Daniel Dawson: What it Takes to Become a World Champion in Muay Thai, Kickboxing and Boxing!

8x world champion Daniel Dawson shares the story behind his incredible success in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing. Daniel dives deep into his journey, revealing both the highs and lows along the way.

Daniel talks about:

• Growing up with physical and emotional abuse and how it shaped his drive to succeed

• Earning the nickname “The Rock” for his resilience in the ring and life

• The battle with self-sabotage and chasing external validation

• The role of martial arts in healing deep-rooted trauma and finding purpose

• The impact of fatherhood on his personal healing journey

• How relationships exposed his deepest insecurities and pushed him to confront his past

• Redefining success and learning that personal growth goes beyond winning championships

If you’re looking for an honest conversation about overcoming personal demons, this episode is a must-listen.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:17 Origins of “The Rock”

11:37 Not letting go of fighting

13:17 External validation

14:24 Retiring

16:36 Self-work

19:39 Healing Journey

23:29 How Daniel got into martial arts

27:55 Everyone has a story

32:16 Changes Daniel has made

35:26 Relaxation

38:48 Self-sabotage

1:01:23 If Daniel didn’t become a father

1:20:04 What’s important to Daniel

1:21:10 Picking 3 combat sports

1:22:58 Daniel’s international experience

1:29:18 Cultural differences between combat sports

1:38:02 Advice for young fighters

Follow Daniel: @danieltherockdawson

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @drryangleesonpodcast