Hello Erik, my name is Rene and I just came across your channel and wanted to share a little "old time" memory with you... We briefly met back in May-June 1999 at the Inosanto Academy of Marital Arts in Westchester, CA. Back then, I think the academy was located on Lincoln & Manchester. You were training there pretty regularly and I was a new student just getting started in the Phase I class... my Sifu was Damon Caro. One day, you had just finished training and a few minutes later our class ended. I was standing close by and you said to me, "You're telegraphing." I was caught off guard and asked, "huh?", you told me, every time just before I throw my 3 punch combination, I would tap my gloves together. I didn't realize I was doing it and thanked you for the tip. It was a very kind gesture of you to help such a green newbie who was just getting started. About a month later, my wife gave birth to our son, and for a second there, I thought about naming him Erik after you as you were the best fighter I had ever seen. Ultimately, we named him Brandon after Brandon Lee but for a second there, yeah... he was almost "Erik". So glad to see you're well and doing well with CSW. I'm in Van Nuys, now but if I ever find myself in the OC, I'll make sure to stop in and say hello.
Thank you for years of sharing the knowledge you have spent blood, sweat and tears to acquire. As much as this is a World Class Facility, the most valuable piece of that location is Sensei Erik Paulson. May you have Peace and Protection for many years to come 🙏
Seriously, I love this video and people reading these comments won’t understand til they step in. I wanna come spar some more without stinky armpits syndrome. Pro shop looks amazing!
What an amazing gym world class with world class instruction people don’t realize how lucky they are to have a man with such a wealth of knowledge and experience coming from the absolute greatest instructors on this planet this video is fantastic. Did you guys like this man like Eric Olson that has evolved this part from what it was when I was a child to what people are training and competing in now, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to men like him Dan in the Santos, and all the men like him that I’ve been passing on these arts for years and years and years much respect for all you have given to the martial arts world what a beautiful, Academy. What a Wealth of knowledge RESPECT!
Eric. I can describe you in a single word: Wholesome. of course, that wotd doesn't do you justice - it barely scratches the surface - but it is, I am confident, a good start. Wishing you all the best - from Donunder.
Coach, I love this video dearly. You’re gym has that energy of positivity and welcoming the people that need to learn. The energy is strong. I love you brother, you and Chad gave me the best black eyes I ever needed. I have to say I miss Sifu Nakamura more every day. Great video!!
I remember watching Eric fight in the late '90s, he had long hair and he wore it in a ponytail. He's such a wealth of knowledge in teaching martial arts, striking and grappling arts. He's a legend.
