“The journey just starts at Black Belt. How do you carry yourself as a master instructor of your own domain? Be a black belt in all 3 disciplines, life, business, and martial arts. Integrate them all together, now you are a martial artist.” – Scott Coker
My guest this episode is Scott Coker, who is an Ernie Reyes Protégé, 8’th degree Black Belt and an original member of the famous West Coast Demo Team. He was the Founder and CEO of Strike Force and is the current President of Bellator MMA. As a martial artist and promoter of Combat Sports since 1985, Mr. Coker has first-hand experience being a part of the evolution and transformation of martial arts through combat sports.
This episode is all about the scientific study and evolution of martial arts from Karate to Kick Boxing to Mixed Martial Arts. We dive deep into the last 30 years of MMA evolution, beginning with no rounds, next to no rules, and no weight classes, to the current product we have now. We dive deep into the evolution starting off with striking arts, then the BJJ revolution, to the rise of wrestling. Now it is all about the flow of the striking, wrestling, and bjj arts, and the champions of the future will be those who can flow and transition between the styles, and fuse them together as one molecule instead of separate entities. We also discuss leadership and how martial arts philosophy has influenced Scotts ability to lead organizations, fighters, and himself. Mr. Coker is a treasure trove of martial arts history, knowledge, and insight. What I appreciate most about him is that there is no separation between martial arts and life. He carries himself as a martial artist everywhere he goes. He is a Black Belt in Life.