Gorilla Press Issue #13 Winter 2004- Spring
2005
Quick Links:
Berkeley Gym is rocking!
Matt Thornton, and west coast Regional Director Tom Oberhue,
have made multiple trips to the Bay Area Gym located in Berkeley
CA. The Berkeley crew has done an outstanding job in running a
first class facility, and following the program we have laid out
for ATG's. They are great ambassadors, and have really gone the
extra step in helping to bring the SBGi methodology to the Bay
Area. All of us here at SBGi are very proud of them. Look for
an interview with Berkeley Instructor Lilly Pagle, in the upcoming
series 3 dvds. As well as a feature on her in the upcoming Aliveness
is for Every-Body section.
Matt with Berkeley Instructors Lilly,
Alan, and Jude
The Berkeley crew running strong
SBGi Canada continues to grow!
Canada has become a growing area for the SBGi organization. We
have recently deemed it necessary to appoint a Regional Director
for Canada, and the obvious choice was SBGi Instructor/Coach Mike
Sweeney. We are confident that Mike will be a valued member of
our Team, and a great asset to everyone in Canada.
For a bio on Mike, and an update on all the Canadian locations,
click here.
from left to right, Jim Grove, Matt
Thornton, Mike Sweeney, and Rich Beaupit
In 2004 alone Matt visited the East Coast of Canada on four separate
occasions! During one of those trips he announced the formation
of a brand new ATG - Real Combat Fight Club run by Jim Grove.
On another visit Matt was accompanied by SBGi VP Luis Gutierrez,
and UK Director Karl Tanswell. The three conducted the first ever
SBGi Canadian Camp which was organized and hosted by Rich Beaupit
www.richbeaupit.com
Jim's seminar
Here is a review:
Camp was awesome... Luis busted out his new 'clinch with cloth'
game. Using the jacket to facilitate control and striking. It's
an awesome game we will be working here, and everyone had a lot
of fun. Karl taught his anti clinch curriculum, which is designed
to keep your hands free for striking, and keep you on your feet,
and includes level changes, sprawls, stomps, re-pummel strikes,
footwork, etc. Both Luis and I watched this and realized it would
be added to the curriculum right away. It makes a great supplement
for CM phase 2.
Again, what amazes me most about our Instructors is not the level
of skill, or the friendly attitude, although both of those things
are top notch... it's the CREATIVITY... I am constantly amazed
at what the guys are coming up with, and bringing to the curriculum.
It's really-really fun to see.
Matt looks on as Karl works his top
game with Jay
Luis also taught his harness game, which is by far the best back
attack curriculum I have ever seen. And I stuck with some basic
fundamentals, passing the guard, and top game objectives and energies.
Karl also did a brief review of STAB for the seminar guests.
I think everyone had a blast, and I want to say a big THANK YOU
to Rich. Rich is always a fantastic host, and goes out of his
way to have a professional event for us, and all those that attend.
See you next time.
The Canadian Camp was held in the
beautiful area of Niagara Falls!
SBGi Fall Camp Review
Camp Theme: What does it take to have world-class training for
people with varying objectives in all ranges with emphasis on
Aliveness. This was perhaps our best Camp yet. Read all
about it on our Camps page. Our
next Camp take place in Portland on the 26th and 27th of March.
Mark those dates on your calendar!
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| While Portland
looked like this... |
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Matt was doing
this... |
Maybe there
is a method to the madness! |
BIG thanks to Mike Sweeney, Luis, Haueter, Tom, Wassom,
Zach, and others for spending 12 hours a day with me filming our
groundbreaking FJKD 3 Instructional series! It was a great experience,
and the material these guys laid down amazed me. Truthfully, I
would allow 12 months or so for us to sort all this out, and get
series 3 on the market. But I promise it will be worth the wait,
and WAY beyond anything else I have ever done.
Luis teaches ISR to our Military
Forces
For info on the ISR contact Luis at www.isrmatrix.org
SBGi Estonia! Aliveness is everywhere.
Check out our listing of Gyms and ATGs
around the world!
Since the last issue of The Gorilla Press Matt
Thornton has visited the UK 5 times to spread the methods and
curriculum of SBGi, along with the help of the UK director Karl
Tanswell, to the UK SBGi students. On these trips Matt has been
accompanied by SBGi Coaches and BJJ black belts Chris Haueter,
John Frankl, Michael Chapman and Tom Oberhue. Below are some
pictures from a few of these trips.
Matt looks on as John Frankl rolls
with a UK student
Matt showing some fine points on
the ground
Matt and John demo some BJJ
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| UK director
Karl Tanswell
looks perplexed |
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Tom Oberhue
Coaches some
rounds in Manchester |
Check out even
more pics from this amazing trip!
Matt also made a couple trips to Boston to work
with the crew organized by SBGi Coach Steve Whittier. Steve
is a great Coach, and the Boston crew is growing steadily under
his watch.
Matt with John Frankl and Steve
Whittier in Boston
Matt has also made three trips to Ireland since
the last gorilla press. Ireland is officially blowing up thanks
to the hard work and talent of the Ireland Director John Kavanagh.
Below are a few pics from some of these trips.
Matt sitting in a garden outside an old Irish castle
The castle grounds
Matt, John Frankl, and John Kavanagh on top of
the castle walls
Check out even
more pics from this amazing trip!
In 2004 Matt held the first ever SBGi
Thailand retreat in Bangkok, Thailand. Matt and Rodney
King taught over a five day period, and the retreat was a huge
success. It sold out within a few weeks, and everyone had a
blast. You can see the full report on the retreat on our retreats
page. Below are a few of the "lost" pictures from
that trip:
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| A royal guard
at the King's palace,
and my tour guide B |
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Shiva's dance |
Outside the King's temple
You get an idea for the immense size of the grounds
here
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| A Thai alter |
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A relic chamber |
Matt recently completed his first visit to Iceland. You can
read a new interview that Matt gave an Iceland online publication
on the trip in the Q & A
section.
Below are some pictures from this trip.
Matt horse back riding in the countryside of Iceland.
Unbelievable beauty, with clean air, no power lines, no strip
malls, and green, mossy, rocky countryside. Truly God's Country.
In 2004 Matt also had the privilege to visit Singapore for
the first time, where he gave a two day seminar. Look for Matt's
return to Singapore for an SBGi retreat in February of 2005!
Below are some pics from this trip.
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| Hunaman &
Buddha on one pillar, quite cool! |
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SBGi Singapore
Instructor Kon and Matt in front of the famous 'merlion' |
Check out even
more pics from this amazing trip!
Matt also visited Africa, where he will be once more in Nov.
of 2004.
Watch out for lions here!
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