Gavin Marshall is teaching Muay Thai fighting at the recently opened Team Moreira Martial Arts Studio in Morro Bay. Photo by Neil Farrell
A new martial arts studio in Morro Bay features instruction from a man who used to fight professionally in what’s arguably the most brutal sport in the world.
Gavin Marshall, a former professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter in Thailand runs Rhino Muay Thai, teaching students from beginners to people seeking to fight professionally, in a new studio on Quintana Road, opened by Rob and Jamie Lewis of Team Moreira Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The Lewis’ have operated a Jiu Jitsu studio in Los Osos for some 18 years now — 10 at their current location at 1236 LOVR Ste. H — and the Morro Bay site is their second location. The Morro Bay site is in the shopping center at 400 Quintana Rd., by Auto Zone.
According to their website, “Team Moreira Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been providing exceptional instruction and building a strong community in Los Osos since 2008, and we’re very excited to serve a new city on the Central Coast! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai classes for kids and adults are now open at our Morro Bay location.”
Marshall, 26, leads the more intense Muay Thai classes, continuing a practice he’s been doing since he was 6-years old. That makes sense as fighting is the family business.
“My dad was a professional MMA fighter for 20 years,” Marshall said. Doug “the Rhino” Marshall, as his father was known during his career, won five world championships. “When he retired [in 2016] he said, ‘I’ve got to pass you the torch.’”
Born in Visalia, Marshall said he moved to Los Osos when he was 9-years old. He graduated from Morro Bay High School in 2018 and spent some 6 months living in Thailand where he fought professionally.
Back home, he learned that the Lewis’ were starting a new studio in Morro Bay. “I was super stoked when I heard they were going to open this studio,” he explained, adding that they wanted to expand their offerings into Muay Thai, “And I was their guy.”
So what’s the difference between the two martial arts? “They do jiu Jitsu,” Marshall said, which is mostly grappling and largely done on the ground. He smiled, “I teach people how to punch and kick each other in the face … safely.”
He’s planning on putting together a team to fight in competitive MMA tournaments, and hopes to have it together and start competing in January.
Team Moreira has a team and is very active in competitions, he said.
His teaching is for people of all ages, he said. He has 20-year olds “ready to fight,” and 50-year olds “ready to fight. Kids 11 or 12 they’ll take a little bit longer” before they’re ready to compete.
“I have clients who just want to come in, get in shape and learn self-defense. I’ve got a 60-year-old woman who comes in with her husband.”
His kid’s classes are for 6-14-year olds, he explained, and once they turn 15 “they go to adults class.”
Currently, he’s training Steven “Savage” Sainsbury a professional MMA fighter and champion who is preparing for a title defense coming up in Fresno, he said.
Right now he’s scheduled classes for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Kids classes — Lil’ Rhinos — are from 5-5:45 p.m. and adult Muay Thai goes from 6-7. Saturdays have adult Muay Thai from 10-11 a.m. and open sparring sessions from 11-noon. For information on these and Jiu Jitsu class email to: info@teammorreirabjj.com or call 805-215-6083.
Team Moreira offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes in Morro Bay for kids (called Little Monkeys), juniors and adults. See the website at: www.teammoreirabjj.com got schedule.
