Easton BJJ Brown Belt Instructors

Tyler "Thunder" Toner
Coach

Inspired by "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "The Karate Kid", Tyler Toner began his career in the Martial Arts at an early age. He began with Tae Kwon Do at the age of 5, studying for 6 years and winning a national title in the process.

He eventually moved on to the art of Jeet Kun Do, training under an early advocate of cross training and Mixed Martial Arts, Jerry Ellefson. It was Ellefson who took Tyler (10 years old at the time) to the very first Ultimate Fighting Championships in Denver; Tyler was mesmerized as he got his first glimpse of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, witnessing the smaller Royce Gracie manhandle his much larger opponents. Ellefson encouraged Tyler to seek out a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instructor to continue his growth in Martial arts.

It took about 10 years, but sure enough, while studying at CU Boulder, Tyler came across Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since early 2003, Tyler has been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai at Easton Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He received his blue belt in February of 2005, and fought and won in his first MMA bout in July of the same year. He is currently 9-1 in MMA, and can be seen fighting in Ring of Fire and Strike Force.

Tyler teaches Thai-Boxing and the children's classes at Easton BJJ. Tyler is equally at home teaching a group of 5 year olds or a Thai Boxing class with over twenty adults. Come in and see for your self! Toner currently holds the rank of purple belt in BJJ.

Larry Schnaare
Coach

Larry began training in BJJ and MMA while in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA in 2001. He trained under a Roy Harris Black Belt named Norman Belsterling in Carlsbad, CA. After finishing active duty Schnaare moved back to IL and began training at Three Rivers Marts Academy, A Royce Gracie network school, in Paducah, KY. Larry received his Blue belt from Royce and his purple belt from Rodrigo Gracie.

Larry felt that in order for him to really progress further in BJJ he needed closer supervision of a high level black belt. Soon after Larry was offered a position in Denver, CO and began researching the BJJ schools. Once he discovered the quality of the instructors at EBJJ Larry accepted the position in Denver and moved there in May, 2008.

Schnaare received his brown belt in December, 2008 from Mario "Busy" Correa and continues to train with all of the great instructors at EBJJ. Larry also trains in Muay Thai and received his blue shirt in July, 2008.