Everyday Martial Artist

Brian Doucette
  • 4.8 (18)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Biweekly

Every week we will chat with a different martial artist and hear their story.

  1. 3h ago

    Kaitlin Young – Striking Viking – EP274

    Kaitlin Young is one of the true pioneers of women’s mixed martial arts. Long before women’s MMA received mainstream attention, she was helping build the sport through her performances inside the cage and her contributions behind the scenes. Kaitlin began her martial arts journey at age 14 in Taekwondo, eventually earning her black belt before finding her passion in Muay Thai. Her training led her to the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, where she transitioned into mixed martial arts and quickly established herself as an aggressive, exciting, and highly respected competitor. In 2007, she announced her arrival on the national stage by winning the HOOKnSHOOT Women’s Grand Prix with three knockout victories in a combined time of just 1 minute and 45 seconds. The remarkable performance immediately cemented her status as one of the sport’s top rising stars. Over a professional career spanning more than 15 years, Kaitlin competed for some of the biggest organizations in the world, including EliteXC, Invicta Fighting Championships, RIZIN, and the Professional Fighters League. Along the way, she faced many of the most recognizable names in women’s MMA, including Gina Carano, Liz Carmouche, Amanda Nunes, Julia Budd, and Kayla Harrison. Beyond her accomplishments as a fighter, Kaitlin also played a key role in the growth of women’s MMA as a matchmaker for Invicta FC, helping create opportunities and pathways for future generations of athletes. After officially retiring from professional competition in 2023, Kaitlin left behind a legacy defined by toughness, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to martial arts. In this episode, Kaitlin shares stories from her martial arts journey, discusses the evolution of women’s MMA, reflects on some of the biggest moments of her fighting career, and offers insights gained from a lifetime dedicated to combat sports. Please enjoy my interview with Kaitlin Young! Minnesota Top Team – Eagan, MN Kaitlin Young vs Suzi Smith – YouTube Kaitlin Young KICKS Miesha Tate STUPID !!!360p H 264 AAC Female MMA Kaitlin Young -vs- Patti Lee

    55 min

  2. May 28

    Harry Psaros – From Struggle To Strength – EP273

    Harry Psaros brings a unique blend of professional expertise, martial arts experience, and a deep commitment to serving others. A certified health coach and Executive Neuroscience Account Specialist, Harry has built a career at the intersection of science, performance, and helping people improve their lives. He is also widely known as the “Pitt Guru,” a respected voice in University of Pittsburgh athletics and a senior writer for Pittsburgh Sports Now. A lifelong martial artist, Harry holds a third-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and has trained in a variety of disciplines, including Western boxing, Panatukan, Aikido, and combatives. His diverse training background has given him a practical perspective on self-defense, personal growth, and the lifelong pursuit of mastery. In this episode, Harry shares his martial arts journey, discusses the lessons he has learned through decades of training, and reflects on how martial arts principles have influenced his professional life, family, and service to others. The conversation also explores leadership, resilience, community involvement, and the importance of using our skills and experiences to make a positive impact on those around us. Beyond his professional and martial arts accomplishments, Harry is deeply involved in supporting autism initiatives, youth programs, and his church community. His guiding philosophy is simple: if you’re breathing air, you should be helping others. Harry is married and the proud father of two sons, Gus and Max. Please welcome my guest today… Harry Psaros Harry Psaros | Empower Your Journey (1) Instagram From Struggle to Strength: A Father’s Journey with Autism and the Power of Hope and Positivity: Psaros, Harry, Creative, Betterbe: 9781958481257: Amazon.com: Books Harry Psaros (@PittGuru) / X

    1h 6m

  3. May 21

    Tanya St-Lawson – Personal Evolution Unlimited – EP272

    In this episode, I’m joined by Tanya St-Lawson, a martial artist whose journey spans continents, cultures, and decades of deep personal cultivation. Born in the former Czechoslovakia, Tanya first began training in the martial arts as a teenager after moving to Prague, where she was introduced to Shaolin-style kung fu. What started as an interest in martial arts quickly evolved into a lifelong pursuit of discipline, self-discovery, and embodied practice. Her path has taken her across Europe and into China, studying a wide range of systems and disciplines including Eagle Claw Kung Fu, English Martial Arts, Shaolin Temple arts, stage and screen combat, and bodywork modalities in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Alongside her martial training, Tanya also served in the British Police from 2006 to 2011 within a Public Protection Unit, working in critical and serious incidents. That experience gave her a unique perspective on conflict, stress, and the role martial arts can play as both a stabilizing force and a practical framework for daily life. In 2009, her martial path took a profound turn when she traveled to the Wudang Mountains of China, where she began transitioning from primarily external systems into the world of internal martial arts and Daoist cultivation. Over multiple extended stays, including six months living and training at the Five Immortals Temple, she immersed herself in the traditions of the Dragon Gate, Chun Yang lineage under Abbot Xing De. Today, Tanya lives in the south of England, where she continues her training while teaching movement, embodiment, internal martial arts, and practical strategies for personal evolution and everyday living. Please enjoy my interview with Tanya St-Lawson! (1) Instagram (1) Tanya St-Lawson – Personal Evolution Unlimited – YouTube

    1h 1m

  4. May 14

    Michael Janich – Martial Blade Concepts – EP271

    Michael Janich is a lifelong martial artist, combat trainer, and internationally respected authority on personal defense whose career spans military intelligence, edged weapons, and practical self-protection. A U.S. Army veteran and former Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael also served as a POW/MIA Investigation Team Leader in Vietnam and Laos, experiences that helped shape his deeply practical and reality-based approach to conflict, survival, and personal security. Within the martial arts world, he is widely regarded as one of the leading modern experts in handgun point shooting and is one of the select few instructors personally trained by the legendary Colonel Rex Applegate. His decades of contributions to martial arts and self-defense education earned him induction into the prestigious Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame. Many people also know Michael as the co-host and subject matter expert on the long-running Outdoor Channel series The Best Defense, where for 11 seasons he shared practical, accessible self-defense training with viewers around the world. Michael is also the founder and lead instructor of the Martial Blade Concepts and Counter-Blade Concepts systems, innovative programs focused on edged-weapon awareness, defense, and combative application. In addition to his work as an instructor and educator, he is a prolific author and knife designer who has developed more than 20 production knives for some of the most respected companies in the industry. In this episode, we discuss Michael’s martial arts journey, his experiences in military intelligence, the evolution of modern self-defense training, the realities of edged-weapon encounters, and the importance of developing practical skills rooted in awareness, efficiency, and adaptability. Please enjoy my interview with Michael Janich Martial Blade Concepts International Close Combat Instructors Association – International Close Combat Instructors Association Amazon.com: Michael D. Janich: books, biography, latest update The Best Defense – Outdoor Channel Janich Custom

    1h 5m

  5. May 7

    Paul Dye – Kenpo – EP270

    Paul Dye is a lifelong martial artist and one of the most accomplished competitors and instructors to emerge from the world of American Kenpo. He began his martial arts journey in 1972 at Dave Hebler’s Kenpo Karate Studio in Glendora, California, training under Jim Thompson before earning his black belt from Grandmaster Ed Parker just 18 months later, an achievement that reflected both his dedication and natural ability. Teaching became part of his path almost immediately. Beginning as an instructor while still a colored belt, Paul went on to spend decades working with students from all walks of life, including individuals facing challenges such as blindness, hearing loss, and cerebral palsy. Paul also trained extensively under Ed Parker himself, becoming part of the legendary Friday Night Technique Line in Pasadena, where some of the art’s most serious practitioners gathered to sharpen their skills and deepen their understanding of Kenpo. As a competitor, he built an extraordinary tournament career, capturing more than 60 open black belt championships along with over a dozen grand champion titles. His success spanned four decades, giving him a level of longevity and consistency few martial artists have ever achieved. Beyond the tournament circuit, Paul has traveled throughout the United States and Europe teaching seminars, mentoring instructors, and helping spread Kenpo internationally. He also played an important role behind the scenes at major events such as the International Karate Championships in Long Beach. Please welcome to the show, Paul Dye.

    1h 11m

  6. Apr 30

    Verca Partikova – Kung Fu Scholars – EP269

    Verca Partikova is a martial artist whose journey spans continents, disciplines, and the intersection of physical skill and mental performance. Born in the Czech Republic, she began her martial arts journey in 1999, exploring systems ranging from Shotokan Karate to Hung Kuen Kung Fu before eventually stepping into the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Today, she is a professional MMA and Muay Thai fighter, a Kung Fu World Champion, and a Karate black belt. Her passion for Kung Fu led her to Hong Kong, where she lived independently for eight years while earning her Ph.D. in Sports Psychology. During that time, she also taught coaching at the university level and worked with students from around the world, blending academic insight with real-world martial arts experience. In 2022, she made another bold move, relocating to Thailand to pursue MMA professionally, turning pro at the age of 36. Alongside her fighting career, she continues her work as a researcher, presenting at international conferences and publishing on the relationship between psychology and martial arts. She is also the founder of the Kung Fu Scholars program, where she coaches students online, combining traditional martial arts with modern approaches to mobility, strength and conditioning, and mindset. Through this program, she works with practitioners in more than 15 countries across four continents. Please welcome today’s guest Verca Partikova Kung Fu Coach & MMA Fighter | Kung Fu Academic (2) Instagram Free Kung Fu Ebook | Kung Fu Academic – Online Kung Fu Coaching & Mental Strength

    52 min

  7. Apr 23

    Richard Syrop – Himalayan Academy – EP268

    Richard Syrop is a highly experienced martial artist and instructor whose journey spans some of the most respected lineages in modern combat arts. He is a certified instructor with the International Krav Maga Federation, the organization founded by Imi Lichtenfeld and one of the oldest and most established Krav Maga bodies in the world. Under the direct guidance of Master Avi Moyal, one of Imi’s top students and among the highest-ranking Krav Maga practitioners globally, Richard developed a deep understanding of practical, real-world self-defense. His training also extends into Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto, one of only three individuals personally appointed by Bruce Lee to carry on his art. As an Apprentice Instructor under Guro Inosanto, Richard brings a principle-based approach rooted in adaptability, timing, and efficiency. With additional experience in boxing, Muay Thai, and Wing Chun, studying under respected teachers including Sifu Augustine Fong, he has built a well-rounded and highly functional skill set. A certified USA Boxing coach, he has trained alongside former champions and top-level coaches, further refining his understanding of striking. His teaching career has taken him across the United States and internationally, including time spent living and teaching in India, where he founded the Himalayan Academy of Martial Arts in Dharamsala. Known for his clear, practical, and highly effective instruction, he emphasizes strong fundamentals, precision, and the ability to adapt under pressure. Please welcome my guest today, Richard Syrop. Himalayan Academy of Martial Arts – Dharamshala, HP, India (1) Instagram

    1h 4m

  8. Apr 16

    Chris Duval – Stage Combat Arts – EP267

    Chris Duval is an educator, actor, director, and fight director whose work has had a lasting impact on the modern practice of stage combat and performance training. He currently serves as Chair and Professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Utah, where he focuses on developing actors through a fully integrated approach that connects movement, voice, and storytelling. Over the course of his career, Chris has led workshops and masterclasses at universities across the United States, sharing his expertise in theatrical combat and actor training with students and educators nationwide. He has also spent more than two decades working with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, contributing as a fight director, performer, and instructor on a wide range of productions spanning Shakespearean classics and contemporary works. His fight direction and performance credits extend to leading regional theatres across the country, and his influence can be seen in generations of actors and instructors working in stage combat today. A Certified Teacher and Certified Fight Director with the Society of American Fight Directors, as well as a Master Instructor and Senior Fight Director with Dueling Arts International, Chris brings a deeply thoughtful and practical approach to the craft, one that emphasizes the connection between physical action, voice, and text. He is also the author of Stage Combat Arts: An Integrated Approach to Acting, Voice and Text Work, a book that captures his philosophy on performance and physical storytelling. In this episode, we explore the evolution of stage combat, the importance of integration in actor training, and how physical storytelling enhances performance at every level. Please welcome to the show… Chris Duval. Stage Combat Arts: An Integrated Approach to Acting, Voice and Text Work + Video (Theatre Arts Workbooks): DuVal, Christopher: 9781472526656: Amazon.com: Books

    56 min
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4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Every week we will chat with a different martial artist and hear their story.

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Doucette
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    275
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 Everyday Martial Artist
  • Show Website
    Everyday Martial Artist

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