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What year did you start training?
I started training in 2016, but I wrestled when I was young and practiced a little Muay Thai in college.

How did you get started?
I had wanted to train Jiu Jitsu since I was a teenager and dabbled in Muay Thai somewhat in College. In 2016, I moved to Des Moines, Iowa and decided that if I was going to learn martial arts, that time was as good as it would get. I didn’t have any money after the move, so I went to the Des Moines Jiu Jitsu academy and asked if I could make some videos in exchange for a few months of training. I’ve never looked back.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
Injuries have been by far the biggest challenges in training. They don’t happen that often, but when they do happen it’s never at an opportune time. As someone who always wants to be training, having to take time away from the mats is the worst. Every time I have been injured I’ve taken a week or two completely away from training, then I start figuring out what I can do to keep learning and improving while continuing to heal. The most important thing is to avoid doing nothing while you’re injured!

What’s your favorite thing about training/teaching, and why?
My favorite part about training and teaching is the same: the relationships you build. The bond between training partners and coaches + students is one that is built and reinforced upon trust and reciprocity. Everytime I walk into the academy I am genuinely happy to see and speak with everyone I coach and train with.

What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
I want to compete more. Competition motivates and inspires me like almost nothing else. I would like to get as many Muay Thai fights as possible in the coming years and also work my way back into MMA. I’m also excited to start competing as a purple belt in Jiu Jitsu tournaments.

However, my biggest goal on and off the mat is to help and inspire as many people as possible. Hopefully, they will go forward and do the same for others. I want to help build relationships and communities that make others feel like they’re not alone, that they’re supported, and that they’re cared for.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Most people who know me know that I played football and wrestled growing up. What surprises them is that I was a pretty big kid as well. My junior and senior years I wrestled heavyweight, and at the end of my senior year of wrestling I weighed 250lbs. Now my standard weight is closer to 190lbs.

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Current Rank
Black Shirt

What year did you start training?
2008

How did you get started?
I was always an avid fan of martial arts and sports like boxing and wrestling. While playing Junior A Hockey in Bozeman, MT, I fortuitously met a local boxing promoter who had seen me play and offered for me to come start training at his gym for free. I fell in love with the technical aspects of the sport within the first hour of training! 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
Coming in on the days where I feel like I don’t want to do anything at all. Realizing that you’re never upset at yourself for coming into train when you don’t feel like it. I’ve never walked out of the academy and said to myself “Man, I’m really mad that I came in and got some exercise and pushed myself!” That is a great lesson and reminder every time I feel like being super lazy for an extended amount of time.

What’s your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?

The connection and trust that is built over time with our students who train regularly and experience a myriad of benefits. Seeing our students completely change their lifestyles for the healthier in a matter of years or even months is always humbling and rewarding.

What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
Help push Muay Thai into the olympics, and earn my Blue Belt In BJJ at some point in my life! Having my son Ren grow up within the community and on the Easton mats is something I hope he gets to have happen as well. What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am an avid bowler and follower of the PBA. If you ever want to go bowling, please let me know!

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Current Rank
Blackbelt

What year did you start training?
2009

How did you get started?
I started training when a friend of mine came into the gym I was a personal trainer at & told me, “You’re so big, you should come train MMA!!” I started training in his garage that week & 10 years later, I’m still on the mats! I fought MMA for a few years & while I really enjoyed the journey it took me on, Jiu Jitsu always had my heart. I’m thankful that I’ve been fortunate enough to see some cool places, make amazing memories & gained friendships I’ll cherish the rest of my life!

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
Jiu Jitsu has helped me grow as a human being, both on & off the mats. It’s taught me that the process doesn’t have to always feel great to be productive.

What’s your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?

My favorite thing about teaching is watching students work through self-imposed limitations to discover how strong they actually are!

What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
Jiu Jitsu changed my life. Especially the Jiu Jitsu community. No matter how life was going off the mats, my Jiu Jitsu family was a constant that helped me stay balanced. These days, before each class I teach, I remind myself that every encounter counts: Today might be the day that Jiu Jitsu helps someone else change their live & I feel incredibly grateful to give back to that process.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I’m terrified of the Ocean! It’s too alive for me

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After about a year of Muay Thai, Sean was training every day, and Muay Thai had become a major part of his life. Around this time, Duane Ludwig left Easton Training Center, and Sean began teaching his Friday classes. He has been coaching ever since. Sean decided to pursue coaching because he enjoys helping others, and feels an obligation to pass on the skills he has learned from his own coaches. Besides being committed to teaching quality technique, Sean tries to instill a hard work ethic and a never-quit attitude in all of his students–skills that he feels will serve them well both on and off of the mat.

Every student has a different level of ability, different athletic qualities, and different learning styles, so Sean works hard to pay close attention to each student’s individual needs. He finds that some of his students learn best by listening, and others learn best by watching. Sean believes that a good instructor can recognize this in his students, and adapt his teaching methods so every technique is understood by every student.

Sean’s personal goals include continuing to compete in Muay Thai and kickboxing, pursuing this to the highest level possible. He would also love to travel to Thailand and Holland to expand his training and knowledge. Some of his Muay Thai heroes include Ramon Dekkers, Andy Hug, Duane Ludwig, and Masato. Martial arts and Muay Thai are a journey. Sean believes that the way a martial artist fights is the way he or she lives her life. Sean does his best to work hard both within his training and in his other endeavors, instilling in himself the work ethic he strives to cultivate in his students.

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Eliot has competed at the highest levels of martial arts. He is a four-time Pan-American Jiu Jitsu champion, took home third place at the Jiu Jitsu World Championship as a brown belt, and is a six-time veteran of the UFC. He has since retired from professional fighting, and is now the co-owner of Easton Training Center. He now spends most of his time teaching, and managing the new facility.  Eliot currently holds the rank of Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

A truly unique quality of Eliot’s is that he is equally adept fighting in the octagon, teaching a class of adults, or effortlessly commanding the attention of a packed room of five-year-old students! He describes his teaching style as being very basic. Though many instructors like to teach elaborate moves, and base their classes around whatever new technique they are practicing, Eliot prefers to stick to the fundamentals. He believes that however effective a particular move might be, solid fundamentals are what make a person a skilled martial artist.

AWARDS:

2001 Pan-American Silver medalist

2002 Pan-American Gold medalist

2002 USA Team Trials 1st place

2002 USA Team Trails 2nd (Absolute)

2002 Grapplers Quest West Bronze medalist

2003 IBJJF Open Purple belt 1st place

2003 IBJJF Open Purple belt Absolute Champion

2003 Pan-American Gold medalist

2004 IBJJF Brown Belt Super Heavy Champion

2004 IBJJF Brown Belt Open Weight Champion

2004 ADCC North American Trials participant

2004 GQ North American Championships Open Weight Champion

2004 #1 Rated Absolute Weight Grappler of the Year.

2005 Pan American Champion Super Heavy Weight Brown Belt

2005 GQ USA Trials 200-210 lb Champion

2006 IBJJF Pan Ams Brown Belt Champion

2006 IBJJF World Chamionsships 3rd place

17-5 MMA record

UFC competitor

Ring of Fire Light Heavy Weight Champion

Topping it off…

Eliot was the first American to ever win gold at blue, purple, and brown belt levels at the Pan American Games in the adult division.

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Professor Easton was only the seventh person to receive a black belt from legendary competitor and instructor, Renzo Gracie. Renzo and Carlos Gracie, Jr., have endorsed his ability and authorized him to teach the art. Professor Easton was the first American Black Belt National Champion in 2002, is a multiple Pan American and Worlds Masters champion, and one of the original American pioneers of the art. Professor Easton has had the honor of studying extensively with such legendary talent as Professors Helio “Soneca” Moreira, Roberto “Gordo” Correira, Rillion Gracie, Eduardo “Veio” De Lima, Ze “Leao” Teixeira, and more.

Some of Professor Easton’s students include notable competitors Eliot Marshall (first American to win Pan Ams at blue, purple, and brown belts), Shane Carwin, Brendan Schaub, Nate Marquardt, Duane Ludwig, Nick Klein, and many more.

Professor Easton started his first school, Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Boulder, in 1998. He currently owns and operates five schools in the Denver region and is partnered in three more.

When Professor Easton is not on the mat, he is generally outdoors and has spent his life skiing, kayaking, hang gliding, mountain biking, and dirt biking. He currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, with his two children, Ella and Nash. His classes are fun, interesting, and challenging. Come take one of Professor Easton’s classes and see for yourself why he is one of the leading teachers of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

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