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Hello. My name is Jason Mertlich.
I try to avoid labels, and characterizations, but here is some info about myself…a snapshot… if you will.
I have always felt a deep connection to my surroundings, and my body. I, at times, felt obscure, and out of place with my peers.
I grew up in a single parent household, raised by my mother. I spent a great deal of time with my grandfather, and he, more than anyone, has influenced my life to the greatest degree. He taught me how to be a man. He taught me about honor, courage, hard work, and compassion. I miss him greatly.
I grew up playing many sports. I enjoyed baseball, and football the most. In high school I focused mainly on football, and was receiving national attention from some top universities. Senior year we struggled to place in region, and although making the all region team, it hurt some recruiting exposure.I pondered where to go, and in the end decided to quit football, and see where life took me.
I tried several different jobs, office, construction, my own lawn mowing business, the airlines, physical therapist for a quadrapalegic, Tom Barlow, I wonder where you are? I also had the amazing opportunity to work for several years as a transport agent. I would take troubled teens from their homes to different rehab facilities around the world. I have had the great opportunity to travel to many places around the globe.
It was during this time that I met a man named Walt Balyless. Walt is a an amazing individual, who taught me about life, and taught me my passion, Jiu Jitsu! I would spend 6 days a week, usually twice a day most days, studying, and practicing jiu jitsu. Three years later I had my black belt, and a huge accomplishment for myself. Walt moved away, and I bounced around a little.I trained with some of the best guys in the world, one is my friend Griffen Reynaud, I am so lucky to have the friends that I do. I also taught jiu jitsu off and on for many years during this period.
A few years went by and I was living ferociously in a crazy booze, and drug filled haze. I had many ups and downs during this time, battled with depression, alcohol, and drugs. One good thing during this time,I established myself in the local film scene, and made many great friends working behind, and in front of the camera. Thank you Frank Gerrish.
After a few years of the endless party, I started searching…. I have come across many great teachers, and I am very fortunate. I started teaching jiu jitsu again,got back into boxing. I developed a good sense of coaching, and have been able to train many talented young fighters throughout the last few years.
Today, after being refined in the fire, I come to you after a major epiphany in my life…..
I must thank those, who along the way, made things a little easier, and at times, a little harder.
First and foremost my grandfather. You taught me how to be a man. Honor, courage, hard work, and compassion. I miss you every day.
My mother, without you, I would have given up along time ago. Thank you for everything. You have helped me in so many ways, I can’t even begin to thank you enough.
My sister Tam, and her beautiful children. (that includes you Landon) I love you sis.
My dad, my sisters, brother, brother-in-law Justin, all of my extended family, grandparents from both sides, all of my friends growing up. I love you all.
I want to thank my teachers, both in person, and in study.
Walt Bayless, you have given me the gift of Jiu Jitsu, thank you,.
Griffen Reynaud, Louie Avilla, Mr. Stone, James Sokamano, Nate Henriod, Frank Gerrish, Anne Sward Hansen, Micheala Nelligan.
Teachers who I read, Eckhardt Tolle, Wayne Dyer, The Tao, The Buddha, Jesus Christ, Ghandi, Coach Davies, Esther and Jerry Hicks, Deepak Chopra, John Steinbeck, Henry David Thoreau, Byron Katie, Edger Allen Poe, Albert Einstein.
Most of all, thank you to my beautiful wife Shar.
Not your typical fighter’s background. Born in California and raised in Odgen Utah in a close knit loving family and no real sports background.
When you think about “Natural Talent” you have to think about Steve Siler. This is a guy who did NOT wrestle in high school, did NOT take Karate as a kid and most certainly did NOT train in Jiu Jitsu. The guy didn’t even lift weights. But he knew someone who did train and he thought it looked “Like fun” to get into the ring. So with no training at all, he got into the ring and managed to win his first fight. It was so much fun he kept looking for more fights and he kept getting in the ring with no training and for the most part he kept on beating up guys who took this seriously and trained daily. It seems “punching people in the face” was about the most fun a middle class white guy from a good home with no experience could have.
Steve continued to fight for fun and it was not until he had 8 fights that he decided it might be a good idea to train. So after 2 years of fighting successfully without training or coaching, Steve joined the guys at the RIVEN fight team and is now poised to really make some noise in his chosen sport.
Steve has already met and defeated one of the region’s top MMA fighters in Travis ‘T-Train’ Marx on a nationally televised TapOut event. He is on an eight fight win streak and he is making his most dangerous opponents look like amateurs. When natural ability meets desire, ‘coachability’ and a strong work ethic, great things can happen. This kid is a freak.
Dayne got an early start in the martial arts, studying and participating in Karate at 5 years of age. For 10 years he studied martial arts, dabbling in many different forms. When he was 15 years old Dayne discovered Jiu Jitsu and was immediately hooked. The movement and effectiveness were readily apparent to him even at that young age. He watched early UFC tournaments and was a huge fan of Royce Gracie. Dayne read everything he could on the Gracie’s and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu and found out that Gracie Black Belt Pedro Sauer had an academy in Sandy. Dayne is very fortunate to have a devoted mom who agreed to drive him an hour each way to Pedro’s academy twice a week so he could train.
A year later, Paul Gardner (a Pedro Sauer affiliate) opened a gym close to Dayne’s home enabling him to start practicing daily. Dayne became dedicated to his new art from the start and once he had the opportunity, he began to train for several hours each day.
It was while training and teaching in Orem that Dayne met Adam Legas. Adam recognized the talent and dedication in Dayne and asked him to join his new Throwdown ETC team. Dayne jumped at the chance and is now a core instructor at the finest and largest mixed martial arts gym in the country. Along the way he met Griffen Reynaud and decided to make the jump into MMA and is already making a name for himself. He now trains hours a day in Jiu Jitsu, boxing, kick boxing, wrestling and Muy Thai and putting them all together for MMA.
Dayne has supernatural ability to finish fighters in the gym that are twice his size. His speed, flexibility an improvisation makes watching Dayne a magical experience. Just watching him grapple is like watching something choreographed on a film set. He will catch people in everything from flying arm bars to devastating head kicks. He is a very intellectual, quiet and humble kid who loves any challenge put in front of him. His potential is just remarkable. He is dedicated and giving; Dayne is the right kind of fighter to help take the sport to the next level.