From Fighter to Founder: Jason Curtis on Deadly Dozen's Rise

Fitness Racing Podcast
Written By Jason Curtis

In this special episode, the tables are turned — our guest, Graeme Hinde, steps in as interviewer to sit down with Jason Curtis, Founder of the Deadly Dozen.

Jason opens up about his journey from Thai boxing and military PT to becoming a coach, author, and now the creator of one of the world’s fastest-growing fitness races. Together, they delve into the mindset, struggles, and lessons that have shaped Deadly Dozen’s explosive growth — and what it truly takes to succeed in fitness, business, and life.

Topics include:

• Why coaching lit the fire more than competition

• The early struggles of starting a gym and building a business from scratch

• Lessons from failure, resilience, and financial stress

• How Deadly Dozen grew from one race to a global movement in 12+ countries

• Leadership, vision, and why “good enough” beats perfection

• The future of fitness racing, longevity, and training for life

This is a raw, unfiltered conversation about grit, setbacks, and the drive to create something bigger than yourself.

Jason Curtis

Jason Curtis is a leading strength and conditioning coach, former British Army physical training instructor, and bestselling author of numerous books on health, fitness, and sports performance. Based in the UK, he owns and operates a thriving gym, 5S Fitness, where he coaches athletes from all walks of life.

Jason is the founder of The SCC Academy, which has educated and certified over 35,000 fitness professionals and enthusiasts around the world. He also co-founded the CSPC, a specialist organisation dedicated to advancing the skills of combat sports coaches and athletes.

In the world of competitive fitness, Jason is best known as the founder of the Deadly Dozen—a global phenomenon that has redefined fitness racing, with hundreds of events hosted across multiple countries.

https://www.jasoncurtis.org
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