SBG Montana recently held its inaugural Montana Summit in Kalispell from June 14th to 16th, drawing over 70 members from its six locations across the state. The event was a resounding success, featuring intensive Jiu Jitsu instruction led by black belt gym owners from Missoula, Whitefish, Bigfork, Bozeman, and Kalispell.
The summit kicked off with Friday evening open roll sessions, catering to different skill levels and focusing sessions for ladies at SBG Whitefish, and various belt levels at SBG Kalispell and Bigfork.
Saturday’s schedule featured SBG Missoula’s Head Coach Gus Nolte discussing guard passing techniques and hip pinning. This was followed by SBG Whitefish’s Head Coach Daniel di Stefano teaching cross sides top techniques emphasizing body contouring and weight distribution. The day concluded with Cody Bessette from SBG Bigfork focusing on the “Hips over Heels” concept and its application in Jiu Jitsu.
Sunday began with specialized sessions: SBG Ladies learned about attacking from quarters top, while the kids’ section focused on breaking posture from closed guard bottom. The main session reunited all members, where SBG Bozeman’s Coach Ricky Davison taught backstep techniques for passing half guard. The weekend concluded with Coach Travis Davison covering ankle lock defense and protecting vital spaces.
Off the mats, attendees connected at a social event hosted by Black Rifle Coffee Company and enjoyed a dinner together. Fundraising activities included the sale of a steel SBG Belt Tree donated by Defiance Design owner Wyatt Vogsland from SBG Bozeman, with proceeds benefiting the Gorilla Booster Club, supporting travel costs for Jiu Jitsu competitors.
The summit also celebrated individual achievements within the SBG Montana community. Notably, Ricky and Stella Davison earned their first stripes as black belts, while Daniel DiStefano received his second degree. Belt promotions were also announced, with Jon Weimer promoted to Purple Belt by Coach Cody and Ted Davison to Blue Belt by Coach Travis. Lastly, Coach Travis announced Andy Stumpf’s promotion to the rank of Black Belt—a testament to his dedication and advocacy for Jiu Jitsu.
Overall, SBG Montana expressed pride in the growth of the SBG community across the state of Montana, emphasizing the camaraderie and learning fostered at the summit amongst members. One tribe, one vibe.
