The Gorilla Press, Issue 91
Medals at Masters World Championships
This August, SBG sent an unprecedented number of its highest level BJJ competitors to take part in the annual IBJJF Masters World Championships in Las Vegas. With competitors from blue belt to black, and in age brackets from thirty all the way up to those in their 60s, the SBG contingent took on the best in the world and came home with an impressive 6 medals to their name! Amanda Diggins, who represents SBG Portland at the highest level of BJJ on an almost monthly basis, finally took home her first black belt world championship gold, alongside fellow black belt coach, Leah Taylor, from SBG Montana. Amanda also came away with a bronze medal in the black belt Open class!
Also ending the competition at the very top of the podium was SBG Alabama rising star Eryk Anders. Fresh off his emphatic UFC TKO debut a few weeks prior, Eryk made his presence felt in the gi, winning the Super Heavy Masters 1 division at purple belt.
Amongst the other black belt competitors were such SBG legends as John Frankl, Rick Davison, and SBG Vice President Travis Davison. Here is the latter in his first Worlds Masters match-up:
“Here is my first match from Masters Worlds. I lost focus and nearly lost the match. It was all I could do to hang on and win by the slimmest of margins. Listening to it now I’m humbled by all the support and expert coaching. Thank you Matt Thornton, Chris Conolley and John Kavanagh for having my back.
Viva SBG!!!”
Also winning medals were Harry Bramel, who took third in his blue belt division, Kasey Botelho and Kisa Davison, who took third in their respective purple belt divisions, and Anick Bernier, who earned a bronze medal at brown belt. Congratulations to all who competed. The whole tribe in immensely proud of all your achievements and your willingness to represent SBG at the highest level!
John Kavanagh on Fighting
SBG Ireland Head Coach John Kavanagh had this to share on the subject of fighting, winning and losing, while taking a class at the Las Vegas Wimp2Warrior. Wimp2Warrior takes regular, untrained people and puts them through a rigorous training to prepare them for their first amateur MMA fight in the cage. The W2W finale in Portland takes place in September. Contact Zach Thornton at the SBG Portland HQ for tickets to support the tribe!
Matt Thornton on Fear
SBG Head Coach Matt Thornton continued his prolific spell of writing this month via his blog. Again he explores fascinating topics that outline the fundamentals of the martial arts and applies that knowledge to real life situations we can all relate to, whether you’re a BJJ black belt or have no interest in the art at all. In his most recent post he explores the idea of fear and how best to govern this emotion; one that can have an unwelcome control on much of our lives.
Matt starts by recalling an anecdote from the legendary Rickson Gracie; one in which he experienced feelings of high stress and fear which he lost control over. Instead of running from his fear, he chose instead to confront it and conquer it through exposure in a safe, controlled way. Matt uses this story as a jumping off point to outline the critical elements for safely and effectively harnessing control over certain fears. Essentially, identifying your fear for what it really is, allowing for gradual exposure to said fear, and doing so in a controlled environment around people that you trust.
On the subject of one’s control over the mind and identifying what and what not to trouble oneself with, few have said it better than the Stoic philosophers:
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Aurelius
For a thorough and in-depth look at the governance of fear, be sure to read the entire post here.
Belt Promotions at SBG Portland
The SBG HQ in Portland saw a major belt promotion last week! As the gym continues to grow in leaps and bounds, events that used to involve the promotion of just one or two tribe members are now instead gigantic celebrations that often see those receiving new belts numbering in double figures!
This time around, six members received their blue belts, two got their purple belts, and one a brown belt. Congratulations to David McDonald, Amir Torkzadeh, Dirt Deodara, Ashmead Pithystem, Matthew Chapman and Dakota Sanchez on their new blue belts, Zach Thornton and JJ Hewitt on their purple belts, and Andrew Gundlach on his well-deserved brown belt! All the new promotees rolled with every other SBG member in attendance for close to two hours, in a celebration of the role each tribe member plays in the success of the individual. As always, it was an awesome event that each athlete will forever remember!
Belt promotions are happening around the SBG universe all the time. Over in SBG Athens, young Submission Samurai, Obayemi received his orange belt! Congratulations Obayemi!
SBG’s September Podcast
Don’t forget to give this months podcast alike, a share, and a download on ITunes!
SBG’s Lily Pagle Interviewed
SBG has long-known about the amazing achievements of SBG NorCal founder Lily Pagle. SBG’s first female BJJ black belt, as well as a judo black belt, she began her martial arts career at the age of 47, and adds to those credentials a Masters degree in Sports Psychology. However, while her prowess is well established in SBG circles, she is still being discovered by the outside world! Last month the website Medium wrote a piece on her entitled “Intrinsic Motivation”. In the article and interview she discusses the need for intrinsic motivation and the ability to have fun in what you do as the key to her success.
The idea of having fun is one that is shared throughout the tribe. Instead of the usual advice to work hard, grind and struggle through training, you will often find SBG’s highest ranked coaches encourage approaching the martial arts journey with a playful and inquisitive mind. They emphasize the importance of having fun in what we all do. It is this attitude that sees legends of SBG such as Lily continue to train into her 60s and continue to be an inspiration to all who train alongside and under her!
Conor McGregor loses, but impresses, against Mayweather
August saw the fight that many never believed would actually take place finally happen. The “Money Fight” between boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and SBG Ireland’s own Conor McGregor became the highest grossing boxing match, and indeed combat sports event, of all time. The boxing match had more people tuning in to watch than for the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight, and dwarfing even Conor McGregor’s previous UFC PPV numbers. But aside from the sheer popularity and hype surrounding the contest, what many predicted to be a night of embarrassment for SBG’s most famous face, actually turned into a respectable contest that surprised many boxing pundits, and indeed, Mayweather himself.
Mayweather won the fight via a stoppage in the tenth round. Behind his bravado and swagger, McGregor emulates many of the traits that SBG holds dear. The desire to constantly test oneself to the highest possible level in a search for truth, the governance of fear, and the knowledge of the fundamentals of fighting that allow one to compete against anyone regardless of the rule set, all shone through in McGregor’s performance. More than that, the importance of tribe also was notable. McGregor continues working with the same SBG Ireland team as he always has, being supported by close family, and embracing tribe members from around the world after the event. Congratulations to Conor McGregor, John Kavanagh, and the whole SBG Ireland team!
Rich Beaupit’s Note to His SBG Kids Class
Aside from the fanfare and excitement of the biggest boxing match in history, what SBG is all about is often found in the smaller things. SBG is a welcoming tribe, treating each member like family regardless of which gym you find yourself in around the world. One such example of this comes from Rich Beaupit, of SBG Niagara. Here is the note he wrote to each of his kid students in preparation for their return to school:
“To All My SBG Kids,
The most important thing you can bring back to school with you is CONFIDENCE. And don’t let anyone take it from you.
New teacher? New principal? Give them a chance.
Be positive. Have fun. Enjoy your new school year.
Talk about your day to your Mom & Dad. Tell them about what you did. Tell them what you liked and didn’t like. They want to know. I also want to know. You can talk to me and I will listen.
I am here for you.
Let’s have the BEST year ever!
Coach Rich”
And Finally…
What is the antithesis of SBG and its training philosophy? What runs counter to the tribe’s scientific approach to the martial arts and its lessons learned through the practice of Aliveness – training against resistance, timing and motion? Why, it is Urban Krav Maga, and the headbutt to the motorcycle helmet… a great idea when you realize how badly you could hurt your hands by punching someone that’s wearing a helmet….
