October got started with a bang for SBG, as the first of the month saw a three SBG names take to the cage to compete at the fifth Submission Underground event in Portland, OR. The event, which is growing in popularity with every card, and has plays host to some of the very biggest names in submission grappling, returned on October 1st, with none other than Amanda Diggins in the main event! The SBG Portland black belt, coach, and all-around awesome person took on UFC veteran Sarah Kaufman in a thrilling encounter that did justice to it’s main event status. While Sarah proved a worthy adversary for SBG’s BJJ Masters World Champion, after regular time ended in a draw, the sudden death rounds saw Amanda Diggins seal a comfortable victory; showing flawless composure in the arm bar position before loosening up her opponent enough to get the submission.

Earlier in the evening, Ricky and Stella Davison both competed on the undercard. Ricky submitted Sage Brown with an ankle lock in their youth match, with a level of ruthless professionalism far beyond his years. Prior to that, Stella Davison fought bravely against perhaps the best youth female submission grappler around, in Grace Gundrum. The contest went into overtime, where Stella lost in the sudden death rounds despite a valiant effort that she can be more than proud of.

Congratulations to Amanda, Ricky and Stella on their great performances in front of a global audience!

SBG At NAGA Utah

Last month SBG adults and kids traveled to Utah to compete in the regional NAGA tournament. The trip was a resounding success, as the brave athletes came home with 12 adult no gi medals, 12 adult gi medals, and a staggering 31 kids medals! SBG won the gi team event, came third in the no gi event, and took second in the kids team event. After all the points were totaled, SBG was crowned the overall team winner! Congratulations to every athlete who took part, the adults, and especially all the kids, whose medal haul surely proved to be the key factor in getting the tribe to first place! Keep up the great work everyone!

SBG #ChokeOutCancer

Since the beginning of September, SBG’s around the world have bee taking part in the #chokeoutcancer campaign. The effort, which raises money for breast cancer research charity, Susan G Komen, has seen SBG’s academies selling limited edition pink BJJ belts to its students for the past two months. The event ended at the end of October, and the most recent figure for the amount SBG has raised is an incredible $32,400!!!

The staggering success of the campaign has not just meant a lot in terms of dollars raised, but has also brought the tribe closer together, as member who have either battled breast cancer themselves, or known those who have, have been moved to share their stories. One such story is from Angela from SBG Montana, who shared:

“Everyone talks about how joining the gym changes your life. You become confidant, stronger, healthier, happier, and so much more.

We fail to notice or realize the support we receive and how close we become to the people we train with daily. That realization came to me the day I received my diagnosis for breast cancer.

In February, of this year, I was diagnosed with DCIS (ductal carcinoma insitu) early stage of breast cancer.

After receiving the news, I called Kisa Davison, co-owner of SBG Montana, where my family has trained for nearly four years. As I poured out my anger and fears through crying, cussing, yelling, she just listened and talked me through it.

She could’ve said she was too busy or not answered the phone at all, but she didn’t. She listened. She helped me realize that I had so much support and because of that I would be okay. She was the voice of reason I needed at a time my world was crumbling.

I wanted to do something for myself before the endless appointments began, so I competed in a jiu jitsu tournament. I had my husband, children, coaches, and team behind me. I overcame so much that day, and for the first time got to step up on the podium.

Once all my appointments began, I had to take a break from training. Even though I was not physically at SBG, the support and encouragement was still surrounding me. Because of my tribe, husband, and children I was able to overcome the battles, the depression, and the fears. Five months later, I competed in another tournament and stood once again on the podium.

This tribe is amazing, not just for me, but for the special women in my life, who lost their battle to this horrible disease.

The wonderful members of this tribe not only wear the belts, but they truly helped saved me in a moment I was at my weakest. For that I will always be grateful and proud to say my family is apart of SBG!”

Another woman who wanted to share her story was Joy, from SBG Alabama, who was diagnosed just a few short weeks prior to the SBG #chokeoutcancer campaign getting underway. Here is her story…

Amanda Diggins on Portland Today

SBG black belt coach Amanda Diggins, fresh off her high profile victory at Submission Underground 5, graced our tv screens this month when invited to KGW’s Portland Today. There, she talked briefly about the life changing impact BJJ has had on her life, and demonstrated some simple self defense techniques that anyone can quickly get to grips with, with only the slightest BJJ training. Amanda frequently hosts women’s self defense seminars, often completely free of charge, so that others can be well-prepared to deal with dangerous situations.

Amanda is hosting one such event next week! On Saturday, November 11th, Amanda Diggins will be teaching a completely free, two-hour seminar for practical self-defense tips! If you’re in the Portland area, be sure to check it out! Its free, and it could save your life!

Three New Black Belts at SBG Fall Camp

This year’s Fall Camp was the very first time that SBG Idaho hosted the event. The gym has only been a part of the tribe a few short years, but in that time they have made a huge impact, representing SBG at IBJJF world championships and at the highest levels of MMA. The Fall Camp went flawlessly, with SBG’s finest coaches converging on Boise to teach their latest material. On day one, Coach Singer taught a fantastic clinch class, Matt Thornton demonstrated his game-changing mount curriculum, SBG VP Travis Davison taught guard for application across all rule sets, and Salome Thornton ended the day with a yoga class. On day two, Kisa Davison opened with yoga, Phillipe Gentry covered some knee on belly fundamentals and Coach Amanda Diggins went over some great details and fantastic fundamentals aspects of passing an open guard. The second half of day two was capped by coach Cane Prevost covering a great conceptual class on building a complete game and Coach Paul Sharp with some potentially life-saving knife defense using a two on one grip.

But aside from all the great classes, as is so often the case at SBG Camps, a big surprise was in store. This year, SBG Idaho coaches Jesse Brock, Michael Ransom and Jake Martinez, were all awarded their well-deserved BJJ black belts! Congratulations to all three on a truly remarkable achievement.

“One of great privileges of my job is acknowledging new black belts. Today I was fortunate enough to add three more. The credit belongs to Scott Thometz, and the rest of the SBG Idaho crew. The athletes and coaches here are phenomenal.

I’m very proud to have awarded Michael Ransom, Jake Martinez, and Jesse Brock their BJJ black belts this afternoon.

The Tribe grows stronger. SBG.”  – Coach Matt Thornton

Brad Bentley had this to share as he reflected on the Fall Camp:

“You are the average of those that you surround yourself with.

After every SBG Camp I realize that I, personally, and our gym as a community and sum of it’s parts is stronger than anything else in this community.

It’s not about Martial Arts, it’s not about fitness, it’s about the Tribe. Without question SBG has the best methods and coaches when it comes to delivering knowledge and helping everyone from kids to schoolteachers to seasoned athletes and competitors learn and develop skills in the martial arts, but its the Tribe that separates us and will continue to separate us from everyone else. I will never be in the business of teaching martial arts, I will be in the action of creating a strong community of like-minded, well-developed critical thinkers that are prepared for everything “From a harsh look to a hand grenade.” (Credit to Coach Sharp)

In 3 years that we have been with this organization, camps have not only given me incredible knowledge and growth in my jiu jitsu journey but grown and strengthened my Tribe due to the relationships that have been built and developed at these events. When we tell you that these camps are invaluable to your growth, it is your growth as a human being and this is not hyperbole on my part you can ask any member/coach that has attended camp.

I am incredibly proud to have the 3 men that received their black belts this weekend in my life. They have been a huge reason I am where I am right now as a martial artist and as a man. These are the people I surround myself with, these are people that force me to evolve and constantly be a better version of myself than I was the day before. This is the value of Tribe, this is the value of surrounding yourself with valuable people.

Thank you to all of the coaches for your time and knowledge and members of the extended SBG tribe for making the trip to my home. I appreciate each and every one of you for what you do and you are what made the hard work, preparation, and clean up for the event worth every minute.

Viva SBG!”

Another SBG student who was willing to share her thoughts on the SBG Camp program was Cate Harris of SBG Athens, who has had the good fortune, and shown the dedication, to attend the last three events. Here’s what she had to share:

“I had the great honor and privilege to be able to attend all three SBG camps this year in Niagara, Berkeley, and Boise. They all aligned perfectly during the times I wasn’t injured, so to say that I am grateful is an understatement.

Tribe makes you feel like you belong, that you’re indeed necessary for the continuation of the conglomerate. Perhaps a large part of it boils down to self-sufficiency, as the symbiotic nature between self-care and Tribe must be strong in order to yield maximum growth.

The theme for this past weekend at camp was ‘Inspiration’ and I will say that I am indeed inspired. Inspired to take better care of myself (thanks Kisa and Salome, I’ve finally got the yoga bug and am looking for an Iyengar instructor presently in town)… Inspired to be okay with feeling frustrated in my Jiu-jitsu… Inspired to feel confident in myself and assert myself more instead of saying, “Well, I’m just a woman and that’s why new white belt guys don’t listen to me” (thanks for all the great talks, Amanda)… Inspired to knee ride the shit out of people (thanks Phillipe)… and Inspired to continue to coach my students up so that we can all become better; together.

Describing the word tribe continues to remain an ineffable event as there are no words to properly dictate what it means to be apart of. Though if I were to give it a good ol’ college try, I would just steal Sebastian Junger’s words from his book ‘Tribe’.

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“Robert Frost famously wrote that home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. The word “tribe” is far harder to define, but a start might be the people you feel compelled to share the last of your food with. This book is about why that sentiment is such a rare and precious thing in modern society, and how the lack of it has affected us all. It’s about what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty and belonging and the eternal human quest for meaning. 
… Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary. It’s time for that to end.” 

 

 

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