Member of the Month: Logan Clevenger

Welcome to our second member of the month interview! When selecting a member of the month for Academic Grappling, we look for effort, empathy, personal improvement, and someone who inspires others through their authentic interactions. We are thrilled to have Logan Clevenger this month! As member of the month, Logan was allowed to wear the much-coveted AG Belt, sign the back of it, and have a polaroid printed and hung on the wall of the gym. Learn more about our friend Logan below:

1. How long have you been training BJJ?

I’ve been training almost 4 months

2. Why did you join Academic Grappling?

I initially reached out to the gym expressing my interest to train both BJJ and Muay Thai. I am an avid combat sports fan, as well as a former participant in martial arts, which inspired my decision to join a combat sports gym. I joined AG specifically because after trying my initial trial session, I knew that AG was the right fit for me. 

3. What’s your favorite part of being a member of Academic Grappling?

My favorite part of AG isn’t JUST that the program is full of very talented grapplers, but these same grapplers are also some of the best teammates you could ask for. Mainly my reason for saying this is because I feel like every class, every roll, everyone is genuinely so invested in each other's success. When you think of the stereotypical combat sports gym, you think of a bunch of individuals out for their own success, however AG is a very different and special environment, as we are only as strong as our weakest grappler. We ALL make each other better every week, and we love to see each other thrive. 

4. What is currently your favorite technique in Jiu-Jitsu?

My current favorite BJJ technique is the power ride. I’m constantly thinking about my style of BJJ and how it will translate in competition. The more I think about it, the more I believe I will be a top/pressure fighter, and power ride is all about controlling your opponent and minimizing their ability to escape. 

5. How do you define success?

Success, in the context of combat sports, is earning validation and respect from your peers. I don’t mean this in a weird hierarchy type of way. My point is that when I joined my #1 focus was on being a great teammate. I wanted my addition to both the BJJ and Muay Thai programs to be seamless. I feel like being a good teammate comes first and then the rest takes care of itself. In any context of life, I feel like I would deem myself a success if I have made a positive and lasting impact on my family, friends, clients and teammates. Therefore I feel like earning the respect and validation from my peers would give me the ultimate feeling of success in combat sports. 

6. Who inspires you, in Jiu-Jitsu or any other aspect of your life?

In BJJ, my #1 inspiration is Charles Oliveira. His story of how he made it out of the impoverished favelas of Brazil to become a world champion has always inspired me. He also has faced many other forms of adversity in his career such as almost getting cut by the UFC after suffering a long losing streak. He embodies resilience, toughness, and relentlessness, which are three things I want to be as a combat sports athlete. Outside of BJJ, one of my inspirations is my personal training client Vicki. Without getting too deep into it, Vicki has dealt with a lot of adversity in her life that would give her the ultimate reason to never work out and no one would blame her or bat an eye. However, Vicki is one of the most consistent and determined when it comes to her fitness. She is an inspiration, and she gives me motivation on those days when I don’t feel like getting my own workout in. I know she is getting hers in no matter what. 

7. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

I would say my main advice for those starting BJJ would be to stick with it and become a student of the game. If you want to be the best you can be you have to be consistent with classes, and open mats and also getting in video content, instructionals, etc. outside of the gym. I like to always stimulate my mind with new moves, concepts and techniques that I can deploy in my own BJJ strategies. I say consistency is most important to newbies, because missing classes, weeks, makes it hard to tie concepts together and sew your game together. I think of my BJJ skillset as a big quilt. You learn in squares and you have to find where those squares fit and sew them together. 

8. Do you have any fun/funny stories from your time training BJJ?

One funny thing that I have taken from BJJ is that Coach Jared always makes sound effects when instructing on moves/techniques. He will be like step 1 “BOOP,” step three, move your knee to this spot “WOOP.” Now at my job and doing everyday tasks, I catch myself making these same sound effects. LOL 

9. What is your current occupation? How did you get into it? Do you enjoy it?

I am a personal trainer at a fitness studio in Fishers, IN called Studio Fit’nez. I got into personal training after a friend recommended that I should get my certification while still in college, since I liked fitness so much. For me, fitness represents empowerment and an outlet for me in my adolescence. I had some tough obstacles as a kid like bullying, divorce, etc. and lifting weights was one of my safe spaces where I could go and feel good about myself when things weren’t always great externally. I now like to help empower people through fitness. I love what I do, and you can’t quantify just how awesome it is when you positively impact the quality of someone else's life. 

10. What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

My fun fact is that I am a karate brown belt. Karate was my first martial art I trained and I did karate from a young age up until high school. I used to compete in sparring and I still have some of my old trophies and belts. 

11. What’s the last book you read?

Unfortunately my attention span is miniscule, so I never really sit down to read a book. However I do listen to audiobooks from time to time on things that interest me. The last audiobook I listened to was “Coach K” by Ian O’Connor. It was about the life and the rise of former Duke and Team USA basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. I thought it was a very good listen and very interesting and insightful on leadership. 

12. What’s something you love to do outside of work or training?

I love live events and sports. You will always be able to catch me at a Pacers game, Colts game, Duke Basketball game (if it is close), and UFC Events. I also love concerts and live music. I’m an avid fan of both sports and music. 

13. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is a tough one… on one hand I am a pizza lover, and I love a good pie (Giordano's deep dish or a Cheese Louise from Jockamos), but my body would not be agreeing with a lifelong contract of that diet LOL. I also could eat various different forms of chicken and rice, because I never get tired of it. 

14. What’s one thing about you that you feel really sums up who you are as a person?

I’d like to think I am a very empathetic and caring person. It can be a blessing and a curse because it helps me connect with people and be an attentive friend, however, at times I catch myself internalizing things from others. I have to always be aware of this and find a good balance between empathizing with others and being there for support, and also looking out for my own mental well-being. I’m a big advocate for mental health and treating your mental health just like your physical health, by working it out in forms of individual therapy, mindfulness, and positive affirmations. 

15. Anything else you feel we should know about you?

I have a wife, Chelsea, and we have been married for a year and a few weeks now. She is awesome and very supportive of my BJJ aspirations. I also have 6 siblings that range in age from 6 to 26. I have two dogs; Fanny, a 3 year old pit/boxer mix with a lot of energy and character, Posty; an 8 year old rat terrier/chihuahua mix who is very protective and can be grumpy. I am a big advocate for the LGBTQ community and marginalized communities. I believe that it is everyone's right to have the ability to live a happy and healthy life. There is no place for bigotry and hate in our society. We will never grow if we continue to make life harder for our neighbors and fellow human beings. I believe in equality for all. My main reason for letting everyone know this is because I desperately want a safe world for friends, family, and peers. In the past several years I have been very discouraged by the way some of society has been towards these communities. We have to do better as a whole. It is absolutely crucial for us to step up and speak up so that our kids, grandkids, and even great grandkids can grow up in an inclusive world. I’ll always stand up for what is right.