Unshakable Discipline: Faith, Fighting, and the Path to Virtue with Bas Rutten
Refiner's Fire
In this episode of Refiner’s Fire, Natasha Goodwin sits down with world champion fighter Bas Rutten at the 2026 Young Catholic Professionals Conference for a powerful conversation on discipline, conversion, and becoming unshakable in faith.Bas shares how his years fighting in Japan shaped his admiration for the samurai code, why Blessed Takayama Ukon’s witness resonates with him, and how the discipline he once applied to fighting is now being redirected toward virtue, prayer, and self-mastery. From writing “Rs” on his hands to stay relaxed before fights, to using a rubber band as a reminder to overcome profanity, judgment, and weakness, Bas offers a practical and unforgettable look at what it means to train the soul.He also opens up about returning to the Catholic faith, praying the Rosary daily, becoming a better husband and father, and learning to live by truth, humility, and discipline. This conversation invites young Catholic professionals to pursue excellence, resist the pull of vice, and remain steadfast in a world that often challenges their faith.