SBA Ponderay - Sylvio Behring Association

“Very welcoming Jiu Jitsu academy with high level instruction. The new facilities are awesome. Classes are available for morning people and evening people. My toddler daughter and I both train here. Kids classes are fun and playful. If you are considering dropping in or trying Jiu Jitsu, make this your first option.”

“From new beginners to experienced practitioners of all ages, everyone can learn and train in a clean and safe environment. Prof Tanner Weisgram brings his fight knowledge to every class. From Gi, NoGi, striking, self-defense, and / or competition training, he brings his rich fight IQ and explains with the student in mind. Not to mention that until SBA, this is the very first time in my experience that the head instructor rolls (spars) with the students almost every class. Not only do you get to grapple safely with a Black Belt, but he evaluates your individual strengths and areas that need attention. My teenager has been training for 7 years now, and I've been training less than a decade. I did NoGi exclusively at first and then Gi at 2 home gyms in my previous state. I trained consistently almost every day, every week, at any gym that was open around my work schedule. A few years ago, after relocating, I was in search of a new home gym (Jiu Jitsu Academy). I was pleased to find quite a few options from Bonners Ferry down to Ceur D'Alene and on to Spokane. There's a lot of great people in the local JiuJitsu community. Prof Tanner has built a solid student base and created a great learning and training environment. He mentors me, not only at my level but in basic fundamentals as well as my future goals. As a Purple Belt, when I started training at SBA exclusively, he asked me what my goals were in training. He recognized that, like himself, I train fanatically but noticed that I really enjoy teaching. He specifically said, "I don't doubt that you'll become a phenomenal professor some day, but I want you to grow as a Purple Belt in order to be able to mention a Purple Belt in the future." He not only gave me immediate feedback in our rolls, but he also told me what he expected of me at Purple and Brown Belt level. This is very vital, and it's the first time in years that I've heard such individual guidance in JiuJitsu. Please check out a class, children, teens, women, and men. There's something for all of us. Come for the JiuJitsu, stay for the instructions, enjoy the people, and benefit from the physical and emotional health.”

“This place has changed my life. I never knew that something like Jiu-Jitsu would leave such an impact on me but it has! The culture here is amazing. Everyone is friendly, tough and have a growth mindset. Professor Tanner is incredibly talented and knowledgeable. I feel safe on the mats and I always have a good time. Can’t recommend this place enough.”

“I have trained with Professor Tanner at SBA for a few years now, and the training as well as the community cultivated here is amazing. I started in the women’s only class until I felt like I was ready to start doing the mixed classes and I think that is a great opportunity for other women to get into something that might seem a little intimidating. The new facility is big and they keep it very clean. We have so much fun, and whatever you want to get out of your training you can here. If you’re visiting from out of town this is a great gym to drop into! Great teaching, training partners, and jiu jitsu!”

“I started training with Tanner over a decade ago. Between then and now I’ve moved to multiple different states and never found a gym I felt at home at like I do here. I moved back to Sandpoint a couple years ago and I was astonished at how much Tanner has grown in his ability, and how he’s grown this community. The new facility is absolutely amazing and you won’t find a better group of people to learn, train, and laugh with.”