Our Story
About SOTG Lifestyle
The Coach
Meet Coach Derrick
At first, "Student Of The Game" was just Derrick Easterling's fighting name. Once he retired as a fighter, he went through an identity crisis — all revolving around the question: "Who am I after fighting if everyone knows me as just a fighter?"
Derrick realized he used to train in a place of pain and hurt, rooted from trauma in life. When the anger ran out, it felt like there was nothing left to fight for. When he found love, he realized how using that fuel was a healthier and more sustainable way to live.
That's when he joined a small group of friends in church called the "Dream Team" — which allowed him to find his new passion in life: helping people discover their inner champion and find confidence within themselves through martial arts and weight lifting.
Since then, he has worked with many clients — some who had never been athletic or moved their body. Once they started losing weight and gaining muscle, they started to have more self belief and confidence. That's what pushed him even further in his passion.
He underwent the discipleship program, School of Leadership, all about being a leader. He took that experience and adapted it to teaching. That's when SOTG became a ministry of helping people discover who they are — from embracing your inner crazy to getting 1% better every day.
What We Stand For
Mission Statement
The SOTG Lifestyle is all about helping people discover and embrace themselves fully. While it is tied to fitness and martial arts, it is deeply connected to the mission of self love and self belief. SOTG is a lifestyle, rooted in biblical principles that help nurture and strengthen both the body and mind.
How We Live
SOTG Culture & Values
Become a Student of the Game
Whether it's a talent, a skill, a hobby, or anything outside of what society boxes you into, devote your life and your purpose to be the best version of yourself in that pursuit. This can be in fatherhood or in being a brother, an artist, a musician, a chef – anything that stimulates your creative genius. As long as you fully dedicate yourself to that game, you can surrender as a student.
Honor Your Craft
It's all about embracing the process of your craft and building an intimate relationship with the game that you're in. Devote yourself to it, set a goal and go through the cycles of good/bad/ugly until it becomes part of you.
White Belt Attitude
Always have an attitude that is seeking improvement and striving for progress. Be humble in receiving corrections or criticisms from others without taking it as an insult. Reframe your attitude by looking at corrections as a way to progress.
Black Belt Mentality
Always be professional and goal oriented. Keep executing that goal till you make it to the finish line.
Embrace Your Inner Crazy
Go after that thing that scares you the most. The moment you tell yourself "I want to be a world champion" and your subconscious tells you "You're crazy!", keep fighting until that subconscious voice changes its mind. Think about GOAL: Growing Over All Limitations. You're not the champion when you get the belt — you're the champion as soon as you see it in your mind and start acting on it.
Get 1% Better Each Day
The formula is HPPO: Habits, Process, Performance, Outcome. Set a goal, then follow the HPPO. Figure out what habits and processes you need, do the work, then assess: did it result in your desired outcome? Reassess each day, each week, each month. Celebrate the small things to remind yourself how much progress you make each time you commit to your game.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
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