Don Poulson

I started training Muay Thai while attending Iowa State University, where I trained with the ISU Muay Thai Club for three years. Before that, I had never played organized sports in high school. I went to college for computer science, played a lot of video games, and did not consider myself especially athletic. Muay Thai was what pushed me to start getting in shape, strength training, and paying more attention to my diet and overall fitness. While I was in college, I attended a Muay Thai event in Des Moines where I saw Sioux Falls fighter Kuchlong Kuchlong dominate an opponent in the clinch. I was getting close to graduation at the time and looking at different cities to move to. Sioux Falls was one of them, and after seeing Kuchlong fight, I made a point to visit the gym where he trained. After moving to Sioux Falls, I joined Next Edge Academy and added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to my training. I later competed in grappling tournaments around the Midwest and especially enjoyed absolute divisions. I am now a first-degree BJJ black belt and continue to train in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. I assist with teaching both programs at Next Edge Academy. What has kept me training is the constant opportunity to improve. Martial arts continue to change as techniques, strategies, and training methods evolve, which means there is always something new to learn and work on. I enjoy helping other students improve and sharing the knowledge I have gained through years of training and competition. Compose Write to Don Poulson