Our Team
Peter Straub
Where do you teach and train?
Centennial, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or both?Jiu Jitsu & Muay Thai
Hometown
Paonia, Colorado
Current Rank
Black Belt
What year did you start training?
2008
How did you get started?
I worked at a bar with Eliot and he invited me in to train after I told him about an amateur MMA fight I did on my own.
What's the biggest challenge you've encountered in your training?
I think for me the biggest challenge was being super competitive and trying to win in the academy rather than trying to learn and get better. My instructors were mainly Professors Amal, Eliot, and Chaun, and they helped me learn to check my ego and train with the intention of improving my techniques.
What's your favorite thing about training/ teaching?
At BJJ there's something for everyone. People like me who were overly aggressive and needed a positive outlet get a brutal ego check and learn how to be ok with losing and gain confidence to be ok with tapping early and often. For others who might be struggling with confidence, BJJ helps you learn to protect yourself and to stand up for yourself. I love seeing the transformation of timid, shy, or even broken people come in and grow stronger and more comfortable in their own skin.
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
On the mat my personal goal is to teach someone from white all the way to black belt. Off the mats my goal is always to try to leave people, places, and things a little better than when I found them. Often times I fail at this, but the times I'm successful are so rewarding that I can't help but continue to try my best to accomplish this goal every day.
What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I was very skinny and nerdy in high school. I didn't have many friends, and I got picked on a lot. I didn't do myself any favors by joining band, choir, knowledge bowl, etc., but getting bullied throughout school was probably the number one contributing factor to me starting to train Jiu Jitsu. Although I initially did it to become a fighter, I have grown into a much more level-headed martial artist over the years and I'm grateful for all the experiences that lead me to where I am today.
Michael Tousignant
Location:
Boulder
Do you train in Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or both?
Jiu Jitsu
Hometown:
Chelsmford, MA
Current Rank:
Black
What year did you start training?
2007
How did you get started?
I wrestled and played football for many years and I always had an interest in combat sports during that time. One day a friend, Ian Lieberman, walked into the pizza place where I was working and told me I should try jiu jitsu. I took my first class with Ian. Then with the encouragement of Amal Easton and Eliot Marshall I was able to stay the course and begin my journey to a life I am proud of.
What's the biggest challenge you've encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
I can't point to one specific challenge, but life does get in the way as well as my ego. I think the most important thing for me was realizing that jiu jitsu will always have a place in my heart and the mat will always be there. The first big hurdle I faced with jiu jitsu was overcoming my ego and learning to let go of my pride. Once I was able to remove the "need" for victory, I was able to start learning and growing more on and off the mat.
What's your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?
Introducing students to jiu jitsu for the first time is by far my favorite part of teaching. This goes for teaching anything, honestly. That aha moment when the student grasps the concept is one of the greatest things life can offer. Getting to be part of that moment with someone is amazingly rewarding. As I don’t teach classes anymore this is mostly accomplished through parenting and my position on the leadership team.
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
I want to be the best version of myself everyday. For my family. For the team and students at Easton. For everyone I encounter. I want to show up selflessly and whole heatedly to every encounter I have in this world. I know we all have so much potential for growth and excellence. I want to live in this world full of gratitude and kindness. If I get to impact one persons day in a positive way, then I am meeting my goals everyday.
What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I have an amazing wife, Emily, who I met at Easton, and two wonderful sons, Calvin-Jack and Leo. Calvin was named after the comic Calvin and Hobbes. As Ian Lieberman introduced me to jiu jitsu, he introduced me to this comic strip when I was in a rough spot. It was a kind gesture and the brilliance of the comic swept me away, hence my sons name. I guess, you could say, I need to thank Ian more often since he is the catalyst to my family and great life.
Vellore Caballero
Location:
Centennial
Do you train in Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or both?
Both
Hometown:
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Current Rank:
Black Belt, Black Shirt
What year did you start training?
2003
How did you get started?
While overseas in Korea at my first duty station. A captain in my unit was a blue belt and he would teach me things here and there and we would just roll a lot!
What's the biggest challenge you've encountered in your training, and how did you overcome it?
Injuries. I adjusted the training to what I could do at the time and kept on moving. I was determined to never stop pushing and I wasn't going to let being injured stop my progress. There is always a way to improve.
What's your favorite thing about training or teaching, and why?
My favorite thing is how it makes people feel (myself included). I have never found anything that makes me feel the way that training and teaching does. It changes you in a way that most recreational activities could never dream to.
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?
I just always want to be getting better. Better and Jiu Jitsu and striking obviously, but also better at things like leadership, empathy, humility, etc. I just want to live out my full potential, and thanks to Easton...I'm pretty sure I'll get there eventually!
What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I was an Army Medic for seven years before I began teaching martial arts, and the Army is what brought me here to Colorado.
Ashley Rose Dunn
Where do you usually teach and train?
Longmont
Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, or both?
Jiu Jitsu
Hometown
Memphis, TN
Current Rank
Purple
What year did you start training?
2017
How did you get started?
My husband started 4 months before me!
What's the biggest challenge you've encountered in your training?
I started at 39 years old. It's intimidating to start something new with people who are younger and more athletic. I kept coming because I liked the community so much and I've slowly gotten better.
What's your favorite thing about training and teaching?
The community and culture at Easton are the main reasons I come back. I wasn't expecting this when I first started doing jiu jitsu, but found myself looking forward to connecting with the people and the training was secondary. When I started the orientations I was excited to be someone's first point of contact at the gym and then checking in with them as they progressed. The women's randori has given me a chance to connect with other ladies, especially lower belts, and ease them into live rolling.
What are your personal goals on and off the mat?I'm currently getting a master's at Naropa University in Mindfulness Based Transpersonal Counseling. I will finish in 3 years. I hope this and my jiu jitsu practice somehow connect in the future. My goal for jiu jitsu is to become a black belt and develop a women's program at Easton.
What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?I was a zookeeper and vet tech before I had kids. I raised two baby orangutans, a fruit bat, a prehensile tail porcupine, 2 squirrels, 2 bunnies and a white cheek gibbon. I also kept the elephants and rhinos.