it would have to be her.

Lauren came to Ivey League Mixed Martial Arts about a year about. Her friend Isabelle Williams told her about our classes and how much fun they were so Lauren asked her family to bring her in.

We can’t take all the credit for Lauren, not at all. She comes from a great military family with both Mom and Dad having served for our country (Thanks for that btw!).

When I met Lauren she seemed shy but at the same time very confident but like I said above, I thought she was a born leader based on the way she carried herself. I guess sometimes you can just “sense” these things?

What I thought was shyness was really more of a feeling out process for her. She wanted to make sure the staff at Ivey League was on the up and up, which of course we are!

It wasn’t long before she excelled in her martial arts classes. Not long at all in fact I’d say Lauren picked up techniques faster then most kids her age or older (faster then adults too).

Picking up techniques at Ivey league can be tricky for kids because they learn 4+ styles of self defense, which are:

• Gracie Jiu Jitsu
• Muay Thai Kickboxing
• Wrestling
• Judo

In fact, she was so good that we asked her to be in our Black Belt Club Program (BBC) much faster then we normally would have.

She was also the first child that we accepted into our new Leadership program, a course designed to teach kids how to lead teams and people, both on the mats and in life.

I know at this point you’re asking this question:

“If she was born leader and talented right out of the gate, what did she really get from Ivey League MMA?”

A fair question and here is my answer:

We brought out the true leader in Lauren by having her lead the kids through workouts, help the little kids in training and just all around show all the other kids what it takes to be a champion. Giving her that role was the challenge she needed and it showcased her leadership skills.

We made her a leader by challenging her with high level techniques and live rolling that put her in a safe but pressured situation. Aka we made her tough physically and mentally
(something Ivey League training is known for).

We put her (and her family put her*) into a class environment that brought out all her abilities, something that would not have happened with a team sport like soccer or softball.

Achievement has a lot to do with the people you surround yourself with. Lauren is around other like minded and champion kids so this pushes her harder to be the best she can be (which in Lauren’s case she always shoots for the sky anyway).

In one year Lauren has:

• Made it into the BBC program (Ivey League’s version of a PHD program)
• Made the Leadership team (but of course:)
• Got her Gold belt
• Became an assistant Volunteer for lil ninja classes

So yeah, the staff and myself think the world of this young superstar in the making.

I should also mention that martial arts seem to run in her blood as I believe her uncle owns and runs his own academy in New York.

Hats off to you Lauren Crino! Way to be a leader and not a follower! We’re very proud of you kiddo.

I also have to give big props to my girlfriend and head teens instructor at Ivey league MMA, Miss Teresa Russin, she’s the driving force behind the teens/tweens program!

Below is a photo of Lauren so that when she becomes president you can say you saw her first on my MMA news blog, haha.

–Master Danny Ives

www.annapolismma.com

BBC/Leadership Team Member Lauren Crino (On the right) practicing takedowns on Aleixa Lara

BBC/Leadership Team Member Lauren Crino practicing takedowns on Aleixa Lara