Without the human aspect of our academy, we would be a collection of programs, curriculum and moves with no heart. It takes a sharp mind and two bodies to do martial arts – to test ourselves, we need each other.
The stories below represent a peek into the wealth of unique journeys that have built our community into what it is today, written by the people themselves. Beside each person’s name, we’ve included their rank and how long they’ve trained in martial arts.
Each and every challenge, transformation and victory comes from a human with a story, and no two stories are the same. From coaches and competitors to students, farmers, business owners and creatives, the impact of Easton’s community extends far beyond the four walls of the academy.
Those who continue to show up in the training room day after day share their skills, dreams and fears as they commiserate in our suffering and inspire us to reach our full potential. Each and everyone of you offers a valuable lesson in showing us how hard work, courage and a willingness to fail pays off.
Whatever you think you need to look like to start training Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai, you’re wrong– you can look exactly like yourself and there are people on the mats who look just like you.
omar taher, jiu jitsu purple belt, 6 years
BJJ Coach and Academy Operations Director at Easton Arvada
Easton has fostered a sense of community for me. The people I go to war with on the mat, all sweaty and short of breath, are the same people who I smile at ear-to-ear with wrinkles in the corners of my eyes. Sometimes it’s hard to put the words of appreciation I have for some of my training partners, so I’ll say this: in 2024 with all the technology that is meant to connect us (but actually separates us) there are people out there who are growing and who happily put energy into a community where real human connection is favored. Easton is one of those places.
Where do I start? It’s given me a sense of deep confidence. That of which is beyond words and superficialities like clothing and the money I make. I naturally hold my head up high, I take up space, and I’m not afraid to smile at a stranger. Many people are weirded out by others they do not know. Martial arts has erased that programming from my mind because I know deep down I can defend myself if I need to. What’s there to be afraid of? Nothing. Because that person you don’t know could be your best friend one day. Open that heart up, man. That’s what martial arts has done for me.
augusto arnesen, jiu jitsu black belt, 12 years
Student at Easton Boulder
Martial arts have improved my life in too many ways to remember right now. However, here are some significant ones that make me a better person. It has taught me that discipline is more important than motivation will ever be. This is why so many people get gym memberships in January. Because they’re motivated instead of disciplined.
It has made me health conscious. I don’t go out every Friday night because I need to wake up early on Saturday to train, I need to eat broccoli instead of pizza so that I can endure professor Elliot’s No Gi class. I can walk into a room knowing that I can choke a dude up if tries to get clever. #FuckAroundAndFindOut
terence cheah, muay thai black shirt, 20 years
Muay Thai coach a Easton Arvada
Easton has given me a sense of community that is tightly knit although still diversified. It is a testament that even in a big academy, if things are done right, you will never just be a number. Easton is definitely a community to be reckoned with and I am grateful at the same time proud to be a part of it.
Martial Arts has given me SO much! From pulling me out from the gallows of wrong company to giving me my life’s purpose and livelihood. Not only has Martial Arts given me the confidence to stand up to bullies, it has also taught me life lessons like humility, patience, love, discipline, courage and grit. Martial Arts has always been an avenue of growth for me, on both sides, as a student and an Instructor. It has shaped me into who I am today and will always be my gateway and door to life’s answers.
[Muay Thai Coach Terence Cheah: the Sanctuary of Structure]
chino dean, muay thai brown shirt, 8 years
Muay Thai coach at Easton Boulder
The Easton experience has given me so many things. First and foremost is community, I wouldn’t have the ability to connect with so many different people without this amazingly connected community here. It has also given me more discipline in life, translated over from the martial arts lessons. And it has of course given me some really cool things to do that I never thought possible.
Martial Arts has improved my life by being a strong foundation to build myself upon, both physically and as a person. Even if I didn’t choose to compete I would have learned a lot of things about myself and what I’m capable of. Growing up I was never a competitive person, and I didn’t do many sports, so to see that even I had the capacity to become an athlete and fighter had a tremendous impact on my confidence.
Right now I teach Intermediate Muay Thai at 6:30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
daniel amaro, muay thai blue shirt, 14 years
Kickboxing coach at Easton Denver and Easton Littleton
Easton has given me the opportunity to pursue martial arts as not just a hobby but as a potential career path. Not just from a competition focus but from the coaching side of the mat. My goal has always been to be a coach/pad man and the program that Sean Madden has been able to build here has made that not just a dream but an achievable goal for me. The community is really supportive and the institution is strong so it really has provided me with a strong foundation to chase that dream.
Martial arts has given me direction and a sense of belonging. When I’m training the world just makes more sense to me for some reason. Martial arts, particularly from a competitive standpoint, is a very dangerous game but because of that there is so much beauty. It has given me the ability to find peace in chaotic environments. The more skilled you are at violence the better you will be at peace.
Currently I teach the Monday 7:30 KB and Wednesday 5:30 KB at the Denver location. Starting in August I’ll be teaching the Thursday 6:30 KB and Saturday 10am KB class over at the new Littleton location.
sean madden, muay thai black shirt, 16 years
Easton Muay Thai Program Director
The Easton experience has given me basically everything! It’s given me a group of people I consider my family. It’s given me a place to train my body and mind and to help me learn more about myself. It’s given me a place to fight and test my skills in the ring. It’s given me a place to coach others and help give back. It’s given me the opportunity to travel the world through Muay Thai and MMA. And it’s given me a career! It also gave me a fiancé, haha!
Martial Arts/Muay Thai has improved my life in so many ways. Muay Thai has allowed me to learn so much about myself, as a student, as a fighter, and as a coach. Training Muay Thai has definitely helped mold me into the person I am today and I feel like I share a lot of values that the sport and art of Muay Thai embody.
[Building an Elevated Team + Forging Battle-Tested Martial Arts]
dana thompson, muay thai blue shirt, 3.5 years
Kickboxing and Muay Thai coach at Easton Denver
Easton has given me so many experiences that it’s impossible to list them all, but here are a few. I started coaching Kid’s Muay Thai in December 2021 and have been a lead now since May 2022. I became a Kickboxing coach in June 2022 and just taught my first Adult Fundamentals class last Friday! Woo! I love teaching and I love watching students grow. Easton has also provided opportunities for really cool experiences.
Because of Easton, I have been able to volunteer for events like the World Games Qualifiers and for Easton-Hosted events like the Easton Kids Showcase, The Easton Open, and kid’s sparring events. I have learned how to be a Muay Thai Official (ref, judge, time keep, etc.), corner the kids, and I’ve competed in an in-house smoker. I have gone to numerous seminars, fights, and have been a part of special events like the Songkran Festival and even a wedding! I’ve learned so much from all of my coaches and cohorts. Easton has given me a wonderful, supportive community to be a part of. I love supporting my teammates on both sides of the mat and will scream for them as loud as I can!
I remember “Chuck Norris roundhouse kick” jokes being super popular when I was a kid. I never thought that I would be capable of throwing a roundhouse kick myself. If you would have asked me seven years ago if I imagined myself being enthralled in any sport, much less the fight community, I would have been like “no way,” but here we are. Martial arts has given me a lot of things: friendships, confidence, balance, strength, coping skills, knowledge, etc., but I am forever grateful to martial arts for making me feel awesome.
[Easton Open Spring 2024: Community That Elevates Competition]
jessica klinger, jiu jitsu purple belt + muay thai orange shirt (7 years)
BJJ Kids Coach at Easton Denver and Easton Boulder
Easton has given me community, a healthy lifestyle, and pure unbridled joy. I have trained at our Boulder, Denver, and Littleton Academies. Every Academy is filled with wonderful people who really care about each other. Competing in Jiu Jitsu at Easton helped me to prioritize my health outside of the gym through proper recovery and eating well. Coaching at Easton has given me so much joy being able to influence the next generation’s life both on and off the mat. The parents are incredible too. They are so supportive of us coaches and are wonderful people.
Martial Arts has made me feel more confident and safer in the world. I started Martial Arts because I was attacked multiple times throughout my life. When I had only been training in Jiu Jitsu for 6 months a man grabbed me at a bar and I was able to use a technique we teach in our fundamentals class to put him on the ground and keep myself safe. That was a moment I will never forget, knowing I am safe in this world. Thank you Easton for giving me that power.
flynn burlew, jiu jitsu purple belt, 17.5 years
BJJ Department Head (and coach) at Easton Boulder
Easton has given me an incredible variety of things over the years from elementary school to now. After a mat chat when I was in second grade my coach had gone over how to talk to bullies at school, a day later when a bully grabbed me I used that mat chat and it worked. Fast forwarding in my life I have always grown up brutally shy but Professor Mike Tousignant challenged me to speak up due to my seniority in class and that gave me the confidence to speak up outside of the academy in school and with my friends. Some years later when I was first asked to coach by Professor Alex Huddleston during covid I nearly broke down in tears with 3 students. And now because of Easton I could walk into a room of 100 people and give the entirety of my heart and soul into what I have to say because of how Easton challenged me to push outside of my comfort zone. Easton is my safe place where when life is challenging I know I will always have a place where I am loved, and that I love. Besides my family, there is no other place that has given me so much, and I happily look forward to trying and giving back in every way I can.
Martial arts has probably saved my life. There are so many lessons on the mat that I learn that I get to apply to my everyday life. I have caught myself repeating things that someone has said in regards to my training in real-life difficult situations and that have made the difference between pass and fail more times than I can count. I am able to walk into most situations in full confidence because I know nothing will be as hard as teens comp class with Professor Mike Tousignant. This sport is a great physical outlet, engages my mind, and keeps me humble. Without it, I can not even begin to imagine the type of person that I would be.
[The Heroine’s Journey: Growing Up in Easton ft. Vi Burlew]
steve eisman, muay thai black shirt, 14 years
Muay Thai coach at Easton Boulder
Easton was the first academy I ever stepped into for Muay Thai training. I had a year of boxing under my belt and had no idea what to expect. After only a few weeks of attending classes I knew this is what I wanted to spend all my time doing. Here we are almost 15 years later; and the academies continue to grow and blossom. I don’t know what my life would be like if I wasn’t able to call this place a second home. In short: the Easton experience has given me everything.
Martial arts has played a significant role in my life for over 23 years; it is a staple of my identity. I believe having access to a martial arts academy with an excellent culture is as fundamental to our mental health as it is to our physical health; and that Martial Arts prepares us for life’s toughest moments by building strong men and women through sport.
beth huddleston, jiu jitsu black belt, 12 years
BJJ coach at Easton Boulder and Nurse Practitioner
Easton’s has provided me with invaluable life skills and personal growth opportunities. It has given me a strong sense of self-esteem, helping me to believe in my abilities both on and off the mat. The rigorous training has instilled a solid work ethic, teaching me the importance of discipline and perseverance in achieving my goals. While understanding there will be hard days, showing up for yourself and your teammates during the hard practices makes the bonds even more unique and special.
Through the support and camaraderie of the Easton community, I have experienced the values of honesty and integrity, which are integral to the martial arts ethos. Moreover, being part of Easton Martial Arts feels like being part of a family, where everyone supports each other in their personal and martial arts journeys. It’s so amazing to come into a building of random people, and feel “ at home”. Out here in Colorado, Alex and I have no “blood” relatives, but truly we have a bigger family here now than back home in Missouri. I feel overwhelmed with emotion thinking about what Easton’s has given to me. A place where I feel loved and supported on a daily basis. Which is priceless.
Martial arts have significantly improved my life in numerous ways. As a woman, the training has empowered me by enhancing my physical capabilities and boosting my confidence. This empowerment has helped me confront and overcome old traumas, providing a sense of strength and resilience that might still elude me without the discipline and support of martial arts. Jiu jitsu has taught me the value of hard work which has helped me to stay focused and committed in various aspects of my life, including my career and personal relationships. I can say with 100%certainty that I would have quit on a lot of things during my life but Jiu Jitsu taught me to show up, even on the hard days.
Additionally, Jiu Jitsu has brought me closer to a community that feels like a second family, providing support, motivation, and lifelong friendships. Overall, martial arts have enriched my life, making me a more confident, disciplined, and well-rounded individual. I can say that my teammates, coaches, professors and Easton’s have helped shape me into the person I am today.
ignacio falco, jiu jitsu brown belt, 12 years
Student at Easton Denver
My wife and I moved to Colorado in 2016 and Easton welcomed us from day 1. I still remember vividly the first night at Easton Denver, the mats were on fire and yet, Ian and several other people were overly friendly. Every roll was super tough and I just wanted to keep on coming day after day. We continued learning new things, challenging ourselves, and making new friends. It’s crazy to think we’ve been at Easton now for over 5 years, and we are truly fortunate we are part of the community.
Martial Arts taught me to appreciate challenges and learn other skills that I once thought were too difficult for me. I’m also thankful Martial Arts has a greater pull than other poor lifestyle choices that were lingering around before I started training consistently.
[How Martial Arts Changed My Life: Confidence + Community]
We are constantly impressed and humbled by how amazing our coaches, students and staff are at Easton Training Center. If you have a story you’d like to share with us about how martial arts or Easton has impacted your life, drop us a line at taty@eastontc.com!