Ray Price

I have been training ever since I saw my first Bruce Lee movie at age seven. I tried every style of martial arts I could find until I got bored and moved on. When I saw the first UFC, I couldn’t believe those other fighters were allowing this little skinny Brazilian guy do that to them. I found a BJJ instructor, the only one in town at the time, and I went to him for a private lesson. I proceeded to tell him everything I would do to Royce Gracie if I had fought him. The only thing he said was, “Show me.” As you can imagine, I soon learned how wrong I was. I was hooked; I trained with everyone I could find that trained Jiu Jitsu. Then I saw these tapes done by SBGi President, Matt Thornton. I emailed him and then I flew to Portland to train with him. That weekend was just what I was looking for. I have been training with SBGi ever since. I earned my blue belt from Matt Thornton in 2004. It was an epic battle against Tom Oberhue and Matt Thornton. Well, not so epic, pathetic really. I am currently a purple belt (earned in July 2007) under Matt Thornton. That test Matt decided I should roll with the entire seminar and coaches (roughly 20 people) for about 45 minutes straight.  I am also a second  tier instructor in the ISR Matrix and a first tier instructor in the ISR PM through Luis Gutierrez, Vice President of SBGi.

                                                                 Dax Soto             
        

I was born in San Dimas, California. I have lived in Reno, Nevada for the majority of my life. My background is primarily in Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling. I wrestled for approximately 7 years growing up. I was first introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at a Matt Thornton seminar in 2002 that I attended with my good friend and co-gym owner, Ray Price. I immediately fell in love with the method of training and ideologies of the Straight Blast Gym. Ray and I began to train on our own and continued to attend and organize seminars. I currently work as a police officer and spent several years as the lead defensive tactics instructor. I am currently a Straight Blast Gym blue belt that I received during a Matt Thornton seminar in 2004. 

                                           Travis Bailey   aka: "The Tick"

I have been training somewhat irregularly in various styles of the martial arts since the age of 7. I was born and raised in the Reno area. I am currently a Police Officer and have been for approximately three and a half years (since 2003). In 2003, I met Ray (Price) through a long time close friend, Dax (Soto) and was introduced to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by way of a seminar in which SBGi President Matt Thornton hosted. I immediately became hooked on the art itself and the method in which it was trained...(live). I currently hold a blue belt that I achieved through Matt Thornton that I have had for approximately one year.

I spend a large amount of my free time in the gym (trying to keep up with the Big Guys) and I base most of my training around the developement of all-around power and functional strength..ie: olympic weightlifting, some powerlifting methods and anaerobic conditioning.

Generally speaking, I just love to train and I am fortunate to have some good friends and good contacts with which to train and grow.

                                                               Tom Hakin

I have been training with Ray, Dax, and Travis for almost two years.  I am currently a blue belt which I earned from Matt Thornton July 2007. With SBGi and Team Reno, I have gone from a ground fighting ability consisting only of biting and eye gouging my way free, to a confident understanding of the capabilities of a good ground game.  SBGi is the way to go for an all-around, hand-to-hand combat platform consisting of free movement, clinch, and ground fighting.  The philosophy of the organization itself is something you’ll be proud to say you’re a part of.