A Warrior’s Spirit
WORDS: Lela Rast Hartsaw
PICTURES: Whitney Patton
When I say World Champion
Kickboxer, what immediately
pops into your head? If you
said, a man with a heart of gold who loves
giving back to the community, then you
must know Erik Marshall.
He looks like a rock star, and many would
agree, he pretty much is on par with
one. With wild hair and colorful tattoos,
his stature is such that you probably
my hand and instead got the lean-in for
a hug. I knew immediately this guy was
something special.
Turns out that Marshall is a two-time
Professional World Champion, one-time
time Amateur World Champion kickboxer.
He started his career in 1992. Before
turning pro in 1998, he had won a World
Kickboxing Association title and four
International Sport Karate Association
high-dollar contract some might expect
when they hear the word sponsor. No,
Champs gave Marshall... free warm-ups.
though, when he tells me many years after
the fact: “That meant the world to me then.
Still does. I still have those warm-ups.”
always been the type to kind of hang back
unless asked to step forward. He ran track
and played baseball in high school. He
told me: “A baseball coach once told me