The Gorilla Press, Issue 89
SBG Win World Championship Medals
June saw the 2017 IBBJF World Championships take place in Long Beach, California, and as usual, a dedicated team of SBG athletes went down to represent the tribe. This year, SBG scored four medals, from black belt to white, and it was the women that brought them all home!
Riley Timmons earned her bronze medal at white belt, young Stella Davison came third competing in the juvenile blue belt division, and Leah Taylor & Amanda Diggins both picked up their bronze medals at black belt in their respective weight classes!
After the event, the athletes took to social media to share their feelings and thanks. SBG Montana’s Leah Taylor stated:
“It was a privilege to compete along side of my teammate Amanda at worlds yesterday!
@amanda_sbg_ Your jiu jitsu looked amazing! I can’t wait until next year!! Thank you to my teammates who helped me prepare and to my coach @sbgmontana and @kisadavison who are always in my corner.
I have the best coaches and the best team in the world.”
Stella Davison said:
“Yesterday was my first time competing at Worlds… and it definitely won’t be the last 😉 I had some great matches and have already began strategizing for next time. I’m proud of myself. No regrets. I did my best. I will continue to train hard. I will learn and adapt. Until I’m on the 1st place spot on the podium.”
Finally, SBG Portland’s Amanda Diggins, who, though disappointed, saw the event not as a setback but an opportunity for learning and growth, thanked her team and sponsors:
“At the end of the day my heart is still a little broken, but I am proud of myself. I fought well, and had already won mentally. In order to progress you must not see a defeat or decision as a set back, but a way to move forward in improvement as a competitor, a coach and training partner. I am eager to improve, and face the next challenge. I am so very grateful for the team of people I have behind me. SBG is loyalty, we do not quit when things get difficult and we support each other. Without my coaches and students I would not be where I am today. John, you are my everything. Thank you Laurenz for the support, generosity and kindness you have shown me. Hyperfly is more than a jiu-jitsu brand, it is a coordinated team of amazing human beings. I am also proud to represent Garden of life, who helped me with my diet and refueled me after hard days of training. Time to move forward.”
Congratulations to all the amazing SBG athletes who competed! You all continue to be a constant source of inspiration to your teammates and students, and we are all immensely proud of everything you’ve accomplished!
“Jiu Jitsu is a Martial Art first and a Sport second. For those seeking success in the sport, Loyalty is often overlooked and discounted. They jump ship when it suits them and put their own performance above their Tribe. Then, they miss out on the benefits and pleasures that can only come from a long term meaningful relationship with teammates, coaches, and that community. It’s unfortunate on many levels. Because eventually competitors age or become too broken to continue actively in their sport. And those that jumped from team to team chasing their dreams in the sport are left with a series of one night stands and emptiness. How far have they really come as a Martial Artist on that path? Loyalty is rare in competitive sports but it is everything in the Martial Arts”
SBG Worlds Athletes Head to Combat Base
Some of the SBG athletes that headed down to California for the World Championships used the opportunity to pay a visit to Combat Base; the home gym of SBG and BJJ legend, Chris Haueter. Chris Haueter is one of the dirty dozen – the first twelve Americans to receive a black belt in BJJ. He is also the coach of SBG founder Matt Thornton. He presented Matt with his purple, brown and black belts.
Chris Haueter has been a fairly frequent visitor to SBG Portland in recent years, hosting seminars and taking part in SBG camps, but the opportunity to train at his gym is a rare one that the SBG team quickly snapped up. Thanks for the hospitality, Professor Haueter!
NW Submission Challenge Trophy In Its Rightful Place
This month SBG Portland received the winners pendant and trophy for their impressive sweep of the NW Submission Challenge. In April, SBG academies from around the Pacific Northwest and beyond, sent BJJ challengers to the annual North West Submission Challenge in Boise, ID in a push for complete domination! Similar to last year, SBG athletes did not disappoint. SBG absolutely annihilated the competition, winning the Overall Team championship, the Team Gi & No-Gi competitions, and coming runner-up in the Kid’s Team competition!
At the highest levels, SBG were utterly dominant. Athletes took 1st place in the Absolute divisions at black belt (Coach Gus Nolte of SBG Montana), brown belt (Coach Eddie Ziegler of SBG Portland), and purple belt (Coach Chris Myers of SBG Elko), earning $1.2 Gs in prize money between them! In the black belt bracket, SBG secured first, second and third place, with Gus Nolte being joined by John Diggins and Scott Thometz on the podium.
Congratulations to everyone who competed! SBG truly is leading the way in submission grappling in the northwest!
Matt’s Seminar Tour Continues; Returns to Portland
SBG Head Coach & Founder, Matt Thornton, continued his seminar tour through the month of June, traveling across North America and revolutionizing the mount games of all who he comes into contact with! As with last month, and the month before, the positive reviews of the seminar content continue to bombard social media. This month, Coach Matt traveled from Portland to Edmonton, to Buford. Matt returns to SBG HQ in Portland for a two-day seminar, covering everything he has taught on the road over the past two months. Even more, teaching the refined version of his original seminar after all that he has learned in testing it over the course of the last eight weeks! Coach Matt’s SBG Portland seminar will take place on August 5th – 6th. Be sure to attend, and have your mount improved forever!
SBG Coach Cane Prevost On A Lesson Learnt From The Tribe
“One thing that Jiu Jitsu has taught me is to never judge a person too quickly. The ability to hold off judgment and allow yourself to be surprised by people is a great skill. I have seen guys who look mean and terrifying turn out to be the biggest sweethearts I’ve ever known. I have seen skinny nerdy people who are fierce warriors. I have seen retirees smash and dominate young athletes. The best natural athlete I’ve ever seen at the gym was a 4 foot nothing middle age woman who looked like a librarian. The hardest working most dedicated athlete is a teenage girl. I have seen folks come in overweight and pudgy and turn themselves into fit athletes. I have seen fit athletes walk through the doors and turn tail and run after a few workouts. I have seen people with physical and cognitive impairments become skilled grapplers. I have also seen people with PHD’s struggle to learn basic fundamentals. Everyone will surprise you if you give them a chance. This is a wonderful lesson that Jiu Jitsu has taught me that I now share with you. Our tribe is full of these surprising confounding individuals and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Viva SBG!”
SBG’s Bill Campbell On BJJ & Tribe
“Well yet again I spent the weekend getting tortured.
Sweat on, face ground, ribs crushed, can’t breathe. I think in without lying I was choked well over 100 times over the past three days At the end your spend and don’t want to see the mat again until well at least until after you have a bite to eat and replenish some electrolytes..
All in the search for the most realistic and efficient way to control and finish another human being without a weapon.
It’s difficult for me to say why, or what drives me to put myself though this….
Perhaps I enjoy the puzzle, the workout, the people??? Know this, I’m not ever kidding when I say my favourite thing to do is choke people..
I sometimes think it is the peace in the struggle to survive.. It really does leave you with no room for your ” day to day worries” only the basic primal urge to survive while someone is trying their hardest to put you in a position where they have complete control over your life or body.
Other times I think it is about always feeling helpless or intimidated or less than as I grew up as well as throughout my adulthood .. That need NOT to feel less than has been a driving force since I started..The mat really does take away status, titles, money and whatever it is you think you are off the mat and it puts you in a place where your fears as well as excuses are evident and open to the world.
I meet and talk to a pile of people in a day.. Some I am meeting for the first time , others I’ve known my whole life..So many are lost in their world of security. Many never willing to be honest with themselves or anyone else.. Most desperately cling to their own perception of reality never truly willing to give up control..
It has become quite clear to me that people that don’t step on those mats may miss out on the sweat,pain, general discomfort, and possible risk of injury ( if your training in a healthy environment fear of injury is a bullshit excuse)
They will never have the opportunity to reach the level of trust I have reached with those people I train with.
I will lay it out..
I don’t believe you! I don’t trust you. It’s not that I think your a nice person. You probably are. I just don’t trust you.. Step on the mat with me. Train with me. Learn to be vulnerable..Leave the talk, and person you think you are off the mat and find out who you really are.. I know it’s scary. You will be ok.”
Eryk Anders Wins Pro Title
It seems like barely a month goes by before there is more exciting news out of SBG Alabama about the team’s rising star Eryk Anders. Anders has strung together six professional wins in just the last twelve months, with each victory more impressive than the last. In June, he extended his unbeaten pro record in his biggest challenge to date; a five round title fight for the vacant Legacy Fighting Alliance Middleweight belt, against fellow up-and-comer Brendan Allen.
Anders needed to put in a little extra work to earn his prize on this occasion, as the contest was the first time Anders had found himself in the championship rounds. After twenty-five hard-fought minutes, he was handed a unanimous decision victory; only the second decision win of his pro career. With a pro title now under his belt, it will be exciting to see what is next in store for Eryk. Congratulations on yet another phenomenal win!
Martin Stapleton Wins At Cage Warriors 85
SBG Manchester’s Martin Stapleton returned to winning ways in June at Cage Warriors 85. After a tough decision loss in his Cage Warriors debut back in February, Stapleton secured a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Donovan Desmae. The win takes Stapleton’s pro record to 19-5.
The event was held on Armed Forces day, and helped raise support for the REORG charity, a organization to support veterans and one close to Stapleton, a former Royal Marine himself:
“Last night was a special event for me being able to perform live on TV on Armed Forces day and with @cagewarriors promoting this event in support of the REORG Charity really put the icing on the cake so I’d like to thank @graham_boylan & @iandeanuk for making that happen.
I feel like this Camp has been the most I’ve improved over a 10 week period in my life and that’s all due to the help & support of the people around me; my Coaches, my Team mates, my Family, my Friends…. all of you are very special to me, you all know who you are and I appreciate every one of you.
October 28th is set for CageWarriors at the Echo Arena Liverpool & @iandeanuk knows how bad I wanna be on that card, for those that don’t know 28th October is the Birthday of the Royal Marines so will be yet another epic date for me to Fight on the biggest show in European MMA.
Last night was amazing but today is a new day, new goals are already set and a new, even sharper laser focus is aimed at Oct 28th. Back on the matts tomorrow, here we go again…..”
Congratulations to Stapleton and good luck in preparation for October!
Matt Inman Secures 20th Pro Win
Martin Stapleton wasn’t the only prominent MMA athlete out of SBG Manchester to secure a big win in June. Matt Inman took on Brad Wheeler at Cage Warriors 34, and came away with a unanimous decision victory to extend his professional record to 20-9. Like teammate Martin Stapleton, Inman’s win comes off the back of a loss in February. Prior to that though, Inman had put in two excellent displays; finishing David Rosmon by TKO, and memorably submitting Che Mills with a triangle choke under an intense barrage of strikes, on his Cage Warriors debut. Great work, Matt! It is awesome to see you back to winning ways!
SBG Ireland’s James Gallagher Wins Again!
Another country, another professional MMA win from another outstanding SBG athlete! This time, SBG Ireland’s most exciting prospect, James “Strabanimal” Gallagher, made it 7-0 in professional fights with his third rear-naked choke in a row. Gallagher, who made a highly publicized move to Bellator this time last year, has now won four fights in the last twelve months for one of the biggest MMA promotions in the world. He beat Chinzo Machida after a mere 2:22 minutes, in familiar style. The win by RNC makes it six of his seven wins by submission. After the bout, held at the legendary Madison Square Garden, Gallagher said:
“I feel a great pride and I’m kind of humbled by myself. I showed myself that I can do anything in this game. I’ve faced the highest pressure event that I’m probably ever gonna face. I’m gonna go on and do a lot bigger things in my career. I’m gonna win world titles and I’m gonna do much bigger things than I did on Saturday night but this moment is gonna be one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s a turning point.”
Prospects for Gallagher are exciting indeed. He used the post-fight interviews to call out both the reigning Bellator 145-pound champion, Patricio Freire, and announce a drop in weight down to 135 pounds. The statement suggests that, like teammate Conor McGregor before him, James Gallagher is eying more than one championship in one of the world’s biggest organizations!
Matt Thornton Interviews Rickson Gracie
The interview with Rickson Gracie is just the latest in an exciting line of SBG video podcasts covering everything from the birth of SBG, the SBG approach to martial arts, interviews with legends, and short instructional videos. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to the SBG Youtube channel for all the latest releases from Straight Blast Gym.
Thornton & Boghossian on the PDX Train Stabbing
Alongside the video interview, Matt has put together a blog post addressing the same incident, his concerns with its coverage, and the best plan of action for such problems. Matt has an unparalleled knowledge of the reality of violence, through first-hand work in the martial arts, , fellow SBG tribe members working in law enforcement, and comprehensive study of the underlying data behind violence in America today. Be sure to read the post and watch the interview for a fascinating, alternative take.
Don’t Miss This Months SBG Podcast Presenting Coach Cane
Be sure to like share and subscribe, and review on Itunes! Lets get the SBG Podcast to the forefront of Martial Arts Podcast.
-Click Here for the Itunes Podcast-
Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather Is Official!
Staggering news of an event that many thought would only ever occur in a dream world finally arrived in June, as it was announced that SBG Ireland’s Conor McGregor would be taking on boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in a straight boxing match! The fight, set for August 26th in Las Vegas, sees the highest earning, double UFC champion, McGregor compete in his first professional boxing bout against none other than undefeated, previously retired, future hall-of-famer Floyd Mayweather, whose record stands at an incredible 49-0.
Despite the overwhelming opinion in the media that McGregor doesn’t stand a chance, the SBG Irishman is defiant in his confidence:
“No one in this boxing game knows what’s coming. Trust me on that!… When I step in there, I’ll shock the whole … world. Trust me on that. Look me in the eyes. 28 years of age. Confident as a mother… Long, rangy, dangerous with every hand.
“Trust me, I’m going to stop Floyd. You’re all going to eat your words. The whole world is going to eat their words.”
While in the UFC, every fight McGregor took had critics doubting his abilities; where pundits predicted that this next fight would be the one where his trash-talking and over-confidence got him into trouble and we would see his demise. While this would no doubt be the greatest challenge, and by far the biggest fight, of his career, one can’t help but imagine that if there were one man who could pull of such an upset, it would be SBG’s favorite MMA hero!
SBG Fall Camp Registration Opens
Early registration for this year’s SBG Fall Camp is now officially open! This year, the Fall Camp will be held in Boise, and hosted by the good folks at SBG Idaho. The location is ideal for the host of SBG academies that are peppered throughout the north west, within a half day’s drive from SBG North, SBG Montana, Portland, Seattle and Nevada. As such, this is bound to be a fully-packed camp, with places filling up super early! Avoid disappointment, and save on registration fees, by signing up as soon as possible via sbgcamps.com.
We’re as excited for SBG Fall Camp as this gorilla, and here’s why… SBG Camps are an incredible experience! They are the best way to absorb an unprecedented amount of BJJ, stand up and self defense knowledge into one weekend, and they are the perfect way to meet members of the tribe from outside your own gym, as students from the world over decent on one location to learn together. Sign up today!
