NPTR 19

Matt Thornton is a martial artist who is credited as being one of the first American-born athletes to receive a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is also well known throughout the fighting community for introducing the concept of “aliveness” to training. This distinct approach places less focus on traditional static forms of movement, and instead emphasizes fluidity, adaptability, and practicality. 

In 1992, Thornton founded Straight Blast Gym in Portland, Oregon. The opening of Straight Blast Gym International coincided with the beginnings of MMA competitions such as the UFC, which aired its first televised match in November of 1993. Thornton has taught many of the top fighters in the world, including UFC champion Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, and Forrest Griffin. He has also been featured in multiple martial arts publications such as Black Belt magazine, Inside Kung Fu, Martial Arts Legends, Fighters, and Martial Arts Illustrated.