Question

[phillyman]

Question i just started training at the Straight Blast Gym in Nj. I was thinking about doing that and also joining a strictly BJJ school. Do you have any suggestion on how to balance the SBG, BJJ, and possibly lifting weights. the SBG is 40 to 50 miles away so i go right now once a week until i get in a car not leased(due to mileage) Thanks for any info

[ryanhall]

Hey, Phillyman. What is your honest opinion of the SBG? What do you consider it's main orientation to be? Self-defense or sport? Could you detail for the forum the kind of training you do? Any input you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[phillyman]

Sure before i went a couple of months ago i started reading about them and getting more info. Now ill admit i heard people talk and thought they might be jerks. Well after a while i started talking to SBG people directly and found for myself that they are all preety cool and down to earth. i thought you go there and they beat the crap out you but that isnt the case. Ive only been to 2 classes (with SBG) but its pretty cool. We work on mostly the clinch game it was pretty much show you the technique then do it. i did round table with myself and partner fighting for a dominant position. Its a whole different world when you have someone in front of you resisting. As far as what the focus is believe it or not its both. What they taught seemed to fit both concepts. They go as follows Based on what i see so far
Standup (thai, boxing)
Clinch (greco,takedown and controls)
Grappling (Bjj)
Its hard to explain (esp., about the selfdefense vs Sport) you just have to see and feel it for yourself. Hope this helps any other question feel free to ask or email me anytime

[doubleouch]

I train at the SBG in Portland. I resisted going in for a couple of years because I heard that Matt Thornton was a bit of an asshole. Nothing could be furthur from the truth. I think SBG guys get a bad rap because they don't sugar coat things. They tell it like it is and this offends some. As far as street vs. sport, they don't bother much with the distinction. They think that if you train athletically and alive then street training looks very much like sport. The difference might be for sport turn your head this way, for sport grab with your thumb inside instead of outside etc. Mostly it's just detail in technique. I haven't found the training any rougher or the sparring any more viscious than other schools that I've trained in. The training is just simply higher quality. When I go to the gym I'm always suprised at how everyone is good. Most places that I've trained in the past there were guys that had been around awhile and still looked bad. At the SBG you can't hide your incompitence. You WILL get better there is no way around it.

[ryanhall]

Doubletouch and Philly,
While I definitely distinguish between street and sport (more than just technique), I agree that alive training is key. Thank you for your insights. Re:Matt Thornton: people who tell it like it is are rarely liked--they make the pretenders look bad.

[phillyman]

Hey everyone entitled to their opinion you wont see me in any arguments remember ive only had 2 classes there so its kind of hard to put to words what im trying to say about the street vs sport when it comes to the SBG. Take care and feel free to ask me as the weeks go on on what i think and how its going