What about the other elements that JKD enthusiasts claim to call their
own besides boxing did you directly train with experts in the field? In
other words, in researching your very own experience, where else did you
look to fill the apparent gaps you were finding in JKD?
I shared a lot of training with my Friend Daniel Duby, and his Savate
material still remains part of the SBG curriculum. As far as I know
myself, and Paul Vunak are the only two people authorized to teach
Daniel's version of Savate which he organized when he left the French
Association in the early 80's. His influence is certainly visible in my
own game, but I rarely teach it to beginners, or at seminars, as I feel
a more basic boxing structure is what most people need. I have also
trained with various Muay Thai fighters throughout the Years. I think
Muay Thai is a beautiful, and highly functional Art.
For wrestling my main coaches have been Randy Couture, and Dan
Henderson. Most of our Clinch curriculum has come from them. It was a
few Years after I opened my second location that I met Randy Couture,
and that completely changed the way the SBG trained "trapping", or more
aptly put clinch range. We had always taught a strong boxing base at our
facilities, and in addition BJJ had become a HUGE part of the curriculum
from the start, but now they had the full package.
How where you introduced to BJJ?
For BJJ, I was introduced to it by Fabio Santos. I consider Rickson a
friend, but have only rolled with him a few times, and that was long
ago. Rickson gave me my blue belt and he still remains one of my role
models for what Martial Arts can become. He is a fantastic human being.
The last Five Years or so all my BJJ coaching has come from Machado
Black Belts such as Chris Haueter, Bob Bass, Rick Williams, and Rigan
Machado. But my main Coach has always been my friend Chris Haueter. He
has taught me more about my guard game then all the others combined.
I received my black belt in Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2002.
How did the Seminars you teach come about?
I began doing seminars in 1995 at the request of the USA's first Savate
Instructor, Daniel Duby, who asked if I would fly to his Island of
Reunion to teach a series of seminars. Daniel provided the Savate
influence they we have at the Gym, and also became a great friend of the
SBG. Since that I am sure I have given over one hundred seminars. It's a
wonderful opportunity because it has allowed me to travel all over the
world to spread the message of Aliveness, the curriculum of the SBG, and
the beauty and Art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I have had the privilege of
teaching in places like Africa, France, the UK, Denmark, Ireland,
Reunion Island, the Seychelles, and all across the USA.
Where does all this take you and your organization now? Much of what the
SBGI is now, from a philosophical stand point, evolved because I wanted
to create an environment that was markedly different from the ones I had
encountered along the way; what I had witnessed during those first few
Years exclusively involved in JKD.
Certification has remained a meaningless concept to me. What "certifies"
you as a good Instructor is the 'performance levels' of your students.
Nothing more, nothing less. Nothing else matters.
The modern day SBG curriculum is one that has evolved from lots of Alive
sparring. Sometimes people mistake what we do for an NHB or combative
sports gym because many of our athletes compete and do well in NHB and
martial sport. That is actually just a nice side effect.
We are an all ages, all inclusive self defense Gym that trains
athletically, and remains autonomous from other JKD Organizations.
-Matt Thornton
www.straightblastgym.com