My name is Guy Grady, I am the owner and head coach of Eight Count Gym.
Here is our story....
Eight Count Gym began as The Fighters Guild in 1997 under the direction of David Swain. The Fighters Guild was an
MMA training group that rented space 2 nights a week at a local gymnastics building. David ran The Fighters Guild solely
until 2002 when he moved out of state for a job opportunity. At that time, David turned the school over to his senior
students and veteran MMA competitors: Trent Lawrence, Todd Lawrence, Blake Britton, William McGlothlin and myself.
We wanted to keep The Fighters Guild alive. We taught classes at The Fighters Guild, while cross training with other
like minded MMA groups. During this time several other athletes became "regulars" also; Jimmy Colbert and
Jeremy Huffstickler.
Due to more changes in jobs and families, The Fighters Guild got turned over to
me in 2005.
Before getting into MMA, my original background was as a competitive amateur boxer
in high school (St. Joe's Boxing Club, Denver, CO; runner up, Colorado Golden Gloves, 19?8). Therefore, along with
our MMA program, I wanted to have a full blown boxing program. I became certified and registered with USA Boxing
as a boxing Coach, and got our boxing program registered with USA Boxing as Searcy Boxing Club. Since becoming registered,
Searcy Boxing has had competitive boxers that have performed well in local boxing shows, and the state golden gloves
tournament.
In 2006, I began working with the Searcy Parks and Recreation department to get a building
for the club. It took lots of effort, hard work, and seemingly endless hours from myself, my family,
and the coaching staff (ie, myself, Jimmy Colbert and Matt Zachary), to get the building as it is today.
Also in 2006, David Swain moved back to Arkansas. David earned his black belt in Sombo under
Lance Campbell while he was working in California. David is the director of our Sombo program. Through training with David,
I have tested for, and received my brown belt in Sombo.
...So this is where we are now.
As a Club, as athletes, as coaches and as individuals, we will continue the evolution....
