The Gorilla Press, Issue 86

“How Do You Do It?” – Travis Davison

“I’m often asked “How do you do it?” Meaning how do you find the time and energy to get it all done. The answer is my kids, they give me the drive and the inspiration. For 17 years my oldest son Ted has courageously endured and battled epilepsy. Yesterday was worse than normal but you wouldn’t know it from his attitude. This morning before school he banged out 275lbs on his back squat. The real question is “How do you not do it?”‘ – Travis Davison

Once again, SBG Vice President, and SBG Montana founder, Travis Davison provides uplifting words for us all as we struggle to fit all our commitments into our busy lives and try to take on new challenges. Travis, and the work him and his family have put in over the years, are a constant inspiration to all at SBG. They are a testament to the results that can be achieved through dedication and hard work!

Longest Ever SBG Portland Ironman

March got started with a bang at the SBG HQ in Portland as the first of the month saw the longest Ironman in SBG Portland history! Nine athletes’ names were called to receive their belt promotion, and entered the middle of the largest circle of fellow students SBG Portland has ever seen. As SBG Portland continues to expand, and somehow frow closer knit as a community, the number of teammates in attendance had to be close to triple figures! In another first, this Ironman was the first SBG event to be live streamed on Facebook! For the first time, you can watch the whole gruelling two+ hours and witness this most-special of SBG traditions from the comfort of your bed!

Five white belts received their blue belts, Hana Thornton, Luis Till, Casey Nord, Marios Kerpen and Marcus Sweeney. Taylor Marrow received his purple belt, and purple belts John Mertlich, Eddie Ziegler  and Josh Smith all received their well-deserved browns. The Ironman, which has never had so many people in attendance, went on for over two hours, with the promoted rolling with their team mates for a total 135 minutes! Congratulations to all the promoted students! The Portland tribe is hugely proud to see their hard work rewarded!

Rickson Gracie Seminar Next Month

By some miracle, there is still space to get on to the Rickson Gracie seminar, happening next month at Lincoln High School in Portland! Rickson Gracie is widely considered to be the very best BJJ practitioner of all time! The very best the art has ever seen in it’s history! The seminar is likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as Rickson very rarely offers seminars any more, and is not often in the PNW at all!

If you haven’t signed up yet, do so before its too late. A chance like this will not likely come by again! Here is a super old school video of Rickson himself going through some warm ups back in Brazil. Rickson is essentially the face of BJJ, its leading expert, and to this day one of it’s main advocates as the sport and art gains global recognition.

 

Stella Davison & Ella Prevost Compete At Blue Belt

March was another huge month for SBG’s younger athletes. Two of SBG’s youngest blue belts, Stella Davison and Ella Prevost, both competed against grown women in adult blue belt brackets at regional BJJ tournaments. Ella took first place at the recent NAGA tournament, while Stella, competing for the very first time at blue belt, took double gold at the Revolution tournament in Tacoma, WA. Not to be content with double gold (!) Stella then flew down as part of the team representing SBG at the IBJJF Pan Ams in California, and picked up a bronze medal! Not too shabby for her very first month of blue belt competition!

After the Pan Ams, Stella shared this on Facebook:

Took the bronze at Pan Ams! 🥉🤙🏻 I worked hard and did my very best, now I know where I stand in my competition. I have no regrets, but definitely lots to learn from this experience. Thank you to my teammates, coaches, parents, and tribe at SBG.

Congratulations to both Ella Prevost and Stella Davison for their wins! The future continues to get brighter and brighter for these two as they continue to push themselves as athletes and coaches!

 

“Transformation and growth are possible when we step out of our comfort zone and embrace the grind. Jiu Jitsu provides a perfect vehicle for both.
SBG.” – Travis Davison

SBG At Revolution

Stella and Ella weren’t the only SBG athletes to compete this month! SBG athletes from across the PNW traveled to Tacoma, WA to compete at the most recent Revolution BJJ tournament and proceeded to take home a host of medals! Daniel Di Stefano (SBG Montana) and Michael Ransom (SBG Idaho) both took silver at brown belt. Ricky Davison, also competing at blue belt for the first time took silver, along with Aasin Liberato, while Seth Crume and Parker Bossart both too bronze. Logan Brickell and Cole Gorton both took bronze at white belt. In the No Gi portion of proceedings, Daniel Di Stefano also took bronze in Advanced No Gi, and young Ricky Davison took bronze at Intermediate. Stella Davison took double gold in blue belt Gi and Intermediate No Gi. The medals at white and beginner levels, along with all the kids, were too many to list! With SBG picking up 35+ medals on the day! Congratulations to all that competed! Here ar the full results!

SBG Korean Student Prepping For Superfight with Jeff Glover

Amanda Diggins on Kid’s Self Defense

SBG Portland coach and black belt, Amanda Diggins spent some time away from competing this month and hosted her first ever kid’s self-defense seminar. No stranger to providing self defense advice for adults, having offered free women’s seminars to the Portland community in the past, this was her first seminar directed at children staying safe. She offered the following words of advice, thanks and encouragement after:

Today I had the opportunity to host my first kids self defense seminar. This is something that is just as important to me as when I teach adults how to protect themselves. There was at least 30 kids in attendance, and about 10 or so parents that stayed. We must understand that our children are NOT responsible for their own personal safety, however YOU, the parent are. As I go over with adults, it’s not about how many ‘techniques’ you have been shown, but the ability to tune into your intuition and find your voice. If you are interested in learning more on the subject I recommend a couple things:http://www.straightblastgym.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2347&action=edit
1.) Come train. Find a gym that you, and or your child can feel happy and safe in. (you can P.M. me, and I’ll be more than happy to give you a list of a great Jiu-Jitsu gym located near you) I am one of the head coaches at Straight Blast Gym, located on 43rd and Sandy and myself and the other coaches would love to meet you.
2.) “Protecting The Gift” by Gavin De Becker is one of the best pieces of material I’ve read concerning safety skills for children, and opening parents eyes to better do that.
I want to give a personal thank you to Tana Ross, for allowing me to present this material. It was a great learning experience for me, and I cant wait to do another one.

Chris Conolley at SBG Idaho

SBG Idaho, home to some of SBG’s most prolific MMA fighters such as Jessie Brock and Scott Thometz, as well as rising stars like Veta Arteaga, all became a little more deadly this month, as they hosted a striking seminar by Chris Conolley, head coach at SBG Alabama! Chris is renowned for his impeccable striking skills and first class coaching, having created multiple champions in MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing!

Growing Gorillas Program Expands at SBG Niagara

Due to the popularity and growing demand for our “GROWING GORILLAS MARTIAL ARTS and LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM”, the time has come for me to open up a brand new class for my “SPIDER MONKEYS”, ages 4 – 6.

Simply put, our “Growing Gorillas Program” is the best children’s Martial arts and Life Skills Program in the Niagara Region. Our Program continues to grow from the word of mouth referrals we constantly receive. Here is just one of our testimonials:

“Rich Beaupit’s coaching abilities were apparent the first time I arrived at the gym and saw him working with children. The kids were laughing, moving, listening. They rolled and wrestled with determination and above all fun. Essentially, the kids were at play – and what better way to learn than through the natural motions of play?

For me, this is the perfect metaphor for how SBG Niagara works. Yes, there is a serious quality to the application of “what” we learn. But true learning is measured in terms of “how” not “what”. How does one apply their skills to every day life? How does it shape our role in the world? How do we incorporate what we know in a meaningful way?

At Beaupit’s, the “how” is derived from a sense of play. The atmosphere light-hearted but diligent, relaxed but sincere. The students (of all ages) feel at home in a sense, because they arrive at a place that is safe and open to people of all backgrounds. The goal one of learning (playing) together as a group instead of going through the motions of an enforced hierarchy.

This sets Rich’s gym apart from the rest, in my mind. It shows that community means more than notoriety. The seriousness of the martial art not trumped by ego, but seen as a way to better one’s place in the world, and to better the people we engage with.”

– Harry Tournemille, Parent and Member of SBG Niagara

We have a beautiful, large, and clean facility that gives our members plenty of room to train in a safe and FUN environment. I give 100% every single class, guarantee positive results from our coaching methods and our vibe, and you will not find another Coach that is as passionate and patient as I am.

I am accepting registrations now, so if you or someone you know would like to have your child join the best children’s program in the Niagara Region, give me a call at 905.329.KICK(5425), or fill out our Quick Start Trial form on our website, sbgniagara.ca.

This is SBG…You will be OK!

Coach Rich

John Frankl On BJJ vs Deadly Street Fighters

“My perennial message to all the deadly street fighters out there: I train on a mat for your protection more than mine.”
– John Frankl

 

Eryk Anders Victorious At LFA 6

SBG Alabama rising star, and former University of Alabama linebacker, Eryk Anders, continued his relentless drive towards MMA stardom by notching up his sixth MMA victory last month. The win was his third straight first round finish, winning by TKO after just 95 seconds! 95 seconds must’ve seemed like an eternity to those who have watched Anders’ previous fights. In his prior two outings, Anders won in 33 seconds, and on a Bellator card in 23 seconds! After the fight, Anders used the post-fight interview to give a shout out of support to “Super Sam” a five year old struggling with cancer. Congratulations to Eryk on another astounding victory!

 

 

SBG Portland Student Matt Chapman on BJJ and SBG

“Two years ago, I walked into Straight Blast Gym for my first class. About ten hours ago, I walked into my most recent one. The time spent there has led to some amazing memories, and the kind of family members you’re not born to – rather, you choose them.

It’s been a great couple of years, and I’ve just barely started. If you train there already, there’s a good chance you’ve strangled me with my own clothing. Or limbs. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and it’s been an honor learning with you all.

If you don’t train there yet, come meet the second family sometime. We’re a lot of fun.”

Matt Chapman is just the latest in an endless list of people who have had their lives positively effected by the SBG tribe. The sense of community that is fostered on the mats makes it a truly special place – a place not just for drilling techniques and learning a martial art, but where bonds are built and friendships forged. Viva SBG!

“I believe that courage is all too often mistakenly seen as the absence of fear. If you descend by rope from a cliff and are not fearful to some degree, you’re either crazy or unaware. Courage is seeing your fear, in a realistic perspective, defining it, considering alternatives, and choosing to function in spite of the risks.” – Leonard Zunin

Third Eye K9

During training if you are wearing eyes and ears, your four legged partners should be too. Yes, we “proof” our work, time to time our dogs and handlers drill without eyes/ears. That being said 90% of the time proper protection equipment is a necessity. Not just the noise one needs to take in to consideration. Dogs will take a lot of hot brass on the “line”. Even more so during vehicle, team and house/building clearing drills. Yes, they need to get used to it, but not at the expense of hot brass in the eye or ear canal…. Weather permitting we shoot everyday with our dogs, the goal being, having our dogs indifferent to live fire #outgoing #incoming#justatool #themanisthethreat If your dog is “jumpy”, barking, staring at the tool/handler, not moving fluidly with handler, disobedient and won’t let other armed team members work in close proximity, your dog is NOT good with live fire….If your dog is sitting next to you paralyzed with fear as you shoot you are an idiot and are fooling nobody…. #learntoreadyourdogs Folks please for the sake of your dog, please seek legitimate professional help and don’t mimic drills you don’t understand…..

New Matt Thornton Instructional Videos

This month SBG Founder and Head Coach Matt Thornton announced that he will be filming an all new set on instructional videos. This will be the first time in years that Matt will record his bottomless wealth of BJJ knowledge, and has put the word out to all of SBG’s finest coaches to join him in putting it all together:

“SBG black belts and coaches – Worldwide. On Sunday April 9th, I’ll be shooting a new BJJ video set here at SBG HQ. I havent released an instructional set in years, and I am looking forward to dropping a massive amount of info.
I would like to feature as many SBG coaches in it as possible. All of you are welcome to come visit, take part, and get on film. Just let us know.”

The announcement is huge, as this will be knowledge available to those who would otherwise need to attend one of his seminars. The video set will be an exciting way to spread the word to SBG’s global audience!

If, for some absurd reason, you aren’t thrilled at the prospect of this video series, here is an awesome quote from SBG black belt coach Cane Prevost after a class with Matt. Even exceptional black belts and long-time BJJ coaches like Cane continue to discover new lessons whenever they are taught by Matt Thornton:

“I’ve had the good fortune to get a few mount top lessons from Coach Matt Thornton these last few weeks. If you are thinking about Spring Camp or will have the opportunity to train with Coach Matt on his seminar tour I can without a doubt tell you to go. I have been training under Coach Matt for 15 years and the mount material he is now showing is the best jiu jitsu stuff I’ve seen come out of the gym. Coach Matt has always adhered strictly to teaching only fundamentals and this material is no different. I used to think that mount was a brown belts game. In fact I’ve said that many times. After a few lessons I can now see that I was completely wrong. I firmly believe that we can now create blue belt mount monsters. In fact I know we will. I knew when I saw this material that it would filter through the organization and completely change our jiu jitsu. Mark my words. This is SBG, your mount will be Okay.”

Lily Pagle Seminar in Toronto

Matt Thornton’s first female BJJ black belt, judo black belt and co-founder of SBG NorCal, Lily Pagle is heading north! Lily will be hosting a three-hour seminar on April 4th at SBG Scarborough for the amazing price of $30.

Lily Pagle is a true icon in the SBG universe, and having received her black belt in her sixties after beginning the art later in life, has a truly unique view of BJJ,  not reliant on strength and size, her knowledge will be applicable to all. Not only is she an expert in both BJJ and Judo, she is also a certified instructor in personal safety, pistol shooting, violence prevention, and a sports psychology consultant.

Her vast wealth of knowledge is second-to-none!

If you will be in the area, be sure to attend!

Brand New SBG Monthly & Weekly Videos

February saw the release of the first ever monthly SBG video blog. The first video covered perhaps the biggest subject at SBG, the overaching concept of tribe. Another has been released since then, covering Martial Arts Heresy, a huge topic central to the philosophy and founding principles of SBG, and the next eagerly awaited installment will be coming April 5th, on the topic of Martial Arts Scientists. Check out the trailer:

The new monthly vlogs have been hugely popular – a timely reminder and trip down memory lane for the SBG old guard, and an essential primer on what makes SBG the special organization it is to the newer members, at a time when SBG is growing faster than ever before. In another exciting development for SBG, the new monthly video blogs now come alongside weekly technique videos from some of SBG’s finest coaches! Every week, an SBG coach will take on a position or problem in BJJ, MMA or self defense, and in a short, succint video, impart their world class expertise! First up, SBG black belt and multiple IBJJF world championship medalist John Diggins tackled the essentials for effective half guard self-defense:

Then, one of SBG and Matt Thornton’s very first black belts, Head Coach of the MMA competition team, and owner of the heaviest knee-on-belly known to man, Rick Davison, covers the fundamentals of a solid upright guard, in a two part series:

If these first few videos are any guide, this series of instructionals will ALL be essential viewing for and student of the martial arts. Be sure to subscribe to the Straight Blast Gym Portland Youtube channel for all the latest videos as they’re released!

Matt Thornton On Fighting AND Fitness

As if traveling for seminars, interviews and pulling together new SBG video blogs weren’t enough, SBG Head Coach Matt Thornton still found the time this month to release another thought-provoking blog post. This time, on the topic of fighting and fitness. It is a topic not often discussed at SBG, but essential nonetheless. It may seem obvious, but the importance of physical fitness when it comes to fighting often goes unsaid. This can be especially true when new students seek to learn exciting “deadly” techniques for self defense. In that case, Matt points out that the first priority should be ensuring you are fit enough to ward off the statistically more likely heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases! Alongside that, the gains earned through physical conditioning are greater than muscle and fitness – the embracing of struggle and lessons learned from consistency in a hard endeavor, are also priceless. Matt sums up the topic by saying it is not a case of fighting skill or fitness, but fighting skill AND fitness, that is necessary. Be sure to read the whole article here.

SBG Ireland Fighter Knocks Out Intruder

SBG Ireland’s Makwan Amirkhani made headlines this month after helping stop home intruders! In his home country of Finland, Amirkhani and his friend encountered two intruders who were attempting to escape. While one got away, the other was less fortunate. Despite being more of a submission specialist, with nine pro wins by way of tap out and choke, Amirkhani knocked out the intruder and made headlines by snapping a selfie while waiting for the police.

Unfortunately, Amirkhani couldn’t extend unbeaten run inside the UFC Octagon just a few night later. Losing out in a nail-biting split decision at UFC Fight Night 107 in London.

Gunnar Nelson Wins At UFC Fight Night

SBG Ireland’s adopted son, Gunnar Nelson, finally made his long awaited return to the Octagon this month in emphatic fashion! After ten months away, Nelson took on Alan Jouban at UFC Fight Night 107 in London, and he won his bout in trademark Gunni Nelson style. The victory came with an effortlessly smooth submission win by way of guillotine choke in the first minute of the second round. It is the sixth submission win Nelson has secured in the UFC, and it extends his professional record to 16-2.

According to Nelson, Jouban was the only man willing to step up and take on Gunnar after five or so top ten welterweights declined the opportunity. Hopefully we won’t have to wait quite so long to see Gunnar back in the UFC Octagon again this time around. Nelson said himself, he hopes to return to the Octagon at lease two more times in 2017, and has begun listing names of fighters he’d like to take on:

“I would love to fight “Wonderboy.” That’s a fight people seem to want to see…That’s the fight that’s most hyped up right now. A fight with him, a good win over “Wonderboy” would be huge for my career. I would love that but as I said, I would fight any of them.

“Robbie Lawler is a big one as well. Any of them guys.”

Congratulations to Gunnar and the SBG Ireland team for another great win!

SBG Medals At Pan Ams

SBG put in a strong showing at this year’s IBJJF Pan Am Championships! SBG Montana accounted for all three of the medals that were brought home, as Aaron Westphal took silver in the purple belt, Master 3, medium heavy division, Cody Bessette took silver in the blue belt, Master 2, medium heavy division, and, as previously mentioned, Stella Davison took third in the blue belt, Juvenile 1, lightweight division. An honorable mention must also go to SBG Idaho coach, and one of SBG’s most recent black belts, Scott Thometz. Competing for the very first time at black belt, Scott secured an emphatic 30-0 points victory in his very first match at the highest level of BJJ! Congratulations to everyone who competed for testing yourselves on the biggest stage. Medal or not, we are all proud of you!

While she didn’t compete at the Pan Ams this year, perhaps SBG’s most prolific BJJ competitor, black belt Amanda Diggins, shared the following quote with regards to competition and failure:

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” – Denis Waitley #sbg #tryagain

Alen Mulhametovic Earns His Brown Belt

Congratulations to SBG Atlanta’s Alen ‘M1’ Mulhametovic. This month he was presented with his well earned brown belt from Coach Phillipe Gentry! Keep up the excellent work!

SBG Spring Camp Is Here!

Lastly this month, and absolutely by no means leastly, the SBG Spring Camp in Niagara is happening right now! If you aren’t there, you are missing out, as some of SBG’s finest coaches from around the world impart their priceless knowledge on the traveling SBG students.

Coaches featured at the 2017 Spring Camp include SBG Vice President and SBG Montana founder, Travis Davison. SBG East Coast Director, BJJ black belt & Muay Thai Kru, Stephen Whittier, BJJ black belt, self defense, weapons and law enforcement expert, Paul Sharp, SBG Alabama Head Coach and world-renowned striking coach Chris Conolley, founders of Primate Yoga & the Yoga Room of Montana, Salome Thornton & Kisa Davison, and of course, SBG Founder Matt Thornton! Look out for the glowing reviews to pour in over the next few weeks on Facebook (just like they do every year). We’ll have all the highlights covered in next month’s Gorilla Press!

Keep an eye out for our 2017 Spring camp review and more in the next issue of – The Gorilla Press

And don’t forget…

The fight everyone wants could be getting closer to actually happening…