Longmont’s New GM, River Mayfield: From Theater and Fighting to Running an Academy
For River Mayfield, Longmont’s new General Manager, stepping into leadership at Easton felt like the natural continuation of a lifetime spent on the mats.
After spotting a flyer for karate in a kindergarten take-home folder, River begged his mom to let him try a class. Since that first day, River has never stopped, eventually joined by his dad as well.
By the time River turned 18, his sensei retired and he and his father took over the karate school. River had already begun coaching kids four years prior and leading his own classes at age 16, but now he was running the entire kids program and building curriculum.
Alchemizing all the parts
Having trained for over 21 years in martial arts, River’s perspective has evolved from thinking success meant strictly becoming an MMA fighter and leveling up through competition to finding value in serving his community as a guide.
Today, River manages a crew of coaches, department heads and staff at Easton Training Center Longmont. He still continues to compete, but his “why” has changed a lot.
Growing up, music and theater played a big role in River’s experience. His dad spent his whole life playing the drums, and others in his family also played instruments. Then in fifth grade, a teacher suggested River, whose rambunctious and energetic personality frequently got him in trouble, try drama club.
He loved it. For most of his childhood, River even planned to pursue acting and go to school for theater. He did summer acting programs in LA and spent a year in University of Northern Colorado’s theater program.
He eventually realized that the thing he’s always loved the most was martial arts – something that becomes more difficult to pursue and compete in later in life.
However, years in the performing arts shaped who he has become as a coach, having honed the ability to speak clearly, command a room and stay grounded even while feeling exposed or uncertain. That comfort with vulnerability and playfulness threads through everything he brings to the mat.
“The kids program is more performative,” says River, “because there’s parents watching. We’re putting on a show for them too, not just the kids in the class.”
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The Easton Era
In July 2025, River stepped into his new role as General Manager — almost exactly twenty-one years after his first karate class. However, River first discovered Easton as a sixteen-year-old dreaming of MMA and wanting to learn Jiu Jitsu. At the time, the program felt out of reach. River kept an eye on it for years, and in 2019, everything aligned.
Easton announced the opening of its Longmont academy, five minutes from his home. He emailed immediately, met Jordan Shipman (Longmont’s original GM) at Boulder for a few trial classes, and was hooked before the doors even officially opened. On Longmont’s very first night, River stepped onto the mats for fundamentals class as a brand-new member.
From there, he poured himself into training, spending every free hour on the mats. Working at local fitness studio F45, he would spend his lunch break in Easton’s noon classes, and evenings after work doing back-to-back Fundies and Intermediate classes. He often showed up two hours early to practice with a friend before anyone else arrived.
By 2022, River had become Longmont’s Kids Department Head. Though he no longer leads the Kids Department (now run by AOD Tyra Pritt), it held a deeply personal role for him.
“I’ve had all these mentors along my path,” says River, “and I would love to be that one day for someone else – for a version of me out there that shows up and needs someone.”
Easton’s impact has echoed in nearly all areas of his life, giving him a purpose much greater than himself. River didn’t believe that he could make a living as a martial artist until he found Easton. The academy showed him the potential that was out there and gave him a space to grow and develop. It helped him feel like he has the ability to reach his potential and help others reach theirs too.
Over time, River shifted from MMA completely toward Jiu Jitsu, drawn to its depth, community and long-term growth. His competitive goals remain high, but the purpose behind them has changed.
“When I started, I wanted to become a fighter and had all these personal, competitive goals,” says River. “Now, I want to become a world champion so the kids and the people I teach can stand on my experience and go further.”
Filling your cup first
Since the summer, River has been learning the new rhythm of leading not just a department, but an entire academy. In a lot of ways, the work has not changed, but the scale of it has. He’s now responsible for every coach, every program and every student who walks through the doors.
This means getting more intentional with prioritization as he navigates not just the logistical aspect of his role, but the emotional weight of leadership at a greater scale — supporting others without absorbing everything himself.
Advice from Professor Alex Huddleston has stuck with him:
“The compassion you have for others is only as good as the compassion you leave for yourself.”
In practice, that means setting boundaries, prioritizing his own mental space and leaning on the GM team when he needs support. Even with the stress and added responsibility, burnout doesn’t exist in River’s vocabulary.
“Burnout just means you’ve fallen out of love with something,” he says. “Every day, I’m getting to live my childhood dream. No matter how stressful a situation might be, this is what 10-year-old me dreamed of.”
