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The Student Who Became Teacher
How Eliot Marshall Beat His Demons Outside the Octagon and Built a Thriving Business
Ryan Cox
October 12, 2024
Anxiety is a formidable opponent—one that nearly broke Eliot Marshall.
This is the story of how his biggest fight took place outside the Octagon, and how he used his story to build a thriving business.
Table of Contents
Who is Eliot Marshall?
Eliot "The Fire Marshall" Marshall is a retired mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
Born in 1980 in Franklin Township, New Jersey, Eliot was drawn to martial arts at the age of six, inspired by The Karate Kid.
He grew up in a hostile, racially charged environment. His father, an African American, and his mother, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, would always tell him to watch his back and be careful whenever he left the house.
His parents enrolled him in Soo Bahk Do, a Korean martial arts discipline. As a teenager, Eliot found solace in martial arts while facing isolation during high school.
He thought fighting well would help him make friends. However, this mindset also fueled the anxiety that followed him throughout his fighting career, as he feared losing not just fights but friendships.
In 1999, Eliot moved to Colorado, earning a degree in mathematics from the University of Colorado and beginning his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training under Amal Easton.
He became the first American to win IBJJF Pan American titles at the blue, purple, and brown belt levels, before transitioning to MMA in 2006.
Eliot gained national recognition on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir, reaching the semi-finals and securing a UFC contract.
Despite initial successes, he was released from the UFC after losing in a split decision against IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC LIVE: Vera vs. Jones.
Surprisingly, he was brought back shortly after to fight Luiz Cané at UFC 128 to replace an injured Karlois Vemola, but lost by TKO in the first round.
After another loss to Brandon Vera at UFC 137 by unanimous decision, he announced his retirement.
After retiring, Eliot felt great.
He took over as coach of Team Elevation, mentoring top fighters like TJ Dillashaw and Curtis Blaydes.
However, his greatest battle came after his fighting career, as he confronted deep-rooted anxiety and mental health struggles.
Anxiety began to keep him up at night, sometimes for days at a time.
The anxiety brought him to a dark place, in which he is transparent in sharing that he contemplated suicide.
This was one of the worst days of his life. But he fought back, just as he always has.
Through journaling and daily affirmations, including the "Four Agreements" philosophy, Eliot rebuilt his mental resilience.
Today, Eliot is a thriving businessman, leveraging his experiences to overcome personal challenges and grow as an entrepreneur.
What is Eliot Marshall’s Net Worth?
Eliot’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and UFC career brought him recognition, but the earnings were modest.
His first UFC contract was $8,000 to show up and another $8,000 for a win.
With most fighters competing around four times a year, this meant a potential $64,000 for winning all matches or just $32,000 without victories—a significant amount of pressure on his performance.
Marshall also secured sponsorships from brands like Tapout, Revgear, and Venom, supplementing his income.
There are also reports that he donated portions of his fight earnings to support others struggling with anxiety.
Despite limited earnings from his fighting career, Eliot’s success as a businessman has led to an estimated net worth of $2 million.
Eliot Marshall’s Business Ventures
Easton Training Center
Eliot Marshall transitioned from student to teacher—and then to entrepreneur—just days after retiring from the UFC.
"Did I have any business experience? No. I punched people in the face for a living."
He partnered with his former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, Amal Easton, to launch what would become the Easton Training Center.
The journey began with a significant challenge: purchasing and renovating a run-down building, one that he himself described as a “favela s***hole.”
It cost them $500k and another $250k for repairs.
But despite the obstacles, the Easton Training Center emerged. And like that, Amal Easton went from mentor to business partner.
Though Eliot had years of teaching experience, diving into the business world was uncharted territory.
The early days were tough, and there were growing pains as Eliot navigated the complexities of running a martial arts school.
“If anyone tells you they dont have doubts, they’re lying. It’s a lot of money. It’s a lot of everything, so you’re like, ‘What the f*** am I doing?’ This is stupid.”
However, by 2014, their success was evident with the opening of a second location in Boulder, and within four years, they had expanded to nine locations across Colorado.
Eliot quickly realized that the business lacked structure, and the disorganized environment was threatening their progress.
He identified the problem as a culture issue and focused on creating a workplace where both employees and clients felt valued. His guiding principle was simple: respect everyone’s time.
By rebuilding the company culture and instilling these core values, Eliot helped transform Easton Training Center into a thriving business, one that continues to grow and succeed.
"The richest person in the world and the poorest person in the world, both of their biggest assets are time. So the fact that anybody, any student, any employee, would spend any of that time doing something with me, I have to look at it as my privilege."
Personal Brand
In 2016, Eliot Marshall faced a mental breakdown that nearly broke him.
His business was doing well, but he wasn’t.
Today, when you hear Eliot speak, he exudes confidence and conviction—but this wasn’t always the case.
Eliot’s personal brand is built on helping others who find themselves in the same dark place he once was.
Through his journey, he’s become a beacon for those battling similar mental challenges, showing them a path forward.
"Fighting made me safe. If I could be the champion, then I would be safe. Obviously I wasn't the champion. I was hiding that feeling deep down, and if you've got a demon inside of you — mine was safety and the anxiety that I had — it's going to come say hello at some point.”
Speaking
Eliot Marshall is now a sought-after motivational speaker, offering private bookings and keynote addresses.
His talks, which range from 30 to 60 minutes, are tailored to fit the goals of any industry, organization, or event.
His message focuses on developing a resilient mindset and finding purpose in the face of adversity.
Marshall also runs a 12-week coaching program designed to help men discover their purpose, harness their strengths, and confront their emotions.
This program is built around weekly coaching sessions that offer both practical and emotional guidance.
Additionally, Eliot offers retreats where he and his team use Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a tool to strengthen mental resilience.
These retreats emphasize pushing through discomfort, mastering ego, and building discipline, helping individuals and teams achieve personal and organizational breakthroughs.
Among Eliot’s most impactful work is his TED Talk, where he shares his journey of overcoming inner battles.
His openness about anxiety and his efforts to break down toxic masculinity provide a refreshing perspective.
He reminds us that the fight isn’t just physical—it’s internal too.
If you haven’t seen it yet, trust me, it’s worth watching.
“There’s a secret amongst us fighters though. We are all afraid to make that walk to the cage. Some mask that fear with aggression and vibrato. The best are able to make the past and future cease to exist so that they only find and exist in the moment. After hundreds of fights, I could never consistently make this happen. My fear and anxiety would prevent me from shining.”
Content
Beyond public speaking, Eliot Marshall is also an author.
His 2019 book, The Gospel of Fire: Strategies for Facing Your Fears, Confronting Your Demons, and Finding Your Purpose, is highly rated across various platforms.
In his TED Talk, Eliot describes the Gospel of Fire as “stepping into your insecurities and vulnerabilities. Facing your fears and looking at your flaws dead in the eye. Letting other people see them, knowing that some of them will try to use those flaws against you. But it won’t matter.”
Eliot also launched a podcast in 2017, The Gospel of Fire, which has featured over 150 episodes with a range of guests discussing various life topics.
He expanded the brand with a mini-podcast called Monday Motivational, offering short, 3-5 minute episodes focused on self-help and mental health.
However, as of late 2023, it appears Eliot has paused production on both podcasts.
The Success Strategies of Eliot Marshall
Respect Everyone’s Time: Eliot believes that disrespecting someone’s time shows a lack of regard for them, and in both business and life, showing respect for others’ time fosters trust and efficiency.
Community is Key: Marshall emphasizes that when everyone feels accepted and included, the community thrives, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Touch a Life: Eliot is driven by his purpose to touch lives by inspiring people to see their own greatness and make a positive impact on the world around them.
Find Your Power: According to Eliot, once you find your purpose, the key to a fulfilling life is sharing it with others, giving back, and making a difference in the lives of those around you.
The Bottom Line
Eliot shows that outward success doesn’t always reflect inner peace.
By embracing his story and openly sharing his struggles with the world, demonstrating that we should never allow anxiety or our inner demons to define us.
Instead, we can face them head-on and continue striving toward our true potential.
It's not about being fearless, it's about being courageous in the face of fear.
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