Eliot Marshall: UFC Veteran and BJJ Black Belt on the Jiu Jitsu Dummies Podcast

/ About episode 163

Eliot Marshall is a UFC veteran, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, and an owner of Easton Training Center in Colorado. He is also the person behind Easton Online, which helps academy owners run better schools.

Eliot takes us from a rough childhood in South Jersey to The Ultimate Fighter house, the UFC, and building a martial arts business with eight schools and 4,000 members. He talks confidence and the flow state, what COVID did to his schools, what makes a good academy, and why Easton does not use contracts.

/ What we talked about

14:08 Getting into the TUF house
An overcut weight, a lost fight, and a second chance from Dana.

20:19 Growing up in South Jersey
Racism, isolation, and the karate school where he finally fit in.

31:23 Finding Jiu Jitsu
Karate since age six, Jiu Jitsu in 1997, and straight into pro fights.

36:37 Confidence and the flow state
Great in the training room, zero confidence in the cage, and learning to let go of the result.

48:09 Building Easton
Buying a building the Tuesday after his last fight, and growing to eight schools.

54:53 Mastery first
Put all your eggs in one basket, get great, then diversify.

1:01:56 COVID and the schools
Dropping to 49% capacity and how they kept the lights on.

1:21:29 What makes a good school
The front desk, core values, curriculum, and why Easton has no contracts.

1:30:32 Easton Online
Programs for academy owners with fewer than 100 members and more than 100.

/ The belt question

Does Eliot Marshall wash his belt?

No. Eliot said he has never washed his belt and never will. It has his blood and other people's blood on it. Hear it at 1:43:48.

/ Quick questions

Who is Eliot Marshall?

Eliot Marshall is a UFC veteran, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, and an owner of Easton Training Center in Colorado. He appeared on The Ultimate Fighter.

Does Easton Training Center use contracts?

No. Eliot said Easton does not use contracts. Students get a simple 30 day cancellation policy, and he believes instructors should earn the commitment by showing up and teaching well.

What is Easton Online?

Easton Online offers training and programs for martial arts academy owners, with separate tracks for schools under and over 100 members.

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/ More guest episodes

Rob Ingram Episode 165
The man behind McDojoLife on what it takes to keep students safe, why background checks still matter, and whether Steven Seagal would last in a real fight.

Cris Rodriguez Episode 170
She's back. A black belt who built a gym, sold it, and now helps academy owners stop wasting time on paint colors and start doing the things that actually grow a school.

Talita Alencar Episode 155
Talita is back, this time as a UFC fighter, with Jed Dulaney and a federation that holds Jiu Jitsu tournaments on the beach. Yes, in the sand.

See every guest episode

/ More from the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu podcast

Jiu Jitsu Dummies is the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu podcast for people who love the sport and do not take themselves too seriously. Follow on Apple Podcasts, subscribe on YouTube, or browse every episode.