About Brian Doucette
Host of the Everyday Martial Artist Podcast
My martial arts journey began in June of 1984 when I was just 10 years old. Like so many others, it was The Karate Kid that lit the spark. As I walked out of the theater that day, two men were standing in the lobby handing out yellow cards offering a free month of lessons in a martial art I’d never heard of—Tang Soo Do. That following Monday night, I stepped into my first dojo and took my very first class under the guidance of instructor Bill Nelson. I was hooked.
Unfortunately, after about a year, financial constraints meant I had to step away from formal training. But my passion didn’t fade. Throughout my teenage years, I immersed myself in martial arts through books, magazines, TV shows, and movies—anything I could get my hands on. I became a student of the arts in every way I could.
In high school, I resumed training—this time in Shotokan Karate—with Sensei Tim Kiel at Central Minnesota Karate in St. Cloud. I trained consistently until I graduated.
At the same time, another lifelong passion began to take shape. In 1989, at just 15, I landed my first radio job at KFML in Little Falls, MN. I worked there throughout high school, developing my on-air skills and learning the ropes of broadcasting.
College brought new opportunities. I joined the campus radio station and explored new martial arts styles, training in Tae Kwon Do and later Aikido. While I loved Tae Kwon Do, my experience with an unethical instructor left a bad taste. Thankfully, in March of 1994, I met Master Jim Grimestad. His integrity, knowledge, and mentorship renewed my spirit, and I’ve proudly trained under him ever since.
In 1996, I moved to California to train in American Kenpo Karate, further expanding my martial arts experience. After about a year, I returned to the Midwest to get married and start the next chapter of life.
With over 40 years in martial arts and 30+ years in broadcasting and voiceover, creating Everyday Martial Artist felt inevitable. I first dreamed of launching a martial arts-focused radio show back in 1997. Despite pitching the idea at several radio stations over the years—and even lining up guests and sponsors in a community with over 30 martial arts schools—the concept was always turned down. The last serious attempt was in 2008–2009.
Fast forward more than a decade. By this time, I was working on several other podcasts and realized the traditional radio gatekeepers no longer mattered. I could bring the show to life myself. After more than six months of development, Everyday Martial Artist officially launched.
This podcast is a labor of love, blending two lifelong passions: martial arts and storytelling. Through conversations with martial artists from all walks of life, I hope to inspire, educate, and celebrate the everyday warriors who dedicate themselves to this path.
Check out some other podcasts that I have been a guest on!
Episode 660 – Mr. Brian Doucette — whistlekick Martial Arts Radio
Episode 62 – Brian Doucette – My Empty Hands
Season 4, Episode 12: Martial … – The Kim Hoang Podcast Experience – Apple Podcasts