On Friday,ALPI Queen Townsend had a special Play Date with MMA World Champion
and Ultimate Fighter Din Thomas and his team! The children were treated to an
anti-bullying talk and a cardiovascular workout including some very basic
martial arts instruction. Phil “Bam-Bam” Daru and Rock Marlon Georges were on
hand to help out with the “training session”. Undefeated kickboxer Dylan Bryson,
currently injured, came along to enjoy the fun! The children were taught to
avoid physical confrontations, to exercise daily and drink plenty of water-the
best drink of all! While some punches were thrown at pads held by teachers, the
children were instructed to spar with pillows and pads, the air, but never with
each other! What a great way to round out a month spent talking about kindness,
brotherhood, healthy hearts and building–strong bodies that is!!

Being in the same local area for such an extended time, I had always been familiar with Danny Babcock.  I had watched Danny fight a few of my friends, Frank Trigg, Ariel Gandulla, Derek Brunson, and Kieko France over the last few years and always had much respect for him.  I’ve always known he had the heart of a lion and now I’m honored to be able to work with him.

Ryan Derocher had built a reputation in the area for his heart, grit, and tenacity.  A graduate of St. Lucie West Centennial High School, Ryan was a schoolmate and a friend with a few of the other fighters on our fight team.  They have always spoken highly of him and it will be  a pleasure to work with him and watch him further his Mixed Martial Arts career.

Dedicated to one love

Din Thomas

If you are looking to train in Martial Arts for self defense, weight loss, a hobby or you want to compete like Danny and Ryan, American Top Team Treasure Coast is located at the Treasure Coast Square Mall.  We have classes in Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, Fight Fitness, and Junior Champions.  Our programs are structured to you, not the other way around.  Call now 772-233-8016

All BJJ Black Belts hanging at Westside MMA in Little Rock, Ar.

As much as I love to travel, and regardless of how much fun I had my first trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, even I was bummed out to turn down opportunities to go to UFC 156: Aldo vs Edgar.  After having helped Tyron Woodley prepare for his UFC debut, he asked me to corner him at the fight; Yves Edwards asked me as well.  I’m sure it was a great time and an electrifying experience to be in Vegas that week.  But I am positive I will not have walked away with the same knowledge and gratifying experience that I gained by being in Little Rock with Roli Delgado and Matt Hamilton at Westside MMA.

Roli is a complex and eccentric character that balances his persona with a simple lifestyle and philosophy.  His kindness, intelligence, and honesty makes him intriguing and attracts others around him.  He also possesses a few game- changing Jiu- Jitsu systems that are revolutionary.  Trust me on this.

Needless to say, the short stay that I and Cole Miller had was extraordinary.  We had the opportunity to teach a seminar at Westside MMA (Roli and Matt’s academy) covering Cole Miller’s system of takedown defense and my guard system, which I like to believe can be a takedown defense in itself.  We also had the opportunity to train with some of the top students there, which is always a pleasure.  But the leading factor in this trip was the opportunity to share ideas about life on and off the mat with such high level people.  If the walls could talk…

While a trip to the UFC that weekend would have been great, it still doesn’t compare to the weekend that I had.

Dedicated to constant learning,

Din Thomas

Din Thomas is the owner and operator of American Top Team Treasure Coast in Jensen Beach, Fl.  Providing Port St Lucie, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and Stuart with high level Martial Arts for 8 years and counting.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Fight Fitness, and Junior Champion classes change lives.

Sasaki decorated

I am proud to Announce the launch of American Top Team Vista Lakes
JUDO Program under the World Renowned Judo Player Shinjiro Sasaki.

Sensei Sasaki is a 4th Degree Black belt who brings a wealth of knowledge
and expericence to ATT Vista Lakes.
He was a star JUDO player on the world famous Ryotokuji Japanese
Professional JUDO Team a Former Japanese National Champion(Kodokan Cup
2005) and 2007 Pacific Rim Champion.

Sensei Sasaki recognizes that American Top Team is a leader in Martial Arts
and is excited to Bring his technical and Dynamic Judo to American Top Team.

Many People often forget the importance of JUDO in todays world of Combat
Sports keep in Mind that American Top Team Co founder and Head instructor
Ricardo Liborio is the owner of a JUDO Black Belt and ATT Power House and
UFC Star Hector Lombard is Also a World Class JUDO Black Belt.

JUDO will be on Mon and Weds at from 6.30-7.30pm and Friday @ 6pm.

Come train JUDO with one of the best in the world!   Ask about our FREE
JUDO Trial.

Din Thomas

36 and will still bang

At 36 years old, I have competed as a mixed martial artist almost half of my life.   One of the first questions anybody ever asks me to this day is, “What’s your record?”  The validity of my passionate life, that I called a career, has ALWAYS been measured in terms of wins and losses.  Essentially, any athlete, especially fighters are judged this way.

If the relevance of our lives has been summed up this way, why doesn’t everybody take this approach in life?  Every day you wake up, you should be battling for something.  If you’re not, you are automatically 0 – 9125…and counting.  Your record is terrible.

In life, as opposed to fighting, it’s a lot easier to have a winning record. In a fight, the primary objective of your opponent is to not only beat you, but to knock your teeth into the back of your skull.  He or she trained for 3 months to do so.  In life, most of your competition doesn’t even acknowledge you, and some of them are even willing to help you.  Additionally, you can stack the deck in your favor.  Here are some ways:

• Have the best training partners.  All the best UFC fighters train with the best camps.  Their success is a reflection of their camp. If you looked at your life’s peers, what kind of fighters would be in your camp…UFC caliber or   YouTube bum fights?
• Get good coaches. Imagine if you had Greg Jackson, Ricardo Liborio, and Mark Dellagrotti coaching you.  In life, you can.  These are your mentors.  You do not have to know someone for them to mentor you.    You can have as many as you want and anytime you want.  With as much access to information at your fingertips, it’s unacceptable to not be guided by positive influences.  If your mentor is your lost cousin, you better reassess.
• Fight!  You have a good management team – you.  You choose the battles that you fight every day.  If you are moving forward toward a goal, you’re winning.  If you’re deviating from that goal or sitting stagnant, you’re losing.  Take advantage of all the resources you have at your disposal, and fight!

With this advice, get out there are rack up some W’s

Dedicated to life’s fights

Din Thomas

Din Thomas is a 9x UFC Veteran and owner
of American Top Team Treasure Coast in Jensen Beach, Fl.

Toys for Toys

I knew it would be a grueling 12 hours.  Trying not to think too much about it, I walked into the academy with 3 gis and a half gallon of “Hulk Juice”, well that’s what I call it.  It consists mostly of kale, spinach, cucumber, and whatever pieces of fruit I have laying around.  And of course, if you know me by now, I had an oversized cup of coffee (CARBS).  That was it and that was all I wanted.

Instead of free rolling, I wanted to break it up into 5- minute rounds.  As the day progressed, I was welcomed by many fellow BJJ players, from current students at American Top Team Treasure Coast to friends from other academies that stopped by to do their part in the toy drive.  It was certainly a great feeling to have so many pass by and share the love.  What was an even better feeling was to have some spend the entire day with us training round after round.  Much thanks to all that showed up in the morning and didn’t leave until the night.  I know you are feeling it today the way I am feeling it…and boy does it hurt!

By the time a representative from the Toys for Tots organization showed up, he was blown away by the 4 boxes of toys that we had collected.  Thinking he was coming to just collect one box, he had to run back and get 3 more boxes to fit all the toys.  It was a blessing to see the day unfold.  To do what I love, train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and be able to use that power to give back to the community.  There is so much more we can do.  This is just the beginning.

Dedicated to helping those in need,

Din Thomas

American Top Team Treasure Coast offering Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Kickboxing for all ages in Port St Lucie, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and Stuart.  30 Day FREE Training

Danthony Esponaldson

I have worked hard for almost everything I have gotten.  I have sacrificed time, money, and my body.  When others complained about something being: too far, too difficult, too expensive, etc, I refused to allow pety obstacles to dictate my outcomes.    I have utilized my human potential for the quest to enjoy the freedom to live the way I would like to live.  Yet, even with hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, my mission would not be possible if I didnt have the right people around me.  2 of those people are Daniel Donaldson and Anthony Esposito.  These 2 have been instrumental to the success of American Top Team of the Treasure Coast and my career as an athlete.

Dan Donaldson has been a part of American Top Team since I first brought it to Port St Lucie.  He is the “go-to”guy.  When something goes bad, he takes care of it.  When you have a question, he has the answer.  When you need something, he can provide.  His role extends way past his administrative duties.  You will also find Dan on the mats, holding pads for anybody from the 13 year old new students to the professional fighters.  Dan is the man that secures the fights for our fighters, makes sure their paper work is in order, then half the time he drives them to the fights and corners them.  His devotion to his people is priceless.

Anthony is one of a kind.  Anthony has the ability to teach and command any class that my school has to offer.  As the head Junior Champions instructor, his significance to these kids is so much more than a sports coach.  He is a life coach.  While he has coached numerous kids to winning medals, belts, and swords, that pails in comparison to the influence he has on their life.  Many of them have improved in school, increased their esteem, and have goals whether be on or off the mat.  When it comes to adults, there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to ensure their success.  If taken a poll, he would probably be the one guy our fighters prefer to have in their corner. It wouldnt be easy to find a more caring, self motivated, creative character to run the show.

These two outstanding gentleman have created a facebook “like”page.  It would really really really make me smile if you show support to them, visit their page, and LIKE it.  For all that they have done for the community, its the least we could do for them.  There page is called: Anthony and Daniel at American Top Team of the Treasure Coast.  Here is a link.

click here —> http://www.facebook.com/TreasureCoastMartialArts <— LIKE this page

If you are not surrounded by people like this, you are doing yourself a disservice.

Dedicated to my people

Din Thomas

American Top Team of the Treasure Coast providing Port St Lucie, Jensen Beach, Palm City, and Stuart, will high level martial arts.  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Junior Champions, and Fight Fitness classes at your service.

Trainer at work

The other night at a fighting event, I had a very interesting conversation with a very powerful man in the fight game, probably the most powerful man in the Florida fight scene.  I had never spoken to this gentleman other than the customary and complimentary “hi’s” and “bye’s”.  We spoke on the current state of Florida MMA, its direction, and probably the biggest problem hindering its growth – the trainers.  He said to me, and I will never forget this, “nowadays anybody can just throw a towel over their shoulder and call themselves a trainer”.  I couldn’t agree more.

MMA is the easiest sport in the world to get involved in.  You don’t have to have any qualifications.  There are limited resources to do background checks.  Big talkers can fool the general public – all you have to do is throw a towel over your shoulder and people will listen.  If you have a cage, a few bags, a tire to smash with hammers, just add water and you’ve created an instant trainer.  I beg you, do not be fooled into this.

There are limited professional occupations in the world where you don’t need some type of education or experience to even do it legally, much less be good at it.  You couldn’t give a massage without a proper education.  Yet, without any credibility or requirements, you can call yourself an MMA trainer and train a person to fight.  Foul…

If you are an aspiring fighter, do your homework before listening to people.  Don’t be fooled by talk or fancy equipment.  Ask who he’s worked with, and get references.  Ask if he even has legit fight experience (not totally necessary but it can help).  Ask questions and don’t just take his word for it.  Do your research before you waste your time.

Unfortunately, as of right now, there are no official ways to distinguish true professionals.  But if you consider yourself a professional, as I do, be ready to back up your claim with your credentials.  If we ever want to grow and be seen as a true professional sport, we must act like it.

Dedicated to professionals,

Din Thomas, The MMA Connoisseur

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, and Kickboxing now done at the Treasure Coast Square Mall.

Laura Mejia flanked by Coach Anthony Esposito

Last April when my program director, Dan Donaldson and I decided to merge my two locations and put them under 1 roof at the Treasure Coast Mall, we did it for one major reason – to get everybody together. We set a plan that would require everyone’s attention to develop a group mind and group effort to achieve our greatest level of success.
After last night’s performance at the Rise of A Warrior 8, it is evident our plan is coming to fruition. Our team went 3-0. This is something that our team has never done before.
Laura Mejia kicked the night off for us by winning a unanimous decision. While the first two rounds showed exciting back and forth action, Laura took over in the third round proving to be the better fighter.
Steve Foster, aka The St. Lucie Badass, aka The Asian Sensation, aka The Southpaw Assassin took out his opponent in 27 seconds with a right-left combo. Steve was one of the very first students of ours and has been a loyal supporter since even before the academy was opened.
Lastly, Donny Bush settled a grudge match in the co-main event by defeating Palm Beach Boxing’s Ray Melvin. The two had a very heated weighin which resulted in Melvin shoving Donny to the floor. This highly anticipated match ended sweet for Donny when he subbed Melvin in the 2nd round with a mounted triangle.
Congratulates to the competitors of ROAW.
I couldn’t be more pleased with our performance. I knew that by merging both locations and having Coach Ray Camp, Coach Anthony Esposito, Coach Jason Gladey, Coach Paul Justice, myself, all the Assassins and senior students collaborating under one roof, sharing ideas, and influencing each other, we could become great. We are on our way! Strength in unity…