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in loving memory
Best of SBG year end podcast
Pillars of SBG From Steve Bazea
Three sides of the same object, three perspectives of the same phenomena but each part essential to the whole. Aliveness is the epistemology of functional martial arts, it is the self-correcting mechanism that allows us to adjust our form to align with function.
It is SBG’s truth seeking method.
Matt Thornton – SBG president.
When
it comes to combat, or self defence, if your beliefs about reality
don’t match reality, the end result can be at best painful, and at
worst, fatal.
Matt Thornton – SBG president
UNIVERSAL– It will transcend culture, geography, bodies, era, and venue.
True now, true here, true there, true always. It allows the practitioner the ability to move between environments.
2- REPEATABLE – It doesn’t just work for one subject, but works for anyone.
It
works for the small, the large, the many and the few. It doesn’t rely
on youth, speed, or strength. It updates the software without damaging
the hardware.
3- EFFICIENT – It provides maximum benefit with
minimum effort, maximum leverage with minimum energy and maximum control
with minimum risk.
Efficiency in fighting is synonymous with intelligence in fighting – and it is what we at SBG do.
One of the major training methods SBG uses is the I-method – a three stage training sequence used for most skill development and drills. INTRODUCTION – learning the motion, technique and skill correctly without resistance. ISOLATION – the drilling stage and INTEGRATION – the sparring stage.
New blackbelts at the 2022 fall camp
matt thornton heads to sbg texas
sbgu's last release of 2022
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Mike Sian on receiving his black belt
sbg's newest academy coming to borneo
“SBG things are happening in Asia! My good friend and newly-minted black belt Eric Knight is now in Malaysia!” – John Frankl
"it's all wrestling" from sbg clinch coach robert verdell
“
strong message from alex enlund
a message from SBG east coast Stephen whittier
sbg ireland camp and newest black belts
from sbg u.k. black belt casey jones
“Amazing weekend in Dublin at SBG Ireland HQ so many great sessions and so much awesome BJJ to take in.
the rule on attributes and training - matt thornton
Simple rule: Develop as much strength, speed, energy, and attributes as you can possibly develop. Be a physical monster—AND—use as little strength, speed, energy, and attributes as humanly possible when you’re training and rolling in the gym.
Improve your Jiu-Jitsu game by improving your Jiu-Jitsu. 
strong words from justin garcia
“Every Jiu Jitsu match I’ve lost was because my Jiu Jitsu wasn’t good enough. Injury, fatigue, bad reffing, etc… None of that matters. If my Jiu Jitsu was good enough, they would’ve tapped. Becoming emotional after losing is the setup your failures need to repeat themselves. Do the work and make your Jiu Jitsu good enough.“
-Justin Garcia
John Will on Culture
“Culture is King
paul sharp on mdoc 2
First a little history. In 1999 I introduced the combatives world to the Helmet aka the Default Cover. You can see this documented in the original ISR Matrix instructionals filmed in the 1990’s. In 2001 I introduced the combatives world to the Mountain Goat Drill aka 3rd Eye Drill which you can see documented in the SBG Camp instructional, I, along with a small handful of guys, was championing the use of Boxing/Muay Thai, Wrestling, and BJJ as the best delivery system for fighting in and out of a sportive environment.
This is why you can hear me say on the SBG Camp instructionals released in 2003, “We’re not sport or street, we’re taking it off-road baby!!” Our goal was to make good people dangerous to bad people. We wanted to build human Baja racing cars/trucks. You can drive it on a track, or on the street and be competitive but if you really want to outperform everyone else you take ‘em off road. 
Even though I have spent a lifetime developing and optimizing this hybrid training method, integrating sport and street strategies, tactics, and techniques, I’m still not satisfied. There’s more to do. I can go deeper and in MDOC 2.0 that’s exactly what we do!! MDOC 1.0 was solid and I could continue to teach the same material for the next 10-20 years. However, I’m not resting on laurels. I’ve continued to train, test, and evaluate everything I present. I’m in the mix every day, training and pushing my limits, deepening my understanding of how to apply this in a combative weapon based environment.
At this point I’m closing in on 3 decades of actively studying, teaching, and applying this material. MDOC 2.0 is where I am in 2022 in my study. Come train with me. I’ll teach you the fastest way to take your combat sport and optimize it as a delivery system that works in any environment. ”
sbg uk camp
“I just finished the Saturday session at the SBG UK Camp. It’s always great to be here with everyone. It’s especially nice considering Covid meant it’s been three years since my last trip.
The level of instruction has been phenomenal, and I’ve enjoyed every session. Here, it’s always fundamental Jiu-Jitsu that’s designed for fighting, the best kind.
At the end of my session I had some stripes to hand out. Last time I was here I had planned to say a few words about Karl. When the time came, I couldn’t. That’s bothered me since, and so today, three years later, I wanted to make up for that. Again, I couldn’t. For that I apologize.
For all who were there, here is what I intended to say:
“I want to take a moment to stop and thank the man who made this all happen. Without Karl, I wouldn’t be here today, teaching. Without Karl, most all of you wouldn’t be here today. There would be no SBG UK. There wouldn’t be these talented black belts here. These relationships all of you have gained through the gym, these experiences, all of it, is due in large part to his vision.
If he were here today I know how proud he would be to call these coaches up, and tie on their stripes. And I’d be here, enjoying the happiness that experience would be bringing him. Since he’s not, I am. And it’s an honor. But I’d like to take a moment and remember, it is because of Karl that all of us are gathered here.“
Maybe sometime in the future I’ll be able to get this out, but in the meantime I’d like all of you who knew Karl to think of one of your fondest, funniest, or happiest moments with him (we all have many), and tip a glass – a toast to the man who made it all happen. One of a kind.”
It was an honor to award Casey Jones his 3rd stripe; Jason Tan his 3rd stripe; Glyn Powditch his 2nd stripe; Chris Coltrane his 2nd stripe; Mark Spencer his 2nd stripe; and Ella Tanswell her 1st stripe.
It’s was also a privilege to be there as Casey Jones awarded a stripe to his first black belt, and Matt Inman awarded a well deserved black belt to our first Finish black belt, Jarrko Korjus. I’ll let coach Matt detail that one.”
From SBG Manchester
“SBG UK camp 2022 .
It’s been an amazing few days of coaching, training and great company. Thank you to all the SBG UK coaches and members that attended.
A massive thank you to Matt Thornton @aliveness_ape for an amazing seminar . Also a big thank you to all the other SBG coaches @mattinman86 , Mikey ,Alex @chris_coltrane_sbg , Casey , @stapes_50cal , @glynpowditch , Zac for sharing their knowledge in their sessions.
Thank you for coach @mattinman86 for organising and coordinating the weekend. It was great to have you back at @sbgmanchester 
Congratulations to @jarkkokorjus and @stapes_50cal on receiving their black belts and to all the other SBG UK black belts that were awarded stripes.
SBG UK is an incredible community that was started by Karl Tanswell and he would be so proud of how this community has continued #sbg #sbguk #sbgi #sbgmanchester #bjj #brazilianjiujitsu #nogi #mma #manchester #manchestergyms #ufc”
Congratulations To The UK’s Newest Black Belts
“Today I was awarded my Black Belt by my long time Coach & Friend Matt Inman
Due to circumstances outside of our Control I’ve spent almost 8 years at Brown Belt, longer than I spent at White, Blue & Purple Belt all added together!
It’s never been about the Colour of a Belt for me, it’s always been about Progress & being able to pass my Knowledge on and now that my time at Brown Belt has come to an end i can look back on it with pride & see the lessons learned aren’t always about ‘technique’ but also about patience & persistence – Two absolute Fundamentals of Grappling.
Just like to say a massive Thank you to Matt for all your Coaching & Guidance over the years and also to Coach Karl Tanswel who’s memory is strong with everyone at SBG… we wouldn’t be here without you Coach 
Thanks to Matt Thornton for making the trip over to SBG UK Camp again, already looking forward to the next one
Now back to my Social Media hiatus for another 9 Days” – Stapes Stapleton
From Jarkko
“The incredible weekend in Manchester is starting to come to an end, I would like to start by thanking Matt Inman in particular for arranging things so that I could see my friends in England after a long break. Matt gave me his hotel so that the trip was a success at all. Big thanks also Simon Kenny he gave me his home so I could stay the next night and arranged the hotel for one more night
I really appreciate your help I don’t know exactly what to say but a big thank you again for this
I was already really happy that I finally got to meet my friends after many years on the SBG team, but that’s not all ….. it wasn’t far away that the big man didn’t start crying when I received the black belt from brazilian jiu-jitsu from SBG UK head coach Matt Inman yesterday. I can’t even describe what this belt means to me but it has put so much time and sacrifice into it that I will never achieve anything so great again. It doesn’t matter when it comes but where it comes from, my belt comes through the late legendary coach Karl Tanswell from his successor. Thanks to head coach Matt Inman for this honor. My biggest thanks go to Karl Tanswell for all he did, for taking me to the SBG family and showed the right way. Thanks there somewhere I hope you’re proud, I couldn’t be more and when I got to camp to follow the legacy you’ve left, it so absolutely amazing community and skill level.
Thank you SBG UK for your hospitality and kindness, as if you were coming home and always as great to see you all. Thanks to SBG team head coach Matt Thornton for setting up this awesome team 30 years ago, and thank you once again for a great seminar.
Thank you to my family for being able to take part in the trip, thank you to all my training friends who have folded at some point, thank you to Matti Koponen for muscle care, thank you to today’s medicine for being able to spin on the mat for so long. Though a little titanium in the body, but without modern medicine and skilled doctors this would never have happened. I can’t really put this into words but it’s an amazing feeling ….”
“Always a pleasure to see Davey Grant on the mat. He’s been putting on clinics at the UFC, and always impresses. 
“
Davey Grant Heads Back To The UFC With Alex Enlund By His Side
“5 weeks tomorrow we head back in Vegas, Dangerous @daveygrantmma looks to add another to his 3 fight win streak and break into the UFC top 15 ” – Alex Enlund
And For A Win!
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How can you not love Davey Grant? Anyone! Anywhere! And still got his gloves on at the post fight presser just in case…
Gratitude
From Ray Price –
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s an awesome and humbling opportunity to be a coach.
Thank you to you Emery, for taking the time to not only write a hand written thank you letter but for also going the extra mile to send it where you did.
Emery wanted to share his excitement and appreciation for my seminar that he attended.
Again, so very humbling to be able to reach another human being at this level. I love to coach, I love to learn, I love to share the things I find in hopes to make the community better.
I share this only to remind myself and other coaches to remember the way we can effect those we teach.”
First Camp Back A Huge SMASH HIT!
“BG Spring Camp 2022 is in the books! 
We are so proud to have had everyone from our extended tribe come to Alabama on the 30th anniversary of SBG and we hope you all had a great camp experience. Thank you to all of our instructors and everyone that attended! Everyone leveled up this weekend and made some lifelong connections along the way. This tribe is like no other! #onetribeonevibe #oldschool” -SBG Alabama
SBG UK’s Newest Black Belt
“Honoured to award @alexenlund_ his black belt today.
An amazing athlete who is just as comfortable with or without the gi, with strikes and without.
He’s flown the flag for jiu jitsu in MMA, taking down and submitting opponents repeatedly.
As a coach he’s taken athletes from scratch to the highest level.
He’s built an incredible community at @sbgsouthshields from nothing, always sharing the benefits of jiu jitsu, both physical and mental, with his students.
Personally I’ve had a relationship with Alex as a training partner, a coach, a student and most importantly as a trusted friend.
Congratulations, a well earned and long overdue belt.”
Three Rules For Rolling From Coach Matt Thornton
“People often ask me how “hard” should one roll when training?
How much strength and energy should you use in the gym?
What’s too rough, or not acceptable with your training partners?
All good questions. Every situation is different. Every situation in Jiu-Jitsu has room for nuance and exception. That’s one of the reasons I often say in Jiu-Jitsu there really are no rules, just warnings.
That said, if I were to create rules for rolling, these would be the 3. They are in order of importance.
Pay particular attention to rule #2. While 1 and 3 are fairly easy to catch, rule 2 is where it gets trickier.
The most important person you need to be honest with is always yourself.
From 2018: Three Rules for Rolling.”
The newest SBG Reno Black Belt, Jason Woodard, Congratulations coach Ray Price
“And then there were three. I had the privilege of awarding my third black belt today to Jason Woodard (Rachelle Woodard). He is one of my early and original training partners and I have witnesses his journey from white to black. He has put in the time on the mat and has matured in his Jiu Jitsu. He understands the actual journey begins now and I look forward to where he takes his game.”
Congratulations To Athens For Their First and Second Female Black Belts!
it's been a hell of a year
It’s a privilege to document the growth and the community successes from SBG’s around the world.
Getting to dig around on different social media platforms and put these articles together is almost in a way like being at camp. It’s touching base with old friends and making new ones.
I look forward to seeing what you all do this year, Viva SBG. ‘-Zach T.
