Sensei Erik Paulson 

Founder of CSW Training Center & STX Kickboxing

Sensei Erik Paulson’s martial arts journey began in 1974, in Judo. From there, he went on to train in the disciplines of Freestyle and Greco-Roman Wrestling, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts (Kali/Eskrima/Arnis), Shoot Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Many of his teachers included training with Rorion Gracie, Royce Gracie, Rickson Gracie, in a garage, Greg Nelson, Rob Kaman, and Nicolas Saignac. He is world renown for his grappling, and is considered a leading authority in MMA.

Erik is the founder of CSW Training Center (Combat Submission Wrestling) and STX Kickboxing (Savate-Thai Cross Training). Besides heading CSW in Fullerton, CA, Erik has also written a book, History of American Submission Wrestling, and was a coach of Team Lesnar on The Ultimate Fighter, Season 13.

Career

First American to win the World Light-Heavy Weight Shooto Title in Japan 

Has trained fighters such as Josh Barnett, Ken Shamrock, Renato Sobral, Cub Swanson, Ben Jones, Craig Wilkerson, James Wilks, Sean Sherk, and Former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar

Ranks

• Black Belt, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Black Belt, Judo
• Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do
• Full Instructor Jeet Kune Do
• Full Instructor Filipino Martial Arts
• Full Instructor Muay Thai, under Ajarn Chai

Teachers

Dan Inosanto, Yorinaga Nakamura, Rigan Machado, Larry Hartsell