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 society
• Statistics on fatherless children and the effect it has on their lives
• Choosing our words carefully in a politically correct world
• Matt's early martial arts experiences and how he discovered his style
• The differences between functional and exciting martial arts
• Contact sports and the physical demands they require
• The role of martial arts in the military
• The philosophy of Jeet-Kun-do and its impact on modern martial arts
• The differences between BJJ and Japanese Ju-jitsu
• What goes into making a professional MMA fighter
• Criticisms of the Aliveness concept
• The effectiveness of Krav Maga as a self-defense system
• The importance of cultivating a calm and focused mind in martial arts
• The European standard of BJJ and its influence on the art
• The lineage of Gracie BJJ and its impact on modern martial arts

Connect with Matt Thornton on his social handles: Webpage: straightblastgym.com Youtube: youtube.com/user/sbgglobal Twitter: twitter.com/sbgint Facebook: facebook.com/straightblastgym Instagram: instagram.com/sbginternationalCollective Whisper website: https://www.collectivewhisperpodcast.com#mattthornton #straightblastgyminternational #alivenesstraining #brazilianjiujitsu #martialartsinstructor #functionalmartialarts #fitnesscoaching #athletecoaching #mmacoach #sbginternational #johnkavanagh #conormcgregor #ufc #randycouture