Building Discipline Through Martial Arts with Don Walton | Food for Thought #17

In Episode 17 of the Green Fork Food for Thought podcast, host Steven Zabala sits down with Don Walton, an MMA athlete, coach, and promoter. Listen in as Don shares his journey from fighter to coach at the Academy of Elite Martial Arts in Saratoga, discussing weight cutting, founding Elite Fighting Promotions, and the discipline of martial arts.

To reach out to Don about training, follow @saratogaelitema_ on Instagram or search for Saratoga Academy of Elite Martial Arts on Facebook.

0:00 Intro and welcome Don Walton
0:25 Don’s roles in martial arts and Elite Fighting Promotions
0:44 Hexagon vs. octagon cage clarification
1:00 Story about uncle’s watch dogs
1:20 How Don started in martial arts
1:56 From military plans to rediscovering martial arts
2:24 Falling in love with Muay Thai and coaching
2:43 Training in Southern California
3:02 Returning home and retiring from fighting
3:49 Choosing coaching over fighting
4:25 Weight cutting and nutrition challenges
6:34 Weight cutting regulations and hydration tests
7:15 Discipline in tough training
8:14 The “hungry wolf” mentality
9:55 Life in the gym and love for martial arts
11:16 Favorite fighters: John Haggerty and Superbon
12:15 Coaching Damian to a WBC championship
13:43 Coaching kids and average people
17:11 Phil Nurse’s Muay Thai curriculum
22:26 Starting Elite Fighting Promotions
28:08 Upcoming September 20th show
35:54 Last meal: spicy ramen from Yummy Ramen or Thailand
39:18 Finding the flow state in martial arts
43:46 Advice for beginners: be a sponge, lose the ego
49:11 Closing thoughts and gratitude