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The Strenuous Life Podcast

428 - Tom Callos, A Black Belt and Gentleman

From The Strenuous Life Podcast

July 23, 2025 · 1:15:32 · E428

Martial arts pioneer Tom Callos came onto The Strenuous Life Podcast to discuss the California martial arts scene in the wake of Bruce Lee, the importance of taking your training out of the dojo and into the world, how your students can become your school's most effective advertising, being BJ Penn's first BJJ instructor, and his thoughts about BJ's current struggles.

Tom has owned several martial arts schools, worked as a business and curriculum consultant to the international martial arts community, competed regionally, nationally, and internationally, and was a member of an internationally renowned demonstration team.

Follow Tom on Instagram @tomcallos.

And check out my best-selling book "Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic", available everywhere including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Cheers!
Stephan Kesting

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