Alexandra Fuller earned her MBA at Simmons, but she’s put those business skills to work by founding a nonprofit. Launched in 2013, Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts provides athletic training, professional mentorship, academic support and employment to youth in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park—and keeps this Brazilian jiujitsu purple belt plenty busy.
8:30 am: Wake up, enjoy breakfast—coffee with almond milk plus two pieces of toasted Ezekiel bread slathered with almond butter and blueberry preserves—and walk my dog.
9:15 am: Reflect, read, journal and pray.
9:45 am: Organize student uniforms (jiujitsu gis and belts) for tonight’s training. Then I travel to meetings or work from home on special projects. Right now, that means our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, which will help scale up our 2015 youth programs.
11:45 am: Head to Brazilian Top Team Boston in Everett to train. I aim for at least five sessions per week so I can serve as a better coach. Plus, some of my closest friends are my training partners.
2 pm: Pick up lunch on my way to Roxbury, where three of our four sites are located. I usually go for a chicken and vegetable sub and/or an acai bowl with honey, strawberries, banana and granola.
3:30 pm: Co-teach MMA to 20 kids with my head instructor, Hudson Henriques, at the Trotter School. The kiddos have lots of energy, so we do a fairly rigorous workout at the beginning so they’re better able to focus. Then we split up for drills before regrouping to set goals and reflect on applying the values of Level Ground: discipline, respect, humility, tenacity and self-control.
4:45 pm: Hit Ula Cafe in JP for a decaf coffee and another hour of work before heading to our evening site in Egleston Square.
6 pm: Touch base with students as they arrive for tutoring or a life-skills workshop; right now, I’m focusing on helping my high school seniors plan their next steps after graduation. They also help set up 36 heavy grappling mats and distribute uniforms.
7 pm: Co-teach Brazilian jiujitsu. The first hour is devoted to warming up, conditioning and drilling positions. The next hour is non-stop “rolling” (grappling). We try to push the students in a safe and structured way so they realize how much they are capable of. Then comes a 20-minute reflection to ensure our values transcend the mat.
9:20 pm: Check in with more students, roll or hold pads for them and continue to cultivate our relationships. Students are free to spar, hang out and have fun.
10 pm: Tear down the mats, load up the uniforms and drive students home.
12:15 am: Shower and cook dinner, which usually consists of a lean protein, salad, cashews and cheese, followed by dark chocolate for dessert.
1:15 am: Flex my creative muscles by writing poetry, sketching or working on my new blog.
2:15 am: Sleep!
Anything but Routine
An hour-by-hour look at the lives of some of Boston’s hardest-working fitness gurus.
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: John Huet at Red Sky Studios; Hair/Makeup: Michelle McGrath/Anchor Artists | Jan. 9, 2015
Alexandra Fuller earned her MBA at Simmons, but she’s put those business skills to work by founding a nonprofit. Launched in 2013, Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts provides athletic training, professional mentorship, academic support and employment to youth in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park—and keeps this Brazilian jiujitsu purple belt plenty busy.
8:30 am: Wake up, enjoy breakfast—coffee with almond milk plus two pieces of toasted Ezekiel bread slathered with almond butter and blueberry preserves—and walk my dog.
9:15 am: Reflect, read, journal and pray.
9:45 am: Organize student uniforms (jiujitsu gis and belts) for tonight’s training. Then I travel to meetings or work from home on special projects. Right now, that means our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, which will help scale up our 2015 youth programs.
11:45 am: Head to Brazilian Top Team Boston in Everett to train. I aim for at least five sessions per week so I can serve as a better coach. Plus, some of my closest friends are my training partners.
2 pm: Pick up lunch on my way to Roxbury, where three of our four sites are located. I usually go for a chicken and vegetable sub and/or an acai bowl with honey, strawberries, banana and granola.
3:30 pm: Co-teach MMA to 20 kids with my head instructor, Hudson Henriques, at the Trotter School. The kiddos have lots of energy, so we do a fairly rigorous workout at the beginning so they’re better able to focus. Then we split up for drills before regrouping to set goals and reflect on applying the values of Level Ground: discipline, respect, humility, tenacity and self-control.
4:45 pm: Hit Ula Cafe in JP for a decaf coffee and another hour of work before heading to our evening site in Egleston Square.
6 pm: Touch base with students as they arrive for tutoring or a life-skills workshop; right now, I’m focusing on helping my high school seniors plan their next steps after graduation. They also help set up 36 heavy grappling mats and distribute uniforms.
7 pm: Co-teach Brazilian jiujitsu. The first hour is devoted to warming up, conditioning and drilling positions. The next hour is non-stop “rolling” (grappling). We try to push the students in a safe and structured way so they realize how much they are capable of. Then comes a 20-minute reflection to ensure our values transcend the mat.
9:20 pm: Check in with more students, roll or hold pads for them and continue to cultivate our relationships. Students are free to spar, hang out and have fun.
10 pm: Tear down the mats, load up the uniforms and drive students home.
12:15 am: Shower and cook dinner, which usually consists of a lean protein, salad, cashews and cheese, followed by dark chocolate for dessert.
1:15 am: Flex my creative muscles by writing poetry, sketching or working on my new blog.
2:15 am: Sleep!
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