Ep. 16 | Ray Thompson – A Lifetime in Martial Arts and Teaching

In this episode of Coffee Time with Carlos Machado, Carlos sits down with martial arts pioneer Ray Thompson — founder of Upstate Karate, lifelong martial artist, and father and longtime coach of UFC star Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. Ray shares how his martial arts journey began in 1974, inspired by Elvis Presley movies and a karate instructor who introduced classes at his military school. From those humble beginnings, he never stopped training — a path that would eventually lead him to open his own martial arts academy and influence generations of students and fighters. From there, Carlos and Ray dive into some wild stories from the early days of karate; to times when “dojo wars” were common, as well as competing in a 1980 “Tough Man Contest.” With almost no rules, fighters faced opponents of any size. Ray stepped into the event with only a few days’ notice and fought multiple opponents — including a 240-pound competitor — using strategy, grit, and toughness to win the tournament. . From coaching his children to cornering his son in world championship events and eventually the UFC, Ray reflects on the unique experience of being both father and coach — and how martial arts shaped their entire family’s life. Throughout the episode, Carlos and Ray share laughter, wisdom, and heartfelt reflections about martial arts, mentorship, and the importance of building something that lasts beyond competition. Episode 16 is a 2+ hour look into a relationship spanning nearly thirty years, between two respective martial arts legends.This episode is a powerful reminder that martial arts is more than fighting — it’s about character, community, and legacy.  Conversation Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and sponsor message 01:00 – Carlos introduces Ray Thompson 03:30 – Ray’s martial arts beginnings in 1974 07:00 – Elvis Presley’s influence on Ray’s journey 10:30 – Early dojo challenges and “dojo wars” 23:00 – The 1980 Tough Man Contest 30:00 – Fighting multiple opponents in one tournament 38:00 – Strategy vs the 340-pound opponent 44:00 – Winning the tournament and lessons learned 50:00 – Building Upstate Karate from a small dojo 58:00 – The role Ray’s wife played in growing the academy 1:04:00 – Teaching philosophy and caring for students 1:24:00 – Stephen Thompson’s early fighting career 1:36:00 – Final reflections on legacy and martial arts  Guest Links Ray Thompson / Upstate Karate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upstatekarate/Website: https://upstatekarate.com Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raythompson/  Coffee Time with Carlos Machado 🔗 Watch more episodes & updates: https://coffeetimewithcarlos.com/ 📺 Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeTimeWithCarlosMachado 📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeetimewithcarlos/ 📸 More from Carlos: https://www.instagram.com/carlosmachadojiujitsu/ 📘 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coffeetimewithcarlos 📘 Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosMachadoBJJ 🎙️ Listen to the podcast: https://podcast.coffeetimewithcarlos.com/