The Gorilla Press, Issue 94

SBG Releases 10th Video Podcast!

2017 has seen an incredible increase in the amount of top quality content SBG has been imparting on the world! Earlier this year was the release of SBG’s very first video podcast, an hour long special on the one of SBG’s key tenets; the importance of Tribe.  This month we have the pleasure of bringing you one of SBG’s original world champion coaches, Adam Singer.


SBG President, Matt Thornton, who has long been a tireless proponent of the importance of fundamentals across all arenas of combat, and an outer of phony martial artists claiming to provide knowledge for life-or-death situations, shared his thoughts on the video, and on the immense value that men like Paul Sharp bring to the tribe:

“As coach Sharp notes here, we’ve let the fantasy based Krav/Systema/Kali folks run with this topic for far too long. It’s time to step up and remind people that when it comes to realistic self-defense, nothing comes close to the effectiveness of combat athletics – nothing.

But there is a lot more to this episode.

All of us fall short from time to time. One of the ways I try and keep myself in check, is to make sure I keep men around me with an integrity I admire. Men with character, who I’ll actually listen to when I really need to hear something. Paul is one of those men.

A healthy Tribe needs all kinds of good humans who play all kinds of important roles. One of those roles, is elder. That’s someone you should pay careful attention to when they offer advice. Paul is one of SBG’s..

So set aside some time, open your mind, listen carefully, and then spread the word. Like, share, subscribe, and remember what Paul says here – life is beautiful.”

The video couldn’t come at a more important time. Despite combat athletics proving the effectiveness of a few martial arts over the many, the world is still rife with charlatans selling bad advice for profit:

SBG Chokes Out Cancer & Raises over $30,000!

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!!!

SBG UK Camp Highlights

Alongside the incredible video podcasts that are available, SBG’s Youtube page has been updated with a whole host of other fascinating and insightful, shorter videos. These include weekly BJJ and self defense instructionals, and highlights from everything going on in the SBG universe. Here is a great clip showcasing the very best bits from the recent SBG camp that took place in the UK. SBG President and Vice President, Matt Thornton and Travis Davison, were both in attendance alongside SBG UK’s coach Karl Tanswell. Here, they cover the SBG UK Camp as well as the great sense of community with SBG in general.

SBG Spring Camp Registration Opens

As one amazing camp comes to an end, it is time to start planning for the next one! Spring Camp registration opened in November, and 2018 will see SBG Athens play host!

“Every year these get better. Every year these get bigger. Every camp, for the last two years, has sold out. Every camp, for the last two years, has sold out faster than the one before. This will probably sell out before the early registration deadline ends. 
Make your plans. Reserve your spot. Prepare for a great time. Spring Camp, 2018, Athens, GA. 
Be there.” — Matt Thornton, SBG President

The camp will run from March 23rd to March 25th, and early registration runs until February 25th. Get in early to save big on price and to avoid disappointment!

 

Click Here To Register

 

Matt Thornton Heads To SBG Scarborough

Matt Thornton added another stamp to his passport in November when he headed back up to Canada, this time to host a seminar at SBG Scarborough. Alongside another great seminar, the tribe members of Scarborough held a special ironman event; celebrating the promotion of three students from white belt to brand-new blue belts! Congratulations to John, Jordan and Kevin on their achievement!

“A phenomenal weekend with SBG President and BJJ Black Belt, Matt Thornton where he shared his mount curriculum with us at SBG Scarborough. Even though the seminar was focused on the mount position, the real take home lesson was ‘connection’… Connection to our opponents to improve our Jiu-Jitsu, connection to our team mates to improve our community and finally, connection to each other to improve our friendships. 
A pleasure to hang out with him over the weekend and we look forward to many more opportunities in the future.”

Coach Cane on Competition Coaching

SBG Portland’s Coach Cane Prevost has rightfully earned a reputation as one of SBG’s best coaches, specializing in the ability to simplify the essence of BJJ and make it easily learn-able for those who cannot commit endless hours to their training. Often focusing instead on the ability to create BJJ black belts out of students only able to train a few hours a week, it is a rare treat for him to impart his wisdom on competition coaching. However, as he outlines in his latest article, the last twelve months have seen his daughter, and fellow SBG Portland coach, Ella Prevost take to the competition mats. This has allowed Coach Cane to spend time watching, coaching, and learning from the sidelines. This article discusses his findings about what a competing student needs and what they definitely don’t need… as usual it is a simple and effective article, and allows anyone, regardless of BJJ ability, to be a better coach to their athlete.

If ever evidence was needed of the huge benefits that can be achieved through competition, one need look no further than Ella herself, who not only has improved immensely with every challenge on a technical level, but has clearly been learning the priceless lessons of character that come along with those challenges:

Matt Thornton on Fundamentals

“Fundamentals are not defined as what’s most basic, but rather, what’s most important. With them you can learn to adapt and fight in any environment. Without them you’re vulnerable in every environment. 
The collection of core fundamentals within a given range, stand up, clinch, and ground – is known as a ‘delivery system’. And while circumstances dictate tactics, and plans change upon contact, the root skills you need to develop in the delivery systems remain the same.
Aliveness is the method, the epistemology. The core fundamentals of the delivery system are the material. And style is what evolves within you when you combine both. It will be as different as every individual, and it will be yours alone.
Fundamentals – Delivery Systems – and individual Style, that’s what Bruce Lee was after. That’s what JKD could have been. That’s what Mixed Martial Arts became. And that’s what SBG is.”


Matt Thornton expands on his principle of the importance of fundamentals in his most recent article, “The Finger & The Moon – how JKD lost its way”. In it, he covers again the essential idea of fundamentals, and how this compares to the erroneous way of thinking in terms of ‘styles’. Where once ‘styles’ meant differing ancient arts, often today this is replaced with more subtle ‘style’ differences within BJJ, often based on the emulating the highest level grapplers. The shift away from teaching styles of martial arts and towards the fundamentals that underly any success with a given style, is what has separated SBG for decades, and continues to do so today.


What’s your lineage? SBG Montana’s goes from Chris Haueter to Matt Thornton to Travis Davison. Know your history!

Amanda Diggins Self Defense Seminar Attracts Over 100 Participants


SBG Portland Coach and IBJJF Master black belt world champion, Amanda Diggins, put on a completely free women’s self defense seminar in November. The event, which saw Coach Amanda appearing on local news channel KATU, had the mats of SBG Portland filled to capacity! Over 150 women attended; both current members and those from outside the tribe. The event was a huge success, and also an great public service, allowing an enormous number of women, young and old, to learn essential skills that could be truly life changing!

SARC, the Sexual Assault Resource Center of Oregon, attended the event and had this to share:

We had so much fun at a women’s self-defense workshop at SBGi – Straight Blast Gym – Portland, Oregon!! Thanks to Andy, who donated this workshop to SARC, and thanks to Amanda and her team of volunteers today!

We learned some key moves and were in a gym full of women and girls feeling strong and confident together.

If you’d like more info on a workshop or some special classes focusing on self-defense jiu jitsu-style, this is your place!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the gym and for donating to SARC!”

Meanwhile, out in Boise, ID, fellow BJJ black belt and world champion Leah Taylor hosted her own women’s self defense seminar! Between the two they reached hundreds of women, helping to keep their respective communities safer and more aware.

The same style of free self defense seminar will soon be coming to the brand-new SBG Illinois too! Do you know any women that would like to learn how to avoid, deter, and de-escalate threatening situations, as well as how to defend themselves if they have to? Learn real and practical methods to keep you and your loved ones safe. All proceeds go to the Women’s Crisis Center of Elgin!!

Dillon Tuke Wins At BAMMA 32

SBG Ireland’s latest up-and-coming talent, Dillon “The Nuke” Tuke marked his return to the BAMMA promotion with an emphatic TKO win over David Khalsa this month. The highlight reel finish to the match can be viewed above, with Dillon unleashing a vicious left roundhouse kick that saw shin connect with the head of his ducking opponent. Tuke then ensured the win by finishing Khalsa with a brief flurry of punches. It takes his pro record to 4-1, and is a return to professional competition after nearly a year away from the cage. Congratulations to Dillon on this most impressive of victories!

SBG Athens Visits Henry Akins

“For those of you unfamiliar with the man in the picture with us, his name is Henry Akins. Henry is a Black Belt under Rickson Gracie (his 3rd American BB) and taught at his academy for over 10 years.

It was great spending time learning from someone that is so close to Rickson and who can elucidate all that make’s Rickson’s Jiu Jitsu the best in history.

Not only is #SBG (and therefore #SBGAthens) part of Rickson’s BJJ Association (https://jjgf.com/pages/teams) but training with one of his closest Black Belts was an amazing experience.

Thank you to Ryan Ford and The Grappling Central PodCast for being so integral in getting Henry to Atlanta.

We look forward to seeing Henry on the mats again, and maybe next time it will be even closer to home.”

— Straight Blast Gym Athens

SBG Montana in the news again!

Athletes from SBG Montana made it into the newspapers again this month, this time featuring in the regional Daily Inter Lake newspaper after yet another bountiful medal haul at the recent Revolution tournament in Tacoma, WA. The article went deeper though, using the recent success as a jumping off point to discuss the rapid growth of BJJ and SBG in the region.

The article comes as SBG Missoula just opened its doors two weeks ago, following SBG Big Fork who opened last month! The two brand-new SBG facilities join SBG Montana in Kalispell and SBG North in Whitefish, to make four state-of-the-art SBG facilities in western Montana.

The full article covers the growth of SBG within the state and lists all the medalists from the recent tournament.

Congratulations to all who competed!

Raising Money for SBG Portland Coach Justin

If you haven’t already heard, SBG Portland suffered some bad news this week when it was revealed one of their beloved coaches, Justin Abbott, was diagnosed with liver failure. Currently in the hospital and awaiting a liver transplant, Justin, a wonderful training partner, coach and individual, has been in the thoughts of everyone at SBG Portland this past week. So far, family, friends and tribe members have managed to raise over $7,000 to go towards helping with the costs and to help Justin and his wife, Destiny get back on their feet during this difficult time. If you are able and willing to help out, even slightly, you can do so here.

Get well soon, Justin!