Q&A with Tanner Weisgram & Sara Thole of Jiu-Jitsu Academy

By Like Media Team

Jiu-Jitsu has grounded Tanner and Sara in ways they never expected. Here, they share the experiences that drew them into the art, the lessons that continue to push them, and the personal connection that keeps them stepping onto the mats day after day.

Q. Sara: What first sparked your interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and when did you realize it was something you wanted to dedicate your life to?

A. I was interested from the first class. I had never moved my body in that way. I was totally exhausted, but everyone was so welcoming and kind to me. I knew that I just needed to keep going back–I felt like I knew absolutely nothing (because I didn’t), and I wanted to know everything. I still feel that way. The more I know, the more I realize I don’t know, and that is such a wonderful parallel for life. When you start really getting into Jiu-Jitsu, you know it is a mirror for the life you live off the mats.

Q. Tanner: What drew you to Jiu-Jitsu, and what continues to inspire your growth as a coach?

A. I have had the great pleasure to be a student under Master Sylvio Behring and Professor Sam Brown. The truth is, almost all my training has happened right here in Sandpoint. What brought me to Jiu-Jitsu was to build my self-confidence and get into physical shape. I didn’t know that what I was going to get was community; that was the special thing about it. I started training in October of 2010, and doing Jiu-Jitsu keeps me centered and is very good for my soul; it is my therapy. As a Professor/teacher, it goes far beyond the depth expected of a coach. The more you know, the simpler Jiu-Jitsu is, and my goal is to share the knowledge I have gained with others.

Q. Both: Sylvio Behring Association (SBA)  Jiu-Jitsu has become a staple in Sandpoint’s martial arts community. How would you describe your approach to training, and what sets your academy apart?

A. Tanner: My experience in Jiu-Jitsu is to reflect what Master Sylvio has passed down, what he learned from his amazing instructors and from his experiences with the Gracies (the fathers of Jiu-Jitsu as we know it today) and the Barretos (a key part of his instructor lineage), and that is to preserve old-school Jiu-Jitsu as it was meant to be, passing it on with high standards. Master Sylvio Behring once told me, “We are stewards of passing down the philosophy of knowledge of the old school Jiu-Jitsu culture rather than claiming personal invention.” We use Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for transforming society and people’s lives.

A. Sara: I feel the same as Tanner. I use the techniques taught to me as closely as possible to how they were shown to me by those passing them down. There is a lot that goes into applying those techniques, and many ways to add your own flair, and that is where it becomes an art. I haven’t been doing it even half as long as he has, but I can see and feel the importance of keeping with the old-school ways, as they were developed in Japan and then brought to Brazil.

Q. Both: As part of the SBA, how does that affiliation influence your teaching and the culture you’ve created?

A. Tanner: Being a part of SBA means that we have direct access and time with training with the legend himself, Master Sylvio Behring, as a leader and a friend. It is so amazing to see what I can do and where I am in becoming a great instructor, but it is unreal how many corrections I still get from Master Sylvio for myself. What I invest in myself, I share right back to the community and the students. If we stray off course, we get the benefit of being calibrated back into the correct way, of learning and testing our knowledge, and of having it verified. To always be a student willing to learn, be corrected, and coached.

A. Sara: As primarily a student rather than a coach (only part-time for me!) I glean a lot from Tanner himself. I only teach what I know and don’t try to teach what I do not. So, that only helps pass down what is correct and accurate.

Q. Both: What impact has Jiu-Jitsu had on students physically and mentally?

A. Tanner: Jiu-Jitsu is good for everyone, but it isn’t for everyone. We all need Jiu-Jitsu in some way or another. I call it the great equalizer. If you are too passive, it will teach you how to be brave and stand up for yourself; if you are too aggressive, it will teach you to calm down. It will teach you how you learn and how to get comfortable in uncomfortable spots. I have had conversations all the time where we say that if this person didn’t stop, they would be, or could be, a Black Belt. It’s a reminder of something we say often: “Jiu-Jitsu is good for everyone, but it isn’t for everyone.” Jiu-Jitsu is simple but not easy. It could be for you, just come try it out. It could just change your life for the better.

A. Sara: I can really only attest to my own experience. I’ve only been doing it for five years, and those years have made me so much more fit and confident in myself. Anyone who knows me will attest to it. When I first started, I don’t think anyone thought I would stick with it. I was terrible and so soft and fragile! But I kept going and am now considered one of our upper belts and tougher ladies on the mats. I have seen this play out for other students as well, completely changing their lives, just from showing up 2-3 days a week for about an hour and a half each time.

Q. Sara: As a female purple belt, how has your journey shaped your perspective, and what do you hope to model for other women entering the sport?

A. Being a female purple belt is an achievement, especially since most women don’t even step onto the mats. I hope that if you’re a lady, this gives you permission to step on the mats. I will continue to be consistent and steadfast in my training, as I have been. I hope that is enough for other women to see and take those steps with me because Jiu-Jitsu gives so much back to those who practice it.

Q. Tanner: When coaching, what matters most to you in helping students push past limits and reach their potential?

A. There is so much to that question that a hundred people have passed through my mind in a moment of reflection. We are all so different, and students' individual needs vary, but the best way for me is to get to know people so I can use symbolism that makes sense to them. Being consistent and having structure helps the positional moves and sequences settle into long-term memory.

Q. Both: Looking ahead, what’s next for SBA Jiu-Jitsu, and what do you hope to bring to the North Idaho community in the years to come?

A. Tanner: I see us filling the mats. We’ve built an amazing facility with a great group of people, including six Black Belts in the gym. I see us offering a wide range of class times that fit your lifestyle and having the mats full of people working to better themselves, both mentally and physically. Little kids, youth, coed adult, and women’s only — all of it. It’s time to let people know we have that right here in our community and where to find it: SBA Ponderay.

A. Sara: We just want to bring way more Jiu-Jitsu to everyone, and that starts with getting more people on the mats. I want to see more women in our academy than anywhere else because they create an amazing atmosphere. A lot of ladies don’t even know what it is, but I know many of these tough, hardworking North Idaho women would not only love it but excel at it. Women, more than anyone, have the most to gain from training in Jiu-Jitsu.

Sylvio Behring Association Ponderay (SBA Ponderay)

321 Tulipe Lane, Units A & B

Ponderay

208.398.3195

SBAPonderay.com

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