Today we’d like to introduce you to Paxton Titus.
Hi Paxton, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Paxton Titus. I am a Jiu Jitsu competitor and Strength Coach for hobbyists, competitors, and those seeking strength!
I attended a small Christian school in Pinckney, Michigan. I graduated from Livingston Christian Schools with 10 kids in my class. I was a top 10 student of my graduating class!
I was the founding member of the Track and Field team and the only one on it. I had no coaching until I met Coach Stephen Saenz (2012 Mexican Olympian in Men’s Shot Put) at a meet in Ann Arbor, MI where he was coaching at Skyline HS. It was his side job as he prepared for the next Olympic Games and trained under University of Michigan Coach Jerry Clayton.
Coach Saenz offered to coach me and turned me into a State Champion in the Discus by my Junior year of High School. Stephen moved away to coach collegiately in Louisiana. Before leaving, he connected me with then University of Michigan Shot Put School Record Holder: Cody Riffle. I became a 3x State Champion (2x Discus, 1x Shot Put) by my senior year.
I was recruited to throw collegiately at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio by the Legendary Coach Jud Logan. Coach Logan was a 4x Olympian in the Men’s Hammer Throw, and a former USA Record Holder in that event.
Jud was my Coach, Mentor, and a Father Figure. When he walked into the room you knew he was the man! He had an aura of passion and intensity. Being a “Light Giver” was his mantra. He wanted to help illuminate the path forward for his athletes by believing in them even sometimes more than they believed in themselves. He produced literally hundreds of All Americans and dozens of National Championships in the throwing events.
It was through Jud and him bringing back Soviet Weightlifting Training information to the USA that introduced me to the great Strength Coach Louie Simmons. Louie owned Westside Barbell, a gym regarded as the strongest gym in history. Louie trained everything from record breaking Powerlifters, to Rugby, and MMA. It just took the mentioning of Jud’s name to get me through the door.
Louie spent much time teaching me when I was an absolute nobody. This greatly inspired me!
It was through both Jud and Louie that I knew I wanted to be a Coach! I saw myself as a Strength Coach and a Throwing Coach, but God was about to change all of that.
After my first full year at Ashland, I broke my wrist and had to have surgery. This resulted in my wrist (on my dominant throwing arm) healing very stiffly. I never regained the same feel for the Shot Put as I once had. Then, in 2022, Jud Logan died from cancer.
Jud’s death was devastating to me. His passing along with my lack of fulfillment in throwing spurred me on to seek out a slightly new path!
I was always on the look out for great Coaches and Teachers. I was already a few years into my Strength Coaching career, Coaching throwers and MMA athletes, but I wanted to keep competing! A bit before Jud passed, I heard a Joe Rogan interview with renowned Jiu Jitsu Coach John Danaher.
The way Danaher broke down his own art was so appealing to me. I tried my first Jiu Jitsu training session, and knew I had to learn more about this powerful sport.
I moved to NJ while continuing to coach both privately and at Donovan Catholic High School’s weight room. Teaching a lifting class during the day and running teams through in the evening.
While in NJ I trained for a few years under World Champion Tom DeBlass. Through Tom’s prestigious name in the sport, I developed an inside look at Jiu Jitsu Coaching, Gym Owning, and Sponsorships. I also greatly developed my grappling game there, and toughened up under the gritty Jersey Grappling scene.
After a while, I learned of a new way of training called Ecological or CLA (constraints Led Approach). This new training is all live work with no passive drilling. A typical 1 hour Jiu Jitsu class will have ~45 minutes of passive drilling and then ~15 minutes of live sparring at the end. The drilling volume wasn’t transferring to the live rounds. I knew there had to be a better way.
I moved to Tysons, VA and commuted up to Standard Jiu Jitsu in Maryland to train under Coach Greg Souders. Our new way of training was all lived resistance games based around developing skills. For example: one player starts on top in full mount with both arms under the bottom player’s arms (a very controlling position), the bottom player has to just bring both arms back to their sides. This action by the bottom player is crucial to begin any type of escape. Anytime your opponent has your limbs extended it is very controlling and quite dangerous! This is gamified training at the most fundamental level. Top player works on control, bottom player develops basic skills to begin escaping a pin.
Under Greg Souders in Rockville, Maryland I was exposed to this new style of training. I was young with nothing tying me down, so I moved states and started training at his gym. I have been in his stable for a bit over 3 years now.
Within the first year of moving I met a wonderful woman that became my wife!
To work when I first moved, I managed a local private Strength gym under somebody else, but I decided I wanted to open my own Strength Business and focus on Jiu Jitsu Strength Training as much as I could.
This past year I opened Dynamo Training Hall! Dynamo’s name is an homage to the old Soviet Dynamo club that greatly inspired Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell. They also produced Alexander Baryshnikov, the first 72’ Shot Putter who used the rotational technique!
I am building my online Dynamo community and doing in person Strength Training around the DMV area. Right now, I’m working with both Jiu Jitsu hobbyists and competitors. As well as some general population work.
I continue to train hard and compete, build up my marriage to honor God, and build my Dynamo business to do the same!
I am inspired by those that came before me, and like Coach Logan, I want to be a Light Giver to those around me. Spreading passion, intensity, motivation, and love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest challenges start with having no Coaching in High School until my sophomore year. From that point on, I was hungry and willing to learn. Those qualities helped me to reach my State Championship success.
Another hurdle was my broken wrist. This injury left me feeling like I lost my physical connection to Shot Put, the first sporting event I fell in love with and trained over 10 years for.
Coach Jud Logan’s death was a massive event in my life. Uprooting me from Ohio and inspiring me to seek new challenges. This led me to training and Coaching Jiu Jitsu while evolving my Strength Training Career.
Now I face the challenges of a small business owner, husband, and athlete. But I know God has plans “to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I cut the fluff out of training! I am very passionate, intense, and focused on what I do. It’s not just a job or hobby, this is my life.
I walk the walk and am in the trenches with you. I train hard every day and am conscious of my lifestyle, this prepares me to be a better teacher for you. If you’re feeling down, I know how to reach into your soul and rip you right back up!
I want the best results for you as my client. We will attack the basics and make you brutally strong while you lower body fat and gain work capacity!
The training sessions are short (45 minutes) and direct! We are here to work! Time and life is limited!
I am specializing in Jiu Jitsu Strength Training for youth and adult. I currently coach hobbyists and competitors! If you don’t train Jiu Jitsu and are just looking to get strong, reach out! You will love the environment and results!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I encourage you to seek out a community. Be around others with like minded interests. Look to others that are smarter or more successful, be a small fish in a big pond. Be kind, and be coachable. This will take you very far!
Pricing:
- Private Coaching: $200 every 4 weeks
- Available online or in-person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dynamotraininghall.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynamotraininghall?igsi=MTltOWFqcGptc2hqMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19Vy4E3PXb/?mibextid=wwXIfr
