Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Glidden.
Hi Bryan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I’ve loved martial arts since I was a kid. I wrestled and loved boxing and other combat sports. After high school, I spent almost 6 years serving as an infantryman in the US Army, with a 15-month tour in Iraq, and 12 months in Afghanistan. The army was a great place to develop coaching skills. After service, I began training in Caique Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Dragon-Leg Muay Thai out of Warrior Way in Walled Lake Michigan. The team there was amazing, and really helped me develop as a grappler, boxer, and person. After a few years with them, I helped open up Final Round Training center in Ann Arbor Michigan.
After training and coaching for a while at Final Round I decided to take my training to the next level and head to Thailand. I left in September of 2015 to live with the legendary late Sangtiennoi Sor Runroj, “The Deadly Kisser”. I stayed with the Sangtiennoi family for 3 months in Pathum Thani, located about an hour north of Bangkok. I cannot explain how valuable this experience was.
I gave up everything I had to make that 3-month trip to Thailand, and when I came back, I had to rely on some very good friends and family to help me get back on my feet after I returned, and I cannot explain how thankful I am for that. I was still coaching with my team at Final Round but needed to take on a second job to cover bills at Title boxing club.
I would take another trip to Thailand in 2017. This time was only about 2.5 weeks, but I was able to stay in Bangkok and experience a different side of Muay Thai culture. During this stay, I was able to hop around a little bit and try out different gyms including the Yokkao gym and Buakaw’s gym before they moved to Chiangmai.
I would travel to Bangkok again for 2 months to stay and train more intensely with eminent air gym. I loved it there. The fighters were fun to train with, the coaches were amazing, and it was right in the middle of the city.
After this trip, I decided it was time to start branching out and do my own thing. I started looking for opportunities to develop my own Muay Thai program in Michigan. That’s when I met Amir Rad, owner of Thrive fitness in Ann Arbor. Amir and his wife Alexis amazing coaches and allowed me the opportunity to develop what we know now as “Maverick Muay Thai”.
In November of 2021 Thrive fitness moved to a new location. This was my kick to find my own location, that ended up being at 355 S. Zeeb Rd.
There were a lot of hiccups on the road to opening our own location, including the unexpected loss of my mother in 2021 due to complications from COVID.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
This has been one of the most frustrating challenges of my life. I was conned by a friend out of money, I lost my grandmother and mother in 2021, Covid shut us down multiple times making it harder to do anything, dealing with the township is a nightmare, I am a father, and I also deal with pretty severe PTSD, depression, and anxiety. It was not a smooth road haha
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I tend to lead a “non-traditional” martial arts journey for people to experience. Rather than a super rigid program based on rank and arbitrary ceremonies, I opt for an open forum approach to training. My students and I work together to help give ourselves the tools to succeed rather than relying on mystic doctrine.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
That would be a long list, but if I have to say anything I’d say don’t be “just keep going” It’s hard, but after it’s hard it’s fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: Maverick-muay-thai.square.site
- Instagram: @maverickmuaythai
- Facebook: Maverick Muay Thai
