 Matt Spendlove is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt that trains out of the Detroit area in Michigan at Proving Ground Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. He is a seasoned Jiu-Jitsu practioner that is looking to compete more in 2024 and to continue to grow his game overall this year. We recently were able to catch up with him. Check out his interview here:
Jitzilla: How long have you trained Jiu-Jitsu and what is it about the sport that attracted you to it? Spendlove: On and off for 15 years. 8 years straight though. I am a lifelong martial artist. Thought I knew how to fight took, an amateur fight because I had wrestled - got the take down and ended up getting my back taken and getting choked. After that I knew I had to learn BJJ.
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 Jacob Cochenour is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt that trains out of Meta MMA in Fayetteville, AR. He's been in the sports for nearly a decade now and is not only a competitor, but is also a NoGi instructor at Meta MMA. We recently were able to catch up with him. Check out the interview here:
Jitzilla: Can you give everyone a little information about yourself and your time in Jiu-Jitsu and what it is that brought you to the sport? Cochenour: Hi, I am Jacob Cochenour. I live in Van Buren, AR. I train at Meta MMA in Fayetteville, AR. I've been there for a little over 2 years. I started at a little gym in downtown Van Buren. That was 7 years ago. I received my Purple Belt 6 months ago or so. I took up coaching No Gi grappling over a year ago. I teach and train using the methods and style of 10th Planet. Every time I travel outside of Arkansas, I try to find a new place to train.  Hannah Smith is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete who trains and competes out of Arsenal Combat Sports in Huntsville, Alabama. She has been training for a few years now and is an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt. She has also won many competition medals from Fuji BJJ and AGF tournaments to IBJJF tournaments and will be looking to compete in her first superfight this year. We recently were able to catch up with her:
Jitzilla: What is it that attracted you to Jiu-Jitsu? Smith: A friend at work was always talking about how much fun it was and kept begging me to come try it. I eventually caved and was hooked after the first class. It is very rare as an adult to find an atmosphere where you get to play and have fun. It was also crazy to see the scope of the people in the room.. you had PhDs hanging out with fast food workers/etc and NOONE was treated differently based on their background/money. LOL no amount of money/influence could save you on the mats.  Chris McKinney is a long time veteran of both MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. He is a BJJ Black Belt and a retired Professional Mixed Martial Artist and the leader of Arte Suave Jiu-Jitsu academy in Beckley, WV. We recently were able to catch up with him for a quick interview. Check it out here:
Jitzilla: You obtained your BJJ Black Belt a couple of year ago. How much did it mean to you to obtain what most see as unattainable? McKinney: Other than my child, my Black Belt's the best thing to ever happen to me. Jiu-Jitsu is my entire life.  Ron Dayley is a long time member of the combat sports and Jiu-Jitsu community in the southeast. He was the head of the World Famous SSF academy in Clarksville, TN and now trains in Nashville after making his return back to the sport. We recently were able to catch up with Ron. Check it out here:
JK: You are a long time staple of the MMA and BJJ community in the area, what was it that got you originally into training all of those years ago? Dayley: My buddies Bill, Pete, and I were in to JKD in the late 80s and early 90s. We heard Larry Hartsell was coming to MD to teach a grappling seminar in 93, so we went and we were hooked on Catch Wrestling. There weren't any Catch gyms around so we found a BJJ gym (which was 1.5 hours away) and we started training. |
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March 2024
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