Understanding what it means to be a coach has changed over the years for me. My current understanding of it is truly based off the 25 years associated with the Straight Blast Gym organization. Each of the coaches are as different as their Jiu Jitsu games and each amazing at how they get their knowledge across.
I remember when I first started, I always wore Asics wrestling shoes, Sprawl shorts, and an Under Armor heat gear shirt. As a matter of fact, that was pretty much what everyone I trained with in Reno wore. One weekend, when we all attended a Matt Thornton seminar in Berkeley, Matt was calling on people to answer questions. Upon noticing our carbon copy attire, he jokingly named us Team Reno. That was our gym name from that point forward.
Matt asked me one day, “Are your toes messed up?” Quite a weird question I thought at that moment. I replied, “No, why?” Matt said, “You need to roll bare foot. You’ll get better trust me. You will be able to feel more.” I nodded my head in an affirmative manner but walked away in disbelief. The next time I went to train, as I began to put my Asics wrestling shoes on, I heard Matt’s words in my head. I decided to leave my shoes off to prove him wrong. I remember my training partner Dax asking, “Why are you rolling bare foot?” To which I responded, “Thornton says I’ll get better” in a skeptical tone. Well, interestingly enough, I improved very quickly. It made an immediate difference, and I never wore wrestling shoes again, even when my toes got “messed up.”
Another time I remember Matt saying to me, “If you wore a gi, it would make you more technical.” I responded, “But it’s hot.” Matt replied, “But it will make you better.” I again nodded my head in an affirmative manner but walked away in disbelief. His words kept resonating in my head so, I bought a Howard gi and received it in a week. I showed up to roll and Dax asked, “Why are you rolling in that?” to which I replied, “Thornton says I’ll get better” in a skeptical tone. Déjà vu anyone? I’m not going to lie; it was brutal for the first few months being the only person on the mat with a gi. However, I did improve, and it showed, and you know what happened, everyone else soon bought gi’s to prosper the way I did.
Matt approached me on another occasion and said, “You should work open guard, you can never be a legitimate purple without a good open guard.” As I am sure you have guessed I nodded my head in an affirmative manner but walked away in disbelief. The only difference with this suggestion was I knew it was true. I went to class one night and started every roll in the upright guard position. I remember Dax asking me “Why are you doing that?” I responded with the usual, “Thornton says I’ll get better” and it was in a skeptical tone. I began every roll that way for two years straight before I felt it begin to make a difference. It started as a sloppy butterfly guard which quickly went to a survival half guard. From half guard I could build back to a butterfly guard. Then came sweeps which led into an X-guard and the rest is history.
I could give you more examples like these, but I am sure I have gotten my point across. What I thought was interesting was Matt never yelled, threatened, forced, or intimidated me as previous coaches in my past had done. He merely suggested an idea as something to try. I am not sure if he has learned that through Jiu Jitsu or coaching people in Jiu Jitsu but it has had a positive effect on my learning of this incredible art.
Jiu Jitsu is a meal prepared in a crock pot not a microwave. It needs to simmer in its own juices and slowly release the flavor over time. I was the guy, and still am at times, that stands in front of the microwave and says, “I haven’t got all second!” Jiu Jitsu has given me way more patience than I ever had, especially in learning and teaching Jiu Jitsu.
Come to SBG Sparks where all the coaches work to provide a safe, respectful, and welcoming training space. Where there is a community of teammates who help everyone grow and where the coaches care about your progress and your wellbeing.
See you on the mats at SBG Sparks!!!
