Neo-Gen: Talk a bit about your training background. How long have you been
training in the martial arts and what got you involved?
Culbreth: Like most guys when I was little I did about 4 years of tae-kwon-do. It was a pretty tuff environment. We actually trained in a closed in police garage so the floors were dirty and covered in oil. From age 13-17, I wrestled. Then when I went to college I didn't compete competitively any more in anything and that was hard. So once I got settled back in the Triangle area, I spoke with a guy named Mike Shueler and he and his cousin had just received their blue belts from Rickson making them one of the first blue belts in NC. After, I was talking with a friend of mine about getting the Gracie Tapes and he knew some guys in Fayetteville who were teaching so I went to a class with Norm Hooten. When I got back home I really wanted to get a friend to train with and found out that Greg Thompson was teaching Jiu-Jitsu in Hillsborough. Since Greg and I took martial arts together and grew up going to the same High School and Swimming together I was more then willing to learn from him. At the time there were only about 7-10 guys in Hillsborough doing Jiu-Jitsu. Greg had received his black belt in Tae-kwon-do and Karate and was still training in Muay Thai under Scott Francis so he evolved my training into being well rounded by adding the stand up and the clinch work to my game.
NG: Who is the biggest influence on your training?
Culbreth: Initially it was a young phenom named Anderson Dicky. He was young and started chasing girls and partying a lot so he kind of quit training and Greg really took me under his wing and taught me.
NG: Team ROC has a great reputation and an awesome competition record. How
did you get involved with the team?
Culbreth: Well Team-ROC is the combination of 2 schools and soon it will be 3 schools. Brent Pierce runs Team-ROC Eden and Greg runs Team-ROC Durham. Team-ROC is actually the course that Greg and Brent teach to the Military and Police Depts. around the country. It is Reality of Combat. It is drawing from Brent's 11 years as a decorated Police officer in San Jose, CA and Greg's fighting experience.
NG: Had you trained grappling before you hooked up with Team ROC?
Culbreth: I wrestled from age 13-17.
NG: How has training with Team ROC helped your overall game?
Culbreth: Training with the guys at Team-ROC is a great experience. Everyone helps everyone else. It is like each advanced guy has 1-2 students that he is always working with helping refine their game. As they progress they pass along what they learned to their new guys. It is a constant learning and teaching cycle.
NG: Who are some of the up and coming competitors that you train with?
Culbreth: There are a lot of great guys that train and never compete. The ones that most everyone around NC will hear from are Brandon Garner, Tara LaRosa, and Chris Keller. Then there is Aitor Canup who is my training partner when either he or I are getting ready for a fight and we can't forget Robbie Adams our bad ass lightweight. From Team-ROC Eden the guy to look out for is Seth Horn. He is a very talented kid with a couple of huge wins to his record currently. When he finally turns 18 expect big things from him.
NG: You also teach classes at the Raliegh Institute of Martial Arts. Has
teaching helped you understand the grappling game better?
Culbreth: It has made me stop and think about things. People are always asking questions I don't know the answer to so I have to learn it from either one of my training partners or one of the black belts I get to train with from time to time.
NG: What is a typical day of training like for you?
Culbreth: It really depends on what is going on. On a perfect day I wake up and lift at 5:30 am. Eat, go to work, then either go teach class or go to class. Go home eat and to bed. When there is a major tournament or MMA event coming up I start swimming at lunch for 30-45 minutes.
NG: Tell us a bit about your competition experience.
Culbreth: So far I am 2-0 in MMA competitions. I would have had more fights but since I am an old guy I have either been sick or had some injuries that kept me from competing. I am hoping to compete in May if I stay healthy.
NG: What is one of the most memorable competition experiences that you have had?
Culbreth: Winning the Gracie Nationals this year was a highlight. I would like to have said that the absolute title was but after running through the competition I got to the finals and gave the guy an arm to bait him…..well he took it alright hook line and sinker and caught me with a nice armbar. Oh well……live and learn.
NG: You have been working the past few years on promoting grappling events in North Carolina. Tell us a bit about that.
Culbreth: Well Frank Mullis, Billy Dowey and I started promoting the Quest for the Holly Grail together. Then we were approached by a local company who wanted us to put on a large event that would really bring in the publicity and get their name out there. Well as we went forward the guy who approached us turned out to be full of S*&t. Like the crazy guys we are we went through with promoting the Pro-Ams which to this day is still the best pro tournament ever held in the US. We were about $30,000 short after the event but thankfully our prayers were answered and a guy cam forward and paid off the difference for us. If you don't believe there is a God then try being that far in debt to a bunch of Brazilian fighter's.
NG: What got you started in promoting?
Culbreth: We just wanted to see good events in NC. There are great tournaments all over the place but very few good ones here in NC. After a while you get tired of traveling to compete. Our idea was to have 2-3 a year in the Raleigh area and around NC but so far we have just broken even since there has been minimal support. We do appreciate all of the competitors that have helped out and competed in all of the events. This is what gives us hope that one day the shows will draw enough people so that we can afford to do the 2-3 shows a year.
NG: Are you satisfied with the way things have turned out so far?
Culbreth: I won't say satisfied, but we are pleased. We would love to do the Pro-Ams again but it will take money up front and a contract with a large sponsor. We actually have the means to get the show on TV we just need to get sponsorship support.
NG: What should we expect from you in the coming year with your promotions?
Culbreth: Well if things go well this year we are doing the Holly Grail in April and then as soon as the Gladiator law gets repealed we will be doing a MMA show here in Raleigh.
NG: What are your opinions on the current state of MMA and Grappling in North
Carolina?
Culbreth: If you read the gladiator law it is pathetic. It actually outlaws Judo, Small circle jiu-jitsu and several other popular martial arts. We ran into some problems with the boxing commission trying to do the Pro-Ams and the Holy Grail the other year. Then after the success of the shows and the quality of the competitors the commission was impressed and said that they would work to help us get the law repealed and set up sanctioning rules and judging. So far the law has passed the NC house and is soon to be up for a vote in the senate.
NG: I've heard things through the grapevine and I just have to ask. How did
you get the "Twister" nickname?
Culbreth: Well my BJJ hero is Nino Schembri and his thing is to always fight for the submission at all cost. That is kind of what I like to take to the mat. I like to finish. It has cost me in several tournaments but the submission is like the knockout that is what the crowd wants to see. I have had to tune that attitude down a little so that I would win some tournaments but that is always what is in my head to get the finish.
NG: Have you ever had the chance to train outside of the United States?
Culbreth: I went to Brazil several years ago to stay with my friend Carlos Lemos Jr. Who trains at Gracie Barra. It was awesome. The room is full of like 20 black belts at any given time and they are always willing to roll with you. There is nothing like feeling like a rag doll for 3 hours a night and 2 hours in the morning. At the end of the week you are sore and tired but have a huge smile. They guys at the academy treated us great thanks to Carlos. On a side note Carlos just received his black belt in Brazil and will be teaching some at Triangle BJJ and will do some seminars around NC and is available for privates also.
Brazil is a beautiful place, very scenic. Then the food was great. It was really cheap but excellent. We would usually go to buffet to eat. The host family that we stayed with was incredible. They treated us better then family. And of course the women are unreal. They are the most beautiful women you have ever seen. Next time, I would like to go during their summer and spend more time on the beach and taking in the night life.
NG: Who are some of the more nationally recognized people that you have trained with?
Culbreth: I have trained with Royce, Renzo, Jacare, Ricardo Almeida, Matt Serra, Gordo, Nino, Flavio Almeida. When you train at Barra you get to train with all of the big names.
NG: Who do you like on the Professional MMA scene right now and why?
Culbreth: Hmmmm….The pro scene is packed. I like Sakuraba since he is always up for a fight no matter what. I like Silva just because of his destructive abilities. Minotauro because he has proven he is the man in the heavyweights, submitting everyone. I love to see the guys I have trained with fight like Ricardo, Matt Serra and Renzo. Of course we all like to watch Royce fight since his appearances in the UFC are what got most of us started in the sport. Just because you know how good they are but when you see them fight they never go backwards. Win or lose they are there to fight.
NG: What promotion do you think is doing the best job of putting on quality MMA events?
Culbreth: I think that King of the Cage does a great job on the West coast. Of course, the UFC does a good job. I think that there have been some blown calls but every sport has those and it gives us something to argue about. Then there is Pride, which I think is the premier event. As for the smaller shows there are some really good ones out there. Locally, I like Kickfest and EVT promoted by Brent Pierce. I know he tries really hard to get evenly matched competition. There is BattleJax in Florida. Hook-N-Shoot in Indiana.
NG: To step away from the martial arts aspect for a bit and give our readers a better view on who you are, tell us a bit about yourslef outside of the MMA realm. What things are you interested in?
Culbreth: Well I used to be into politics and investments. Since doing jiu-jitsu this is pretty much my life. When I get free time I travel a lot, usually for MMA or Jiu-Jitsu, or go to the lake or beach. I love the water.
NG: Do you have a favorite type of music?
Culbreth: I am old school so I like big hair rock and roll, and some country. I listen to just about everything depending on my mood.
NG: What is your favorite movie?
Culbreth: My favorite serious movie is the Green Mile. It is just a great flick and takes you on emotional turns. For suspense I like The Game with Michael Douglas and then I love comedies.
NG: What type of foods do you like?
Culbreth: I like just about every type of food. I love Italian, Mexican and love a great steak off my grill.
NG: How do your family and friends react to your involvement in MMA?
Culbreth: At first they thought I was crazy. Now they know I am! They support it. And like most family they worry about me getting hurt.
NG: Lastly, what are some short and long term goals that you have set for yourself in MMA and in your personal life?
Culbreth: Well, I would like to do 2-3 more MMA fights. Then I want to focus on teaching and work towards one day getting my black belt before I am 40.
NG: That about wraps it up. I really appreciate you taking time out for this interview. Thanks a lot, Jason.
Culbreth: Hey, thank you for what you are doing for MMA and Submission grappling here in NC. The NC forum and this webpage are great. Keep up the good work.
Interview conducted by Steve Loftin (25Mar02)
