According to author, MMA coach, and one of the first people in the United States to receive a black belt in jiu-jitsu, Matt Thornton, violence is as natural to human evolution as sex and food. In his book, “The Gift of Violence: Surviving and Thriving in a Dangerous World,” Matt provides the tools and mindset necessary to avoid—and if necessary, engage in—violent encounters. Matt has been Peter Boghossian’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach for over a decade, and they are also close friends. In this intimate conversation, they discuss the practical value of jiu-jitsu and MMA training. Matt outlines specific moves to gain control in a fight and the importance of situational awareness and weapon training. According to Matt, many people have a glamorized view of violence and do not understand the limits of their own capabilities. Worse still, ideology has blunted people’s connection to defensive evolutionary instincts, resulting in dangerous encounters that could be avoided. Matt Thornton has taught functional martial arts for more than 30 years. He holds a 5th-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is the founder of Straight Blast Gym International, training champion MMA fighters and world-class law enforcement instructors. Matt addresses policing, gang violence, and crime data in his series “Wokeness, Public Safety, BLM, & Antifa.” Watch this episode on YouTube.