Gorilla Press Issue #11 Fall 2003

Happy Holidays to everyone in SBGi.

2003 was our best Year yet.

The Gym as whole has grown more this Year then any other. We have welcomed more quality people, and training groups (51 at present time), without compromising in the slightest on our standards or ethics. And for this I really have to thank the SBGi Regional Directors, Tom, Luis, Adam, Rory, Paul, Karl, John, and Rodney. These guys are the heart and soul of SBGi, and I am blessed to have them as not only training partners and Coaches, but as friends.

I'd like to welcome the new Instructors, Coaches, and ATG's that have joined the SBGi family this Year. There are to many to mention, and I don't want to leave anyone out. But thanks to all of you, and welcome!

At a local level our Gym has prospered and grown more this Year then at anytime in the past. The enrolment, retention, and overall happiness of the students we have has never been greater, and I would like to thank the local Coaches Rick, Cane, Jai, Carlos, Travis, Morgen, and everyone else at PDX SBG for an outstanding Year. Starting in 04 Ken Alan will also be teaching, as well as a couple other Coaches and I know the PDX Gym will continue to take off.

Special thanks as well to Tom Oberhue, and Mike Chapman for there help this Year in all areas of SBGi, training, and business.
Finally, a big thanks to Fernando, our webmaster. He does an outstanding job of keeping the website going, and helping with all things tech. And Mike Adams, who runs the daily affairs of the Gym, now handles the merchandise, and deals with the day to day business of SBGi in a way that I am unable to due to my schedule. Both Fernando and Mike are a huge help, and they are much appreciated in more ways then one.

I am really looking forward to Spring Camp in March, and the great training that will be had with Chris Haueter, John Frankl, Karl, Paul, Adam, Luis, Tom, and everyone. It's going to be great.

So thank you to everyone, and I greatly look forward to being in your company in 2004. There is no doubt in my mind that 04 will be our best Year yet.

Happy Holidays! -Matt Thornton

"There is never a subject to a verb, it's just a made up rule"

"Starting November 5th 2003 we will be offering ALL our SBG Productions in DVD format! These DVD's will be available in single and set units, and all future products will also be released on DVD. Due to the international use of DVD we will be discontinuing our duplication of PAL format. All of our products will now be available in DVD or NTSC tape format."

SBG International

We here at SBGI would like to extent our heartfelt thanks to Barb Piknova who helped as SBGI Webmaster for several Years, and was a tremendous aid to the Organization at that time. Thanks for all your help over the Years Barb! Barb may be leaving Oregon for another job and she will be greatly missed by the entire SBG family. We would also like to welcome our new Webmaster, Fernando! Seen here in action:

For questions or comments on the website you can reach Fernando at: fernando@straightblastgym.com

Big congrats to SBGI Instructor Forest Griffin who recently had a big MMA win in Brazil against the talented Ebenezer Braga. Forrest is a man on a mission, and is well coached by the SBGI/HCG Team run by Adam and Rory Singer in Georgia.
"Forest Griffen just defeated another MMA opponent. Forest recently won his match against Team Quests Chael Sonnen. Choking him out with a triangle. Pics to follow."

LOOKING AT FORREST GRIFFIN

This 24-year-old Ohio native is currently making a HUGE name for himself. Now residing in Athens, Georgia; Forrest Griffin is part of The HardCore Gym run by Adam and Rory Singer. Forrest has been training for the last four years and fighting for the last 3. He has come up against the likes of Dan "The Beast" Severn, Travis Fulton and Jeff Monson. I had a chance to talk to him a little before he headed off to Brazil for his fight with Ebenezer Franco Braga in HEAT FC. Here's what he had to say.

Sharell- Tell me a little about your background.

Forrest- I am 24, originally from Cleveland Ohio, but I currently live in Athens Georgia. I have been training for four years and fighting for three. My coaches are Adam and Rory Singer at The Hard Core Gym, and we are all affiliated with Matt Thornton and the Straight Blast Gym.

Sharell- How did you get started in MMA?

Forrest- I just finished my degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Georgia, that's how I ended up here in Athens. I was working as a Police Officer for the University, the first time I saw grappling displayed as a defensive tactic and I fell in love with it. The North East Georgia Police Academy uses the Gracie Grapple System to teach self-defense and defensive tactics to their officers. That's how I met Adam and Rory, they were teaching at the University. Rory was fighting NHB, so I just had to too.

Sharell- What is your fight record?

Forrest- I have an amateur record of 6-0, and a pro record of 7-1. My very first pro fight was against Dan Severn and I lost due to a decision.

Sharell- How did you feel standing across the ring from Dan?

Forrest- It was kind of surreal; I was a fan and never expected to get to fight him. I didn't go in expecting to win, I just wanted to survive. You can't win a fight if
your just happy to be there.

Sharell - Who else have you fought as a pro?

Forrest- I have beaten both Jeff Monson and Travis Fulton.

Sharell- Tell me about your fight with Travis Fulton; it was stopped due to a cut after the first round, right? Is that how you wanted it to end or did you want to submit him.

Forrest- I was extremely pleased with the way that fight went. I won
without ever being in a bad position. Travis was extremely tough and took an
incredible amount of punishment.

Sharell- So you have a girlfriend right? How does she feel about your fighting? What about your family, how do they feel about it?

Forrest- Yeah I have a girlfriend; we've been together for about 8 or 9 months. She doesn't mind. I was fighting when we got together, so she knew before we
got involved what she was getting into. My mom on the other hand, doesn't like the logistics of it and the fact that I don't have any health insurance.

Sharell - You just got back from fighting in Brazil, how was your trip over and back? Did you get to do any site seeing before the fight?

Forrest - It was horrible, it took 24 hours and we had to go through customs a couple of times. It was a long flight; I walked around the plane a lot. We did
some promo stuff, local interviews before the show. The show was really fun and I thought it went well. I found out just before the show started, that they had
lost the footage of the interviews.

Sharell - Is this the first time you've been to Brazil for a fight? How is it different from the fights we have here in the states?

Forrest- Yeah this is the first time in Brazil; I fought last year in South America. Their venues are set up differently than our shows. It was large, with open sides so you had some air. The locker room was beneath the bleachers and we didn't have any hot water. They have vendors set up outside of the show; it's almost like a tailgate atmosphere. The show started an hour late because the people did not come into the venue until they were ready. Definitely different from the way we do our shows here in the US.

Sharell - You fought in a new show called HEAT FC, your opponent was Ebenezer Braga. How much did you know about him and what was your game plan going in?

Forrest - I had seen three of his fights and had the basic idea of what he would do. I knew he was good at Muay Thai, likes to throw kicks and knees to the head
on the way out of the clinch. I didn't really have a game plan. And then before I knew it the bell rang, so I charged across the ring and he took me down.

Sharell -You won by Rear Naked Choke in the 3rd or 4th minute of the first round. Can you walk me through the fight?

Forrest -After I was taken down; we punched each other a little bit and I wanted to stand up. I knew he was a stand-up fighter and I thought it would be more fun.

Sharell - Did the fight go the way you planned? What if anything would you have liked to have done different?

Forrest - I can't complain, I am happy with the outcome. I felt great, loved the show. I just tried not to let the fact that he had a home court advantage get to me. When I came out, all the fans were booing me. I didn't let it bother me too much but I'm a people pleaser and I wanted the fans to like me.

Sharell - There is a rumor going around about the UFC possibly looking at you in the near future. Is there any truth to that, have you talked to the UFC?

Forrest - I haven't talked to the UFC, it's just a rumor, although a very nice one. I would love to fight for the UFC.

Sharell - Is there anyone you want to fight now that you have a big WIN under your belt?

Forrest -Babalu was on the same card with me there in Brazil. If things work out, I would possibly want to fight him. I'd need a good game plan and a lot of work on my wrestling. There are a lot of holes I still have to work out. I want to stay healthy for a few months and get to work on my game. There is never a finished product in this sport.

Sharell - What are your plans for the future?

Forrest -I may possibly be fighting October 25 In Dalton, Ga. I'd be fighting Brad Lynn whom I was forced to back out on at the last minute due to the opportunity to fight in Brazil. I owe both him and the promoter.

Sharell -Is there anything else you would like to add?

Forrest -When fighting and training cease to be fun for me, I will stop fighting.

Sharell -Forrest thank you for giving me the chance to talk to you, I have enjoyed it very much. I wish you luck and look forward to seeing you advance in the fight world.

Interview by Sharell Toon

Rodney King's "street boxing" Power striking for NHB, and the street Buy it now!

"Please check back regularly to the Gorilla Press section."
Enjoy. - Matt Thornton

---------- • ----------

Copyright © SBGi. All rights reserved.