Gets to know...Matt Thornton

On this episode Simon K speaks to Matt Thornton.Matt Thornton is a martial arts pioneer, renowned instructor, and founder of Straight Blast Gym International (SBGi), an organization that has revolutionized the approach to functional martial arts training. With a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, and wrestling, he has coached top-level athletes such as UFC hall of famers Randy Couture and Dan Henderson, as well as John Kavanagh, the coach who trained UFC superstar Conor McGregor.Thornton is also a prolific writer and author of the book "The Gift of Violence," which delves into the philosophy and practice of martial arts and self-defense. In addition to his work as an instructor and author, Thornton is a sought-after speaker, with a focus on the importance of honesty, discipline, and critical thinking in martial arts and in life.In their conversation, Simon and Matt covered a wide range of martial arts-related topics, including:Violence on US streets and its impact on societyStatistics on fatherless children and the effect it has on their livesChoosing our words carefully in a politically correct worldMatt's early martial arts experiences and how he discovered his styleThe differences between functional and exciting martial artsContact sports and the physical demands they requireThe role of martial arts in the militaryThe philosophy of Jeet-Kun-do and its impact on modern martial artsThe differences between BJJ and Japanese Ju-jitsuWhat goes into making a professional MMA fighterCriticisms of the Aliveness conceptThe effectiveness of Krav Maga as a self-defense systemThe importance of cultivating a calm and focused mind in martial artsThe European standard of BJJ and its influence on the artThe lineage of Gracie BJJ and its impact on modern martial artsConnect with Matt Thornton on his social handles:Webpage: straightblastgym.comYoutube: youtube.com/user/sbgglobalTwitter: twitter.com/sbgintFacebook: facebook.com/straightblastgymInstagram: instagram.com/sbginternationalCollective Whisper website: https://www.collectivewhisperpodcast.com#mattthornton #straightblastgyminternational #alivenesstraining #brazilianjiujitsu #martialartsinstructor #functionalmartialarts #fitnesscoaching #athletecoaching #mmacoach #sbginternational #johnkavanagh #conormcgregor #ufc #randycouture