Bayport's Black Belt Champions Studio is Moving But Not Very Far

The Bayport Black Belt Champions school is moving into a bigger location but not going very far as it’s switching out its current location in The Shoppes at Bayport for the site that housed the Blockbuster video store.

The new space is nearly twice the size of the school’s current location and construction is set to start this week, according to owner Kim Maliadis, who is also head instructor at the school. The goal is to be in the new site by the second week of July.

Bayport Black Belt Champions runs kickboxing classes seven day a week with both day and night offerings.

“We have a well rounded adult martial arts program with Muay Thai and TaeKwonDo classes,” Maliadis told Patch and the school just began offering a Mixed Martial Arts program too.

“We have an outstanding kids martial arts program for ages 4-12,” said Maliadis, who said she’s adding two new kickboxing instructors to the staff.Jessica Capurso, who is a lifelong resident of Sayville, is now part of the team. She and her Mom were the school's first two students when it opened.

"We're thrilled to have her part of our team," said Maliadis.

Elyse Tomasello the other newly hired kickboxing instructor. Las year she fought for the  PKF (professional Kickboxing federation) New York State Championship title but lost by split decision. She is now in training to go for a rematch for the belt again this September against the current champion.

The current fulltime instructor and floor manager is  TJ Maliadis, one of Maliadis' three sons who are involved as instructors at the school.

“They have been training all their lives,” said Maliadis.

Bayport Black Belt Champions opened at its current location, at 899 Montauk Highway, across from Bayport Flower Houses, in May of 2010. The school also runs a summer camp during the off-school season.

Maliadis grew up in Ronkonkoma and attended Connetquot High School. She currently lives in Selden, where she trained and worked for a martial arts studio for several years.

“When I looked to open my own studio I knew I wanted to be in the Bayport-Sayville area,” she said, adding she aims to move back to live in the community.