Evan “Gripsed” Jarvis has built quite a name for himself. He’s been a prolific Youtuber in the poker space for years, runs a successful Twitch channel, and is now making poker training videos for Red Chip Poker! We got a chance to ask Evan a few questions…and he gave us some awesome answers…
Where is your original hometown, and where do you call home now?
Toronto, Canada, Born and Raised
Still a Hometowner but always looking for the Next Hot Spot
Where specifically are we most likely to see you playing cards these days?
Online: Sunday Tournaments at Pokerstars, 888, America’s Cardroom and Bovada
Live: World Series of Poker, Punta Cana Poker Classic, and whatever else catches my eye
When and how did you start playing poker?
I started playing poker in college with my dorm mates. $5 Sit n Go’s grew to $20 local MTTs, and before I knew it I couldn’t get any action so I had to transition to online. My first site was pokerroom.com and I build my first bankroll playing 5 and 10 Handed Sit n Go’s
When and how did you decide to play poker professionally/seriously?
By third year university when I made the transition to online cash games was when I really started putting in the hours. I was lucky enough to bink a 6th place finish in a $1k tournament for $20k (which I won a $5 satellite to).
When graduation rolled around I asked my roommates what I should do with myself career wise, and they said ‘Evan, we hope you’re just messing with us, you’re spending all your time studying and playing poker, to do anything else but go ahead and be a professional poker player’. You could say at that point I was ‘All-In’ on poker.
What do you consider your proudest poker achievements?
Consistently winning at 5/10 NL Full Ring, and 2/4NL 6-max Online for 5 Years
Teaching Thousand of people to get more enjoyment and profit out of the game
Helping Greg Merson prepare for the 2012 World Series of Poker
Cashing the Main Event 4 Years in a Row …I’m coming for ya Ronnie Bardah!
Getting to Travel to some of the Wonders of the World the and doing it with the Amazing people met thru poker whom, I never would’ve found if it weren’t for cards
When and how did you start coaching others?
I made my first video series’ in 2008 which is still available on at youtube.com/gripsed (see Get Stackin University Vintage Videos)
I made my first High end Video series in 2009 (The MTT Strategy Guide)
And I started Project Get me Stackin in 2013 where I answered any and all questions people had
What is your coaching specialty? Do you consider yourself a ‘specialist’ in any games?
I’ve had the benefit of experiencing success in all formats throughout my career, SNG, Cash, MTT, Live and Online. After it all I found my niche, in Live MTTs.
They require a thorough understanding of the game, the ability to perform under pressure, and most importantly the stamina to get through long demanding days.
I spent the Last 2 Years Studying under the best MTT players in the world and reading every piece of material I could, and attending every webinar on the Subject. The rest of my time was spent learning how to use the Mind and Body for Peak Performance.
On top of poker, I specialize in Helping people build clear actionable plans for going after their dreams, and giving them the techniques they need to overcome the roadblocks that will arise. My goal is to help people reach their full potential whether it be on or off the Felt, because wherever you find your happiness, is where you should be focusing your energy on building your dream!
Evan is a Holistic Life Coach, Certified by the CHEK institute (HLC lvl 1, chekinstitute.com)
What is your goal in providing coaching through Red Chip Poker?
My Goal is Simple, To help people reach their full potential and become the best player they can be
A Few examples of my Atypical Approach in the Poker Coaching Space 🙂
Be the Best you can be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSvLKEvvbew
How to be the best you can be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eUgjeyQlEc
Reaching your full potential: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UEAtBpSd2s
Please share a coaching success story with us:
In 2012 Greg Merson said that he was in the best physical shape he’d ever been in his life which allowed him to play at a World Class Level. This was a combination of his natural abilities as a poker player, and the fitness and diet regimen that I put him on in the 5 months leading up to the WSOP. I also fed him a steady diet of support and positivity to keep him motivated and reinforce that he was doing the right thing, no matter what anyone else said. By helping him stay focused, on track and excited about his poker, he was able to stay off his addictions and win the 2012 WSOP Main Event, the $10k 6-max and ultimately the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year.
Do you have a professional career/background outside of poker?
Biggest Poker Training Channel on Youtube: www.youtube.com/gripsed
I Love to teach and empower others
I am also a certified Yin Yoga Instructor and Holistic Life Coach.
I am also experienced in online marketing and affiliate marketing, my degree is in Economics
What are your favorite hobbies and pursuits outside of poker?
Anything in the Pursuit of Expanding Consciousness, Personal Development, Knowledge Work
I also greatly enjoy Travelling, Keeping Fit, Good Music and Good Friends
Can you link us to all of the books you’ve written?
Cash Game Crash Course – https://www.gripsed.com/store/cash
MTT Strategy Guide – https://www.gripsed.com/store/mtt
Excelling at No Limit Hold’em (Chapter 1) – https://amzn.to/1Db2T7X
Do you have any results on Hendon Mob, etc.?
https://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/senorpokes/
https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=104611
Unfortunately my Cash Game Graphs are long gone many computers ago :/
Anything else?
See you at the World Series of Poker Red Chippers
Take what you learned, go out there, AND GET STACKIN’!
Rapid Fire Fun Questions
Favorite color: White (Afterall it’s made up of every other color)
Favorite starting hand: A A obv 🙂
Favorite poker room: Hard Rock Punta Cana
Last song you listened to: Zion I – Doin’ My Thing
Waffles or pancakes: Blueberry Waffles with Maple Syrup EH
Favorite drink: Spring Water or Coconut Water
Favorite thing to cook: Anything Organic and High in Life Force
Do you have a lucky object?: My spirit, I’m a very lucky being (and my Crystals from around the world)
Favorite board game: Checkers (before online poker came around, I spent a lot of hours grinding online checkers
Want to ask Evan your own question?
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