After a childhood spent wrestling with friends in the backyard, Jared Bell has taken his fight to the gym, where today he trains in Muay Thai kickboxing.
Bell, president of auto repair company Movin’ and Lubin’ LLC, has been practicing the Thai form of kickboxing on and off throughout the last decade, training under respected professionals like Duke Roufus. The Milwaukee native is a heavyweight kickboxing world champion and a founder, partner and head coach at Roufusport Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Milwaukee.
Bell began exploring Muay Thai right before college and has evolved his training while attending Roufus’ gym. He currently takes private lessons with a coach twice a week at the gym, working on a combination of conditioning and perfecting his arm and leg movements.
Muay Thai kickboxers use both sets of limbs in their fight. Once an athlete learns how to use kicks like punches, it really opens up a lot of versatility in his practice of the competitive sport, Bell said.
Most of Bell’s fights stay inside the gym. About four years ago, he crossed a big item off his bucket list when he fought in an event at Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc. While that fight did not go his way – he ended up having to take on an opponent 20 pounds heavier than him – stepping inside a boxing ring for a real fight had been one of his top goals.
Bell’s next objective is to win a kickboxing match, though right now he primarily wants to stay in shape as he focuses on growing his business. By the end of the year, he plans to open his third Movin’ and Lubin’ location in greater Milwaukee.
By kickboxing on the side, he stays dedicated to a sport that motivates him to maintain his fitness levels.
“For me, lifting weights, running – those things have never been able to hold my attention very long,” Bell said. “And boxing always seemed to be a great workout.”
