Don Rodger Interview

On this episode of Words With A MAD Coach, Coach Ses sits down with Don Rodger of Lightning Strikes and Apex Martial Arts to discuss his mission to create greater opportunities for kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters in the Carolinas.

Don previews an ambitious three-event weekend featuring full-contact amateur competition, point kickboxing, and a pro-am card headlined by a U.S.-versus-Canada showdown. He also explains how his relationships with the IKF and World Muay Thai Organization can give athletes a pathway from regional competition to international title opportunities.

The conversation goes behind the scenes of promoting, from personally funding events to developing electronic scoring and live tournament brackets. Don shares his journey from boxing to kickboxing, his concerns about North Carolina’s rules, and why respect for fighters and coaches remains central to his work.

It’s a candid conversation about passion, persistence, and building a future for the next generation of strikers.

 

For Tickets and streaming

Triangle Kickboxing

 

To See Fighters and Brackets

Southeast Regional Tournament Nov 20 - 21