Straight Blast Gym (SBG)

Straight Blast Gym International (SBG) was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1992 by Matt Thornton, a BJJ black belt and MMA coach who pioneered 'aliveness' — training methods that prioritize live, resistant sparring over compliant drilling. SBG produced world-class fighters including Conor McGregor, Gunnar Nelson, and Artem Lobov, and has grown to over 60 locations across the USA, Canada, Ireland, the UK, Africa, Europe, and Asia. The organization blends deep BJJ roots with an MMA-integrated training philosophy.