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Coach Karl Tanswell (RIP)
5 year(s) ago • 4631 views • 11 replies
MBrown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Exactly two years ago, end of January 2018, on the 24th, Coach Karl Tanswell, BJJ blackbelt and headcoach of SBG Manchester, was found dead at Victoria Park in Manchester.
As it is end of January now, that came up to my mind today and reminded me , how quick life can be over. I am not sure, but I think he suffered from depression, I could be wrong though ( like for example MMA Coach Robert Follis from Vegas, who committed suicide some years ago too).
I have to admit I didn’t know Karl Tanswell very good and honestly I only trained with him once, when he taught a BJJ fundamentals weekend seminar in Germany, but I can remember every detail still today he taught back then and still use lots of it on the mats today. After the seminar we went for dinner and I remember him as a super funny guy (English humor), good guy and outstanding skillful bjj teacher.
So I today browsed YouTube and found a small documentary about him called SBG Legacy, which I haven’t seen before.
Perhaps somebody of the UK bjj scene knew him better or trained with him regularly? The short time I got him to know on and of the mats in my perspective I only had positive impressions of him in my head. May he Rest In Peace!
Anyway here is the small documentary:
https://youtu.be/pi4tJC1ynyI
As it is end of January now, that came up to my mind today and reminded me , how quick life can be over. I am not sure, but I think he suffered from depression, I could be wrong though ( like for example MMA Coach Robert Follis from Vegas, who committed suicide some years ago too).
I have to admit I didn’t know Karl Tanswell very good and honestly I only trained with him once, when he taught a BJJ fundamentals weekend seminar in Germany, but I can remember every detail still today he taught back then and still use lots of it on the mats today. After the seminar we went for dinner and I remember him as a super funny guy (English humor), good guy and outstanding skillful bjj teacher.
So I today browsed YouTube and found a small documentary about him called SBG Legacy, which I haven’t seen before.
Perhaps somebody of the UK bjj scene knew him better or trained with him regularly? The short time I got him to know on and of the mats in my perspective I only had positive impressions of him in my head. May he Rest In Peace!
Anyway here is the small documentary:
https://youtu.be/pi4tJC1ynyI
Edited 5 year(s) ago
RDBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
R.I.P.
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
R.I.P.
To all except one MMA fight entrances I did I wore the old SBG Manchester hoodie Karl gave me. If I ever had a real teacher/mentor figure in MMA then it was Karl and part of me was hoping to get my blackbelt from him.
The Estonian MMA and BJJ scene owes him a lot.
Despite wearing his heart upon the sleeve a lot of the time he was definitely a very complex person with difficulties he unfortunately didn't find a way to address.
Even though I barely was in touch with him since ~2012 I miss him.
To all except one MMA fight entrances I did I wore the old SBG Manchester hoodie Karl gave me. If I ever had a real teacher/mentor figure in MMA then it was Karl and part of me was hoping to get my blackbelt from him.
The Estonian MMA and BJJ scene owes him a lot.
Despite wearing his heart upon the sleeve a lot of the time he was definitely a very complex person with difficulties he unfortunately didn't find a way to address.
Even though I barely was in touch with him since ~2012 I miss him.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
I knew Karl quite well back in the days, he came to Denmark several times to teach and stayed at my place. We traveled together quite a bit in the UK and US for seminars. Slept on his couch in his small apartment in Manchester when I was a really young, aspiring globetrotter who didn't know much about the world and wasn't very confident in English. Learned so much from him. A friend of mine saved someone's life from a knife attack with the techniques he taught at a STAB seminar in my gym.
Haven't been in touch for 10+ years probably, but it was really nice to watch that documentary on him a few weeks back. I would love to re-watch some of his old instructional videos.
Haven't been in touch for 10+ years probably, but it was really nice to watch that documentary on him a few weeks back. I would love to re-watch some of his old instructional videos.
MMircoOP
Brown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
I knew Karl quite well back in the days, he came to Denmark several times to teach and stayed at my place. We traveled together quite a bit in the UK and US for seminars. Slept on his couch in his small apartment in Manchester when I was a really young, aspiring globetrotter who didn't know much about the world and wasn't very confident in English. Learned so much from him. A friend of mine saved someone's life from a knife attack with the techniques he taught at a STAB seminar in my gym. Haven't been in touch for 10+ years probably, but it was really nice to watch that documentary on him a few weeks back. I would love to re-watch some of his old instructional videos.
Wow,
I didn’t know that, although I knew you was SBG affiliated some time.
I love his half guard instructional with the reverse hip bump Sweep from half guard.
As I said I only knew him for a very short time and not good enough to know about his „difficulties“ Jorgen mentioned.
His teaching skills were phenomenal!
I didn’t know that, although I knew you was SBG affiliated some time.
I love his half guard instructional with the reverse hip bump Sweep from half guard.
As I said I only knew him for a very short time and not good enough to know about his „difficulties“ Jorgen mentioned.
His teaching skills were phenomenal!
Edited 5 year(s) ago
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Ha that's funny, this old DVD set that I produced with Matt and Karl on a tour we did around UK early 2000s is still online for download. Tempted to buy it just to watch it again!
https://www.straightblast[...]g-dvd-set/
Was a fun trip, but I remember those two were bullying/teasing me like crazy. It was kind of fun, but only until a certain point.
https://www.straightblast[...]g-dvd-set/
Was a fun trip, but I remember those two were bullying/teasing me like crazy. It was kind of fun, but only until a certain point.
MMircoOP
Brown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
.... those two were bullying/teasing me like crazy. It was kind of fun, but only until a certain point.
Little bit of friendly „teasing“ is one thing and ok to a certain point, but „bullying“ in my opinion is a different ball game and not appropriate.
CGBlack belt 4th degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Little bit of friendly „teasing“ is one thing and ok to a certain point, but „bullying“ in my opinion is a different ball game and not appropriate.
Perhaps wasn't the right place to mention this in a topic to remember him. All in all, over the years, I had a great time in his company and really enjoyed learning from him :)
MMircoOP
Brown beltVerified
5 year(s) ago
Perhaps wasn't the right place to mention this in a topic to remember him. All in all, over the years, I had a great time in his company and really enjoyed learning from him :)
People’s behaviors often change over time. You knew him (and Matt) good and almost 15 years before I met Karl ( this was way later in 2015)- and I didn’t knew him really good, I only trained with him on that weekend, but I only have positive memories of my short encounter with him and his teaching skills impressed me. Otherwise I think I wouldn’t have thought about him , I think.
Edited 5 year(s) ago
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Knowing Karl he wouldn't mind people talking about him in any way after he is gone as long as it was balanced and honest.
DBBlack belt 3rd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Dude seemed to be far ahead of the curve, when it comes to teaching methodology in combat sports.
JMBlack belt 2nd degreeVerified
5 year(s) ago
Dude seemed to be far ahead of the curve, when it comes to teaching methodology in combat sports.
He was! I learned wallwalking and other cage wall strategies from in him in 2006!
From that we continued to develop and some "Khabib things" were a staple in our training way before Khabib made it onto the scene.
The exploration, experimentation and resistance drills like in SBG (including SBG Manchester) didn't really start to reach the mainstream until ~2010 and onward...
Best prank he pulled on me was that in the end of one pro-team training he got out tennis balls (I didn't know about myofascial release back then) and then showed me that OK we use it to strengthen jaw muscles as a cooldown. Had me chew on a tennis ball good only seconds later for me to to realise that everyone was staring at me and then the room burst full of laughter...
From that we continued to develop and some "Khabib things" were a staple in our training way before Khabib made it onto the scene.
The exploration, experimentation and resistance drills like in SBG (including SBG Manchester) didn't really start to reach the mainstream until ~2010 and onward...
Best prank he pulled on me was that in the end of one pro-team training he got out tennis balls (I didn't know about myofascial release back then) and then showed me that OK we use it to strengthen jaw muscles as a cooldown. Had me chew on a tennis ball good only seconds later for me to to realise that everyone was staring at me and then the room burst full of laughter...
