Our Coaches
Sam Rauch
Professor Sam Rauch started his martial arts journey over 15 years ago while stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Born and raised in Butte, Sam joined the Army in 2002, serving in both Afghanistan and Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantry soldier-this is where he was first introduced to martial arts. After discharging from the Army, he started to compete locally and regionally in MMA. He built an amateur record of 7-0 and 1-0 as a professional, fighting out of Montana, Washington and South Dakota, and decided to pursue a Professional MMA Career and train with the most elite athletes in the nation. This motivated Sam to train in Las Vegas, California, and Colorado to find the best in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing. From 2007 to 2014, Sam trained with top level professional fighters, UFC Champions, Jiu Jitsu World Champions, Olympians, and other professional sport athletes day in and day out.
His training wasn’t always easy, but unwilling to give up on his college education, Sam graduated with a BA in Business Management from Regis University. As a Veteran and supporter of American Veterans, Sam also worked three years at the VA Hospital in Denver as a Administrative Officer. In 2014, Sam and his wife Brittany returned to Butte to raise their children in the great community of Butte. While Sam was working for Northwestern Energy, he still had the draw to train and benefit from the BJJ lifestyle; he wanted to share these benefits with the Butte Community.
In 2015, Sam, Brittany and their son Jace established Grit with the intention of providing the same quality martial arts that they found in Denver at Easton Training Center and Bang Muay Thai Headquarters. Over the past 3 years their family has grown with a daughter, Eme, and son, Samson, and Grit’s family has continued to grow over the years.
“Competition is where you test your training and your true self.” Sam Rauch has competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, No GI Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai and MMA. Sam has medaled in the top 3 in every Jiu Jitsu tournament he has competed in. In 2017 Sam competed professionally as a Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt for Fight To Win Pro, professional Jiu Jitsu’s biggest stage. Winning his match via armbar submission Sam was promoted to Jiu Jitsu Black belt under Jiu Jitsu Pioneer and Renzo Gracie Black Belt, Amal Easton.
In 2018, Sam fought for Sparta Combat Leagues Professional Lightweight Muay Thai Championship Title against a tough seasoned Canadian fighter. Winning by unanimous decision in a hard fought Muay Thai fight full of elbow, knees, kicks and punches, Sam’s time training and preparing with Duane Ludwig through his Strikeforce and UFC career helped him prevail in this grueling Title fight. Sam currently holds a Purple Belt in Bang Muay Thai.
In addition to his other achievements, Sam holds the Fightforce Welterweight and Lightweight Professional Mixed Martial Arts Titles. While Sam is a highly skilled fighter, he also has the unique ability of being equally adept at teaching a class of adults and effortlessly commanding the attention of a packed room of four-year-old students. Though many instructors like to teach elaborate moves, and base their classes around whatever new technique they are practicing, Sam prefers to stick to the fundamentals. He believes that however effective a particular move might be, solid fundamentals are what make a person a skilled martial artist.
Jason St. Arnold
Coach Jason St. Arnold is a BJJ Brown Belt and is originally from Washburn, Wisconsin. He is an 18 year Air Force Veteran, and is still currently serving on Active Duty. He has been stationed in Turkey, Washington DC, Arizona, Florida, Texas, and now Montana.
Coach Jason first discovered BJJ when he became an Air Force Combatives Program (AFCP) Instructor in 2008. He began training regularly in January of 2010, when he was finally able to find a local academy and started competing about 6 months later. Coach Jason is a 1-time IBJJF National Champion (Blue Belt). 2-time Arizona State Champion (Blue Belt). BJJ interests Coach Jason because it is always evolving.
He enjoys traveling and likes visiting breweries, restaurants, and haunted and/or historic locations as well as spending time with his wife and daughter. His contagious, upbeat attitude and positive nature make Grit a fun place to train.
If Coach Jason could take his favorite superhero to dinner he would take Batman to a steakhouse.
Josh Stallman
Coach Josh is an 18 year old Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Butte, MT. Josh was originally born in Salt Lake City, Utah, but moved to Butte when he was 3 years old. He plays and teaches guitar, and loves memes. Coach Josh started BJJ 3 years ago because he loved to watch MMA. His dad mentioned to him about trying Grit because he was friends with Coach Sam, and Josh knew that’s what he wanted to do.
Coach Josh’s favorite thing about BJJ is no matter how good you are, there is always room to learn and improve. Staying consistent with BJJ is important and what has made him grow in BJJ.
If Coach Josh could take his favorite superhero to dinner, he would take Superman to Taco Bell to see if his insides were made of steel also.
Bryant Black
Coach Bryant is a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu who lived in Barcelona, Spain for three years. Bryant has always been involved with martial arts, but started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu out of a garage in uptown Butte in 2004. After learning BJJ out of a garage in 2004, Bryant had to put a hold on his training due to hip surgery.
Coach Bryant has been with Grit since Professor Sam opened Grit in 2015. Bryant always thought BJJ was great, even won some Judo matches using BJJ. Outside of Grit, Coach Bryant loves to draw, paint and sculpt.
If Coach Bryant could take a superhero to dinner, he would take Rocket Racoon because he is not fussy and will eat garbage.
Jaison Carriger
Coach Jaison is a 36 year old Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Butte, MT. Jaison was born in Butte, but then moved to Glasgow and Billings before moving back to Butte. He played football at the University of Montana, playing in the National Championship in 2004 before joining BJJ in 2017. Coach Jaison joined Grit because he enjoyed watching his two kids fall in love with BJJ and decided he wanted to give it a try. He started Jiu Jitsu because he wanted a different kind of workout than what he was used to from playing football, he wanted a daily challenge. Weightlifting always came natural to Coach Jaison, where BJJ pushes his boundaries and comfort level, which is one of his favorite things about BJJ. He loves that BJJ is constantly evolving.
When Coach Jaison is not at Grit, he is working at NorthWestern Energy, but he loves to do CrossFit with his wife; Alycia and golf with his kids; Mila and Emery. Jaison is excited about his journey with BJJ and looks forward to what he is going to learn next.
If Jaison had the chance to take his favorite superhero to dinner, he would take Batman somewhere where Bruce Wayne would want to go and pay since he probably couldn’t afford a place Bruce Wayne would love.
Jesse Newbreast
Coach Jesse is a Butte native, Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a 6-2 pro record holding MMA fighter. Jesse wrestled throughout highschool and started kickboxing and No Gi training for his MMA fights in 2008. In 2008, Jesse tried a judo class at Montana Tech with John Amtmann and got hooked on martial arts. After working with Kickboxing, No Gi and his MMA training Coach Jesse started Gi BJJ in 2016. Outside of Grit, Jesse likes to snowmobile, side-by-side, and spend time with his Fiance, Ashley and son.
Michael Picker
Coach Michael is a Blue Belt from Boulder, Colorado. In Grit, he loves participating and coaching Jiu Jitsu! When Coach Michael is outside of Grit, he loves to cook, go camping, watch movies, and travel, but most importantly, swing dance!
Coach Michael started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2017 to learn a new skill, improve his life and gain a healthy look on his everyday activities. Michael’s favorite thing about Grit is the community of friends and family he has gotten out of joining, and he can now protect himself and his friends if needed.
If Michael had the chance to take his favorite superhero to dinner, he would take Thor to Pizza Ranch.