Ryan Gruhn


Ryan James Gruhn is an American Martial Artist, MMA Coach, Dog Brother and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt.

Personal life

Gruhn was born in State College, Pennsylvania and attended State College Area High School. He went to Penn State University where he studied Business.

Martial arts

History

Gruhn began his martial arts training at the age of six in Tae Kwan Do and started studying the Striking Arts, Grappling Arts and Weapons Arts at the age of twelve with Dan Inosanto, Erik Paulson and Surachai Sirisute. Ryan is best known for his fighting in Dog Brothers Gatherings. He has fought both nationally and internationally in Real Contact Stick Fighting events since 2005.
Gruhn is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under MMA pioneer and fifth Degree Black Belt; Erik Paulson. Other notable instructors of Ryan's include Surachai Sirisute and Marc Denny "Crafty Dog".
Gruhn is the only person to simultaneously hold the title of “Ajarn” in Muay Thai, “Guro” in Dog Brothers Martial Arts and "Professor" in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was also the first ever to earn the rank of "Black Dog Tag" in Dog Brothers Martial Arts.

Dog Brothers

Gruhn is part of the Dog Brothers who put on semi-annual Real Contact Stick Fighting events in Los Angeles, California, Canada and Europe. He has been part of several documentaries including "Dog Brothers Reality Show" by Discovery Channel, "Fight Club, No Limits" by National Geographic Channel and "Dog Brothers Cruel Combat" InDemand which aired on the Comcast Network.
Ryan is considered a "Full Dog Brother" which he earned by fighting in the Dog Brothers Gatherings in both Toronto, Canada and Los Angeles, California. He earned the name of "Guard Dog" in February 27, 2012 at the First Annual Canadian Gathering held in Toronto, Canada.

Coaching

Gruhn coached professional fighters; Phil Davis, Ed Ruth , Patrick Cummins , Paul Bradley and Jimy Hettes when they trained in State College, PA at the defunct Lion Heart Fighters gym and at current Central PA Mixed Martial Arts. Gruhn's students have won titles in Muay Thai, MMA and Golden Gloves Boxing along with fighting in Real Contact Stick Fighting and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Gruhn coached Phil Davis and Ed Ruth while training at Central PA Mixed Martial Arts ahead of Bellator 186 on November 4 at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Stick fighting events

Grappling record

Lineages

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Dog Brothers Martial Arts
Jeet Kune Do/Filipino Martial Arts
Muay Thai
In 2017 Gruhn partnered up with Radio Personality, Jerry Valeri for a Podcast called "Coach and the Comic" available on iTunes. Coach and the Comic Podcast has had professional fighters, Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts and numerous other Martial Arts related people.
In 2010 Gruhn relocated Central PA Mixed Martial Arts to South Atherton St. in State College, PA In 2014 Gruhn relocated CPAMMA to its current location on West College Ave in State College, PA which is a 10,000 square foot facility with a Boxing Ring, MMA Octagon, and 5,000 square feet of mats. CPAMMA has hosted seminars with athletes such as Cael Sanderson and Cody Sanderson.
On October 21, 2017 Gruhn competed and won the silver medal in the Kasai Elite Grappling Championships. While he originally went to coach his Jiu-Jitsu team from Central PA Mixed Martial Arts, one of his students was left without a match. Instead of leaving her without a match, Gruhn stepped up and competed against her, earning a silver medal in the Ultra heavy Black Belt division. This made headlines as his student was a female white belt who he lost to.
On November 2, 2017 Central PA Mixed Martial Arts hosted ADCC Champion Gordon Ryan for a seminar. Gordon Ryan accused Gruhn of filming him with his cell phone.
On March 2, 2019 Gruhn won Gold at North American Grappling Association in Albany, NY at the expert/Black Belt level.
On March 4, 2019 Gruhn was featured in Town & Gown Magazine.