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. 1d ago

    John Hackleman – The Pit Master – EP289

    John Hackleman has spent more than five decades immersed in martial arts, beginning as a young kid learning to defend himself on the streets of Hawaii and eventually becoming one of the most respected coaches in mixed martial arts. A lifelong martial artist, John began training in Judo, Shotokan Karate, and Kajukenbo before building a career as a boxer, kickboxer, and professional fighter. He earned Golden Gloves titles, competed as a member of the U.S. Army boxing team, and fought professionally under legendary promoter Don King. But perhaps John’s greatest contribution to the martial arts has been the fighters he has helped develop. As the founder of The Pit and creator of Hawaiian Kempo, he has spent decades coaching and developing champions while emphasizing the safety, health, and long-term well-being of his athletes. His students have included some of the biggest names in combat sports, including Chuck Liddell, Glover Teixeira, Tim Kennedy, Court McGee, and many others. Please enjoy my interview with John Hackleman. The Pit – Martial Arts, Fitness, Hawaiian Kempo THE PIT Online Dojo Intro Instagram (1) The Pit (@Pit_Master) / X https://blizniaksbokken.com/?coupon-code=EverydayMA&sc-page=shop

  2. Sep 10

    Chris Henderson – Tang Soo Do – EP288

    Chris Henderson is a lifelong martial artist whose journey has taken him through both the hard and soft sides of the martial arts, combining physical discipline with a deep commitment to balance, health, and personal well-being. His martial arts journey began in 1984 with Song Moo Kwan Taekwondo. After stepping away from the martial arts for nearly two decades, Chris eventually returned with a renewed passion for training, earning black belts in both Songahm Taekwondo and Tang Soo Do. Along the way, he discovered Ki Gong and found another powerful dimension of martial arts training, dedicating himself to helping others find greater health, sustainability, and inner harmony. Today, Chris is a Level IV instructor with World Ki Gong and a 1st Dan Black Belt in the World Tang Soo Do Association. He believes martial arts, much like nature itself, can be both powerful and peaceful. His philosophy is built around continuous growth, giving back to others, and finding beauty and balance amid the inevitable chaos of life. Join us for another conversation with a martial artist whose journey demonstrates that the martial arts are about far more than physical techniques, they can be a lifelong path toward balance, growth, and helping others. Please enjoy my interview with Chris Henderson! Dragon Turtle Arts – Coming Soon Daily Qigong Videos – (17) 7StarsMA – YouTube

  3. Sep 3

    F. Braun McAsh – Fight Choreography – EP287

    F. Braun McAsh has spent nearly five decades exploring the intersection of martial arts, historical weapons, acting, and stage combat. An actor and fight director since 1977, Braun has choreographed combat for more than 100 productions across theatre, film, and television. His work includes multiple seasons of Highlander as well as the feature film Highlander: Endgame, along with fight direction for dozens of Shakespearean productions. His lifelong fascination with weapons and combat has taken him around the world to study both Eastern and Western martial traditions. Along the way, he has trained under respected instructors, researched original historical weapons in museum collections, and studied surviving combat manuals that offer a glimpse into centuries of martial knowledge. For more than 40 years, Braun has shared that knowledge as an instructor and mentor, teaching stage combat, historical fighting arts, self-defense, and knife skills at drama schools and training programs around the world. He is also the author of Fight Choreography: A Practical Guide and has produced extensive educational material focused on the history and use of European weapons. From bringing sword fights to life on stage and screen to preserving and studying the historical martial traditions that inspired them, F. Braun McAsh has dedicated his life to understanding the art, history, and storytelling behind combat. Please enjoy my interview with F. Braun McAsh! Fight Choreography: A Practical Guide for Stage, Film and Television: McAsh, F. Braun: 9781847972231: Amazon.com: Books F. Braun McAsh – IMDb

  4. Aug 27

    Ice Young – EP286

    Ice “The Iceman” Young is a lifelong martial artist, fighter, instructor, and creator of a reality-based combat system shaped by decades of training, competition, and real-world experience. His martial arts journey began as a child under the guidance of his father, who helped lay the foundation for a life built around discipline, perseverance, and personal growth. Over the years, Ice has trained across a wide range of disciplines, including karate, kenpo, kung fu, jujitsu, kickboxing, boxing, grappling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His dedication to training eventually led to an impressive amateur and professional fighting career. But Ice’s story extends far beyond martial arts competition. Throughout his life, he has faced significant challenges, including the loss of both parents, serious accidents, and physical setbacks that could have brought his martial arts journey to an end. Instead, those experiences became part of a story defined by resilience and an unwillingness to give up. A promise made to his father during his final days would eventually inspire Ice to return to competition and continue pursuing the path that had shaped so much of his life. Today, that commitment continues to influence his approach to martial arts, teaching, and life. Alongside his martial arts career, Ice is also involved in faith-based mentorship and community outreach, emphasizing the importance of service, loyalty, humility, and perseverance. Please welcome my guest, Ice “The Iceman” Young. https://www.facebook.com/share/19XUP8QjRx

  5. Aug 20

    Steven Franz – Franz Karate – EP285

    Steven Franz has dedicated nearly five decades to the study, practice, and preservation of traditional Okinawan karate. A Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt) in Shorin Ryu Shorinkan and a longtime student of Eddie Bethea Kyoshi, Steven has built a lifelong commitment to authentic training, disciplined instruction, and practical martial arts. In 1991, Steven founded Franz Karate with the goal of creating a full-time traditional dojo where students could develop through proper progression, strong fundamentals, technical precision, and a clear emphasis on character development. More than three decades later, Franz Karate continues that mission with locations in Bryan, Ohio, and Auburn, Indiana. As a longtime instructor, Steven has become known for a direct, principle-based approach to teaching and for his dedication to maintaining the traditions and values of Okinawan karate. His approach extends beyond simply learning techniques, emphasizing the importance of discipline, respect, perseverance, personal responsibility, and continued growth. For Steven, martial arts is a lifelong journey. The lessons developed through years of training have the potential to shape not only how a student performs in the dojo, but how they approach challenges and responsibilities in everyday life. With nearly 50 years in the martial arts and more than 35 years leading his own dojo, Steven Franz represents a generation of instructors committed to keeping traditional karate alive and passing its principles on to the next generation. Please enjoy my interview with Steven Franz. FRANZ KARATE – AUTHENTIC OKINAWAN KARATE AND EFFECTIVE SELF DEFENSE FOR ALL AGES Instagram

  6. Aug 13

    Steve Cooper – United Kenpo Karate Studios – EP284

    With more than three decades dedicated to the study, competition, teaching, and leadership of the martial arts, Mr. Steve Cooper has built an impressive legacy within the American Kenpo community. A 9th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo, Steve began his martial arts journey in 1990 under Mr. Steve Spry before continuing his training with the legendary Mr. Bob White. His studies have also extended into other martial arts, including Lua and Aikido, contributing to a broad and diverse martial arts education. Steve’s accomplishments as a competitor are extensive. He has earned numerous national and international titles in fighting, forms, breaking, and self-defense, demonstrating his versatility across multiple areas of tournament competition. His influence as a coach has been equally significant, helping guide numerous competitors to championship-level success. His competition team, Team International, reached the pinnacle of the NBL tournament circuit, earning the distinction of being the number one ranked team for six consecutive years. Steve’s contributions to martial arts extend well beyond his own training and competition career. He serves as Executive Producer and Executive Director of both the Long Beach Internationals and Martial Con International, playing an important role in organizing and promoting major events within the martial arts community. His dedication to martial arts, leadership, coaching, and the development of future generations has earned him recognition through multiple martial arts Hall of Fame inductions. Please enjoy my interview with Stever Cooper United Kenpo Karate Studios | The best voted martial arts school in OC

  7. Aug 6

    Bradley Anderson – Agassiz Dojo – EP283

    Bradley Anderson has dedicated much of his life to preserving and teaching the traditional Japanese martial arts, following a path that took him from rural Minnesota to the training halls of Japan and back again. Growing up in Hawley, Minnesota, Bradley developed an early interest in martial arts that eventually led him halfway around the world. He spent 11 years living and working in Japan, immersing himself in the country’s culture while training extensively in Kendo and Iaido under respected Japanese instructors. Through years of dedicated study, he overcame language barriers, embraced the discipline and attention to detail demanded by these centuries-old arts, and earned the rank of 4th-degree black belt in Iaido. Following his return to the United States, Bradley founded Agassiz Dojo with the mission of preserving and sharing the traditions of Japanese swordsmanship. What began in Moorhead has grown into a thriving martial arts community and recently expanded into a dedicated dojo in West Fargo, providing practitioners with a permanent home for the study of Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo. Today, it is believed to be the only school of its kind in the region devoted exclusively to traditional Japanese weapons arts. Please enjoy my interview with Bradley Anderson Agassiz Dojo – Iaido, Jodo, Kendo, Kenjutsu, BuSheDo in West Fargo, ND

  8. Jul 30

    Jerry Trimble – Golden Boy – EP282

    Before martial arts changed his life, Jerry Trimble was a shy, anxious teenager who struggled with bullying, fear, and self-doubt. What began as a search for confidence at the age of 13 became the foundation for one of the most remarkable careers in martial arts history. Nicknamed the “Golden Boy,” Jerry quickly rose through the ranks, earning his first-degree black belt at just 15 years old and becoming the top-ranked point fighter in the Midwest. His speed, athleticism, and dynamic kicking ability propelled him into professional kickboxing, where he captured multiple regional and national championships before reaching the pinnacle of the sport in 1986 as both the PKA and PKC Kickboxing World Champion. His legendary hook kick was once clocked at an incredible 118 miles per hour, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters of his generation. Following his competitive career, Jerry successfully transitioned to Hollywood, building an acting résumé that spans more than 65 films and television appearances. From sharing the screen with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat to roles in Charlie’s Angels, The Flash, Supernatural, iZombie, Tracker, and many other productions, he has demonstrated the same drive and determination that made him a world champion. Today, Jerry travels throughout the United States and Canada as a motivational speaker, encouraging young people to overcome fear, embrace challenges, and believe in their own potential. His story is a powerful reminder that confidence isn’t something we’re born with, it’s something we build through perseverance, discipline, and the courage to take that first step. Please enjoy my interview with Jerry Trimble Jerry Trimble, Actor, Youth Motivational Speaker, World Champion Trimble Talks | Teaching teens how to stand up to their fears Jerry Trimble – IMDb

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4.8
out of 5
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Doucette
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    290
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 Everyday Martial Artist
  • Show Website
    Everyday Martial Artist

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