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Welcome to the home for the most Authentic Muay Thai Gym in Delaware.
Nestled in the small town of Newark, Delaware - Chok Dee Athletics offers the most authentic Muay Thai in the First State. As a proud affiliate of Sityodtong Pattaya, we offer programs for beginners, hobbyists, as well as amateur and professional fighters. Whether you're looking to get in shape and workout, or compete against other fighters in the area, please check out our gym!
Chok Dee means "Good Luck" in Thai!
We are a proud affiliate of Sityodtong Pattaya.
Our Programs
Muay Thai
Unlimited Muay Thai
Unlimited Muay Thai means you can attend Muay Thai classes any day we're open. Includes gloves, wraps, shorts and a t-shirt.
Tri-Weekly Muay Thai
You can attend three Muay Thai classes per week. Includes gloves, wraps, shorts and a t-shirt.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Unlimited BJJ
Unlimited BJJ means you can attend Jiu-Jitsu classes every day we're open. Includes a free gi, shorts, and shirt.
Tri-Weekly BJJ
You can attend three Jiu-Jitsu classes per week. Includes a free gi and shirt.
Muay Thai and BJJ
Unlimited
Unlimited Muay Thai and BJJ means you can attend any Muay Thai, BJJ, and MMA class every day we're open. Includes gloves, wraps, gi, shorts, MMA shorts, and a t-shirt.
Tri-Weekly
You can attend three Muay Thai and BJJ classes each, as well as our MMA class. Includes gloves, wraps, gi, shorts and a t-shirt.
Our Coaches
Kru Joe Stripling
Kru Joe Stripling is the Owner, Founder, and Head Coach of Chok Dee Athletics LLC. Joe began his martial arts career when he started training karate at age 6 and eventually received his black belt from Pat Caputo of American Karate Studios. He wrestled in middle school and high school, eventually ending up as a coach for his alma mater, Howard High School. This is when Joe fell in love with coaching and motivating people following in the footsteps of one his mentors, head coach Tim Casey. Around 2006, while coaching for Howard, Joe began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and eventually received his purple belt in 2013 under Bill Walters of 302 BJJ Team Balance. Only a month after he began training, Joe started his fight career in 2006 and following only one amateur bout, he became pro in August 2007. This is when Joe says he fell in love with striking arts. He started training Muay Thai in 2007 while bouncing around between a few gyms before finding Nak Muay Gym and Kru Eric Karner in 2011, which changed his life. Kru Eric took Joe under his wing and taught him the true art of Sityodtong Muay Thai. In February 2015, Joe was promoted to black pradjit from Kru Eric and was then allowed to teach the Nak Muay curriculum at his own gym when opened. Joe began to teach at his Brazilian Jui-Jitsu school, 302 BJJ, for a year until it was time to move on and open up Chok Dee Athletics in 2016. In 2019, "Bazooka" Joe returned to the ring winning the Delaware State Full Rules Heavyweight Championship by a spectacular cart-wheel kick knockout. After a successful stint fighting for the Lion Fight organization Joe has since decided to retire from fighting and turn his focus to coaching the sport he loves.
Kru Kyle Gordon
Kyle is a coach and started training Muay Thai in May of 2015 under Kru Joe. Despite having collegiate athletic experience at the D-1 level in track and field - Kyle has found a new challenge in the art of eight limbs. Although having limited experience in practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, his focus has remained almost exclusively on Muay Thai throughout his combat sports life. Like Coach Mikey, Kyle has been a part of Chok Dee Athletics since the beginning after following his coach and friend, Kru Joe, in 2016. In his time with Chok Dee, Kyle was awarded his black pradjit in 2021 and has helped coach students from beginner to amateur fighters, as well as having the honor to corner Kru Joe in some of his professional bouts. Although Kyle does not actively fight, his intentions are on continuing his journey in the ring in the future.
Sydney Wallenhorst
Sydney started at Chok Dee in 2019 where she made a home here at the gym. Coming from years of lacrosse as a kid and rugby in high school she was missing the competitive drive of a physically demanding sport. With Chok Dee she has participated in 3 smokers but due to physical and mental health issues had to make the tough decision to step away from future fights. Through her time with us the gym has become a second home. She loves and respects La Chok Dee and Muay Thai so much that she as transferred into a coaching role. After earning her Brown Pradjiat, she also assists Kru Joe in training fighters.
Mike Donohue
Professor Mike Donohue is a second degree black belt under Rafael Lovato Jr. and a proud member of the Lovato/Six Blades Association. Mike started training BJJ in 2006 under Silvio Braga and continued training under Vicente Jr. Who awarded him his black belt in 2013. Mike has experience coaching and competing at all levels from local all the way to the world championships. Numerous students have won or medaled in events including IBJJF and F2W. He also is an assistant wrestling coach at Tower Hill and has served as a head coach and club coach for many years.
Ian Platz
As a young man Ian was a multi-sport athlete competing in baseball, basketball, football, & rugby. It wasn't until after finishing his education that he discovered his love of grappling. Ian is a Brazilian Jiujitsu Brown belt under Mike Donohue of the Rafael Lovato Jr Affiliation. He has com peted for organizations such as the IBJJF & Fight 2 Win Pro, as well as smaller regional promotions. His passion for learning & training hard is infectious & is demonstrated by his consistent presence on the mat, film study, & love for seeing his teammates improve.
Class Schedule
Day | Class | Time |
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| Sunday |
F - Foundations | N - Novice | B - Beginner | I - Intermediate | A - Advanced