Beyond the Black Belt with Maeghen Cotterill

"Getting punched in the face? It's the fastest way to learn what you're made of." In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Maeghen Cotterill, a professional martial artist, psychic channeler, and intuitive coach. Maeghen has been immersed in martial arts since she was eight years old and built one of Canada's most successful dojos. She earned 11 world titles, founded Rising Phoenix Martial Arts, led Team Canada, and brought the world championships to Calgary—all while confronting abuse, disillusionment, and burnout. But after checking every box she'd ever set for herself, Maeghen did something unimaginable—she walked away from it all. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. What follows is a deeply honest conversation about identity, masks, and the courage it takes to burn everything down to rebuild a life with more joy, authenticity, and play. She reflects on blending the fierce discipline of martial arts with the gentler power of intuition, and how she finally found peace in the integration of both. We learn what it means to really get punched in the face—literally and metaphorically—and how those experiences can forge strength, humility, and insight. Maeghen shares stories of breaking barriers, surviving the underbelly of competitive sport, and discovering that softness can be as powerful as strength. Whether you're a rebel in waiting or someone who's already mid-pivot, Maeghen's journey is a powerful reminder that you can do more than one thing—and you can always choose again. Quotable Quotes "I wanted to be the role model I didn't have." – Maeghen Cotterill "My masks have come off. My identity is becoming less and less important." – Maeghen Cotterill "Getting punched in the face? It's the fastest way to learn what you're made of." – Maeghen Cotterill "You don't eat the elephant all at once—you take one bite at a time." – Maeghen Cotterill "Sometimes we're just doing stuff because we think we should. But we actually don't want to." – Michael Dargie Episode Highlights Life After Burnout | Maeghen shares how she blew up her life to follow her intuition Childhood Vision | She knew at 8 years old she wanted to teach martial arts Style Shifts | Transitioning through Gōjū-ryū, Kung Fu, and Shotokan Karate Martial Arts as Healing | Finding regulation through practice Starting Rising Phoenix | How she opened her first dojo at 23 Proving Herself | Winning 11 world titles across 8 divisions Hosting World Championships | Bringing 3,000 competitors to Calgary Getting Punched | Why everyone should feel it at least once Mentorship | Shoutout to Ed Straugh and Faisal Karmali New Joy | Lazy mornings, frequency music, and ugly-cry friendships Realization | Making decisions from fear vs. choosing peace Cobra Kai & Mortal Kombat | Why realistic representation matters Favourite Move | Lead leg sidekick to the face Disordered Eating | The darker side of competition Favourite Travel | Feeling at home in Germany and Austria Advice for Rebels | Start with unicorns and rainbows, then build LINKS FROM EPISODE Beyond the Black Belt (https://beyondtheblackbelts.com) Maeghen on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ninjagirlmma?igsh=MW8zcDlycTV1NHAxeg==) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | MichaelDargie.com