Gorilla Press – Fall Camp Review & More, October/November 2007
“Sol y Playa” – SBGi Fall Camp Review
SBGi Puerto Vallarta Camp Success!

The 10th annual SBGi Fall Camp, which took place this year at a deluxe resort in Puerto Vallarta Mexico was by all accounts fantastic. The camp included three BJJ black belts, five SBGi coaches, and took place over a 5-day training period.

Note: these sections did not occur in this exact order, and details are subject to change upon recollection.

Section #1: Started with a free roll with all the members, and the preceded into a Q and A section with all the coaches. Topics included the definitions of a fundamental, things to look for when evaluating material (core principles, details on fundamentals, and something that directly affects your game), as well as many specific questions asked by camp participants.

Scuba diving, snorkeling, pool volleyball, and a large dinner banquet followed.

Section #2: Featured SBGi Coach & BJJ black belt John Kavanagh’s new “spider web” guard material. This is a call out drill that acts as a counter to the well known SBGi “guard surfing” passing drill. This drill became an instant classic, and is sure to be passed on at all the various SBGi locations.

Swimming, lizard hikes, tequila bingo, and a large dinner banquet followed.

Section #3: Was taught by SBGi President Matt Thornton, and featured the breaking the line drill. Followed by a sweep, and the counter to the sweep which involved a very careful method of opening up the closed guard. Followed by rolling and another Q & A section.

Lounging by the pool, shopping in downtown PV, spider hunts, and a large dinner banquet followed.

Section # 4: Featured SBGi Coach & BJJ black belt Karl Tanswell teaching his latest innovations as they relate to BJJ and MMA. These included a comprehensive section on finishing from back control, as well as the new move known only as “pelican bay”.

Laying in the pool, pina coladas, and a large dinner banquet followed.

Section #5: Was taught by Portland SBGi Boxing Coach Brian Walsh. Brian brought his creative and fun training methods to the camp, with some very unique drills that helped the athletes in development of proper position, footwork, balance, power, shifting weight, getting into the clinch, sparring safely, and “golf strokes”.

Brian brings a lighter and more enjoyable vibe to the stand up game, which allows the athletes an environment where they can explore and learn in a fast, fun and effective manner. As Brian stated, “It’s all about cutting angles, and getting the leverage to punch to hurt. . . .it’s about movement and distance . . . good stand up is about lay ups, not free throws.”

Dancing, scuba in the pool, a night time pirate raid, and a large dinner banquet followed.

Section #6: Was taught by SBGi Coach & BJJ brown belt Travis Davison. Travis focused on clinch with cloth, and covered some great competition set ups for starting matches. These included grip fighting, sleeve control, using the overhook and collar, and attacking from the guard.

Activities that followed to remain confidential, due to National Security.

Extra training session #7: On the last day of the Camp an extra training and rolling session occurred outdoors, and provided an additional opportunity for some final questions of the coaches.

All in all a great time was had. . . look for the Spring 2008 camp to be held at the newly re-modeled SBGi Headquarters in Portland, OR sometime around March. Exact dates and sign up info should be available in the coming weeks. See you there!
New SBGi Purple Belt
This last weekend SBGi President Matt Thornton traveled to Edmonton Canada to teach a three day training seminar. He was assisted by longtime SBGi Coach Travis Davison. Also in attendance and assisting was SBGi Coach & friend Rich Beaupit from www.beaupitsmixedmartialarts.com. While there Matt promoted Calen Paine to a well deserved BJJ purple belt, as well as Andy Campbell and Anthony Stauffer who recieved blue belts. Here is a write up from a student who attended the event:

“Matt Thornton, Round 3:

At the moment I am just recuperating from an insightful and physically demanding weekend. As with all Matt Thornton and Straight Blast Gym International seminars, we are put through the paces with the latest training innovations in MMA and Brazilian Ju Jitsu. Some of the topics covered were spider guard, guard surfing, insuring the rear naked choke, MMA stand up, and some very cool anti clinch tactics that can be used against the wall or cage.

We also had the pleasure of Travis, a BJJ brown belt who has trained under Matt for 8 years, he assisted the seminar and shared his own BJJ specialties with our group.”

There are typically 5 belt levels with 3 stripes within each level. It starts with white, then blue, purple, brown and then the last one being black. In BJJ it is performance based, and the only way to advance is if you can functionally perform the tactics. Straight Blast Gym International BJJ ranking standards are very high so if you receive a belt promotion from this organization rest assured, you earned it.
Competition Team Updates
Mod Com at U.S. Open
Congrats to the Modern Combatives team from Berkeley for a solid effort at the U.S. Open in Santa Cruz, CA last month. Alan Pagle writes that ” a bunch of our guys competed last weekend at the US Open… we got a bunch of 3rd places and everyone trained hard and showed a lot of improvement.”

Great Day for Beaupit’s MMA/SBGi Canada
From Rich Beaupit: “Hi everyone, just got home from the Bravado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament held in Toronto, and want to say we had a great day competing.

The adults that went gave a good showing, losing in the first rounds, but learning some valuable lessons that would not have been learned had they not competed.

My four-member childrens team each placed, 2 silver and 2 bronze. One of the silver medal winners, 13 year-old Mitchell, was fighting in his first tourney, and has been training for only 3 months. Great kid, great work ethic, and so strong for 13.
He won 3 and lost 1, winning with arm bar, triangle, and overtime takedown. Great moment when he shot a single and ended up picking his opponent up over his shoulders and then putting him down and taking side control right away.

Derek, 15, won 2 matches, one with shoulder of justice on the guys neck, and one with the “Von Flue.” He double legged the guy, got caught in a guillotine, and then applied the Von Flue!!

The best thing is they all used good basic skills and overcame some opponents that were maybe more technical than them, but not as solid on basic skill.

Will try to post some video footage soon.

On a side note, I remember the last time I was with Matt in Edmonton, he asked me if I was sick of attending so many of the seminars because they were basically the same thing each time. I told him no as I learn something “new” everytime. Not a technique, but some little thing about a basic skill. That is what I love about SBG: good, strong basics that work. And for me, my kids proved it today. Great day as a Coach!”

Nexus Athlete Sweeps Two Divisions
From Steve Whittier: “Congrats to Ryan Parker, one of our blue belts who competed in the WFL Dragon Lair Grappling Challenge on Sat. He had a long day, starting at 10:30am with one division and waiting until 5:30pm for the next one. It was worth it… he won first in his weight both in the Intermediate and Advanced divisions (gi and no-gi), finishing all his opponents by armbar.”