Sometimes life knows best and it leads us in opposite directions than we expected it to go.

A black belt in Tae, Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, today's guest is such a badass; I had the opportunity to talk with the amazing Erik Paulson. Erik is the founder of the Combat Submission Wrestling and one of the best submission fighters of all times. We talked about his experiences as a martial artist, the good, the bad, the winning and the losing; what is like to be coaching the next generations of fighters, the story of how he became a fighter, and his unique insights as a fighter, person and also as a spiritual believer.

About Erik Paulson:

Erik is an American mixed martial artist. He is the first American to win the World Light-Heavy Weight Shooto Title in Japan and remained undefeated until 2000 when he voluntarily retired the two belts he had won.

Erik Created his own form of martial art known as CSW (Combat Submission Wrestling), and the STX Kickboxing. He runs the CSW Training Center in Fullerton, California, where he trains some of the best fighters in the world. As well, Paulson was the striking coach for Team Lesnar on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 13, and he is the coauthor of a book along with American Combat Association president Matthew Granahan and JD Dwyer on the History of American Submission Wrestling.

Connect with Erick:

Instagram | @erikpaulson

Facebook | www.facebook.com/erik.paulson.3910

Website | erikpaulson.com/

What you'll hear:

2:30 Who's Erik Paulson.

3:49 When he figure out he wanted to be a fighter.

5:31 The moment he started in Jiu-Jitsu.

8:23 Erik talks about his decision to go to Japan as an MMA fighter.

11:55 The time he chose between movies and fight.

12:46 Martial arts as a path and what inspired him to follow it.

18:31 Erik's experiences with the UFC.

21:02 How he became Ken Shamrock's coach.

23:38 Erik as part of the MMA revolution.

29:13 Erik's stories as a coach.

35:30 From rock bottom to fighter mindset.

42:24 Erik's pressure test for fighters.

47:41 Erik talks about his spirituality.

57: 43 His transition from sportsman to minister.

59:20 His health issues and the miracle he had.

1:10:37 Where to find Erick.

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