OUR UNSTOPPABLE MISSION:
Bam Bam Martial Arts is committed to inspiring and empowering you to reach your full potential.
Our focus is on bringing you the best martial arts lessons in the Houston area to give you the tools you need to defend yourself, maintain great health, and become the best version of yourself for a successful living.
Bam Bam Martial Arts has earned the reputation in Houston, as well as Bellaire, Southside Place, West University, of being the top martial arts school for enriching our students’ lives and equipping them to face life with the winning edge.
Many people believe the martial arts are about just fighting, but our program is much, much more than that. When you train in our martial arts classes you take advantage of the best self-improvement system in the world.
Professor Scott M. Sullivan, PhD.
I’m the founder and chief instructor of Bam Bam Martial Arts.
My journey in martial arts began as a child, and the impact it had on my life was nothing short of transformational. It gave me discipline, confidence, direction—and most importantly, a sense of purpose. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to one day open my own school and share the life-changing power of martial arts with others.
That dream became a reality. Today, I have the privilege of serving the Houston community by helping students of all ages become stronger, healthier, more focused, and more confident—both on and off the mat.
There is no greater reward than watching our students grow—not just as martial artists, but as people. Every time I see a child walk taller, a teen find their voice, or an adult rediscover their strength, I’m reminded why this work matters.
At Bam Bam Martial Arts, we don’t just teach self-defense. We build character. We teach mental strength. We transform lives.
Dr. Scott M. Sullivan is a master martial artist, philosopher, and expert in character development who has dedicated his life to the cultivation of both physical excellence and moral virtue. With over 45 years of experience in the martial arts, he holds a 4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a former U.S. Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion with an international competition record that includes appearances in Las Vegas, Tokyo, and Moscow.
He is the founder and chief instructor at Bam Bam Martial Arts in Houston, Texas, a school that has operated for over 18 years and is widely recognized for combining elite martial arts instruction with one of the most comprehensive personal development programs for children and adults in the United States.
Dr. Sullivan’s martial arts credentials include formal certification from two of the most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lineages in the world:
- The Federação de Jiu-Jitsu do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, signed by Grandmaster Carlos Robson Gracie (red belt),
- And the Associação Oriente de Jiu-Jitsu, signed by Grandmaster Amélio Arruda Camarra, a direct student of Helio Gracie.
In parallel with his martial arts career, Dr. Sullivan earned a PhD in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, where he specialized in classical ethics, logic, and the philosophical thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. His academic work focuses on the nature of virtue, the structure of moral development, and the integration of reason and will in the formation of character. He has taught at multiple colleges and universities, served on the Committee on Logic for the American Catholic Philosophical Association, and is the author of several influential books, including:
- An Introduction to Traditional Logic (used in classical education programs nationwide)
- St. Thomas Aquinas and the Principle of Sufficient Reason
- The Thomistic Teleological Argument (forthcoming)
Dr. Sullivan has produced dozens of educational video courses on logic, philosophy of mind, metaphysics, classical theism, and the foundations of ethical reasoning. His work has helped thousands of students—both in formal education and beyond—grasp complex philosophical ideas and apply them to their lives with clarity and purpose.
At the heart of Dr. Sullivan’s mission is a single conviction: personal excellence is not just physical, but moral and intellectual. He believes that martial arts should be more than self-defense or sport—it should be a vehicle for forming the whole person, developing not only strength and skill but also courage, self-discipline, justice, and wisdom.
To this end, he has developed a powerful framework for character education that fuses the virtue ethics of Aristotle and Aquinas with modern psychological insights and decades of real-world teaching. This system, known as the Black Belt Mindset, is now being codified in a forthcoming book series that teaches children, teens, and adults how to:
- Develop unshakable discipline and willpower
- Build deep, authentic self-esteem through earned achievement
- Handle adversity with resilience and mental toughness
- Cultivate the habits of thought and action needed to flourish in life
These books draw on his unique background as a philosopher and fighter, offering clear, no-fluff strategies for developing a winning mindset rooted in the classical tradition of virtue ethics.
Dr. Sullivan has spoken across the country on the relationship between faith and reason, the importance of classical logic, and the practical benefits of virtue ethics. He has appeared on EWTN, national radio, and numerous podcasts, inspiring parents, teachers, and students alike to take their personal growth seriously.
At the foundation of Dr. Sullivan’s work is his personal philosophical creed:
Bonum diffusivum sui est — “The good is self-diffusive.”
This ancient principle expresses his conviction that true goodness overflows—transforming lives, uplifting others, and multiplying its impact. Every act of teaching, every lesson on the mat, every book, every conversation is part of that mission: to spread the good.
This vision is embedded in the very motto of his martial arts program:
Sanus corpus, sanus mentis — “A sound body for a sound mind.”
Physical training is not an end in itself—it is a path to mental clarity, moral strength, and a well-ordered life. For Dr. Sullivan, martial arts is not just about punching and grappling—it’s about becoming the kind of person who can rise above life’s challenges with grace, strength, and reason.
Above all, Dr. Sullivan is committed to serving others. His work—whether in the dojo, in print, or on stage—is driven by a passion to help people become the strongest, wisest, and most virtuous version of themselves. As a husband, father, teacher, and leader, he lives by the same principles he teaches: humility, perseverance, rationality, and love of the good.
See the Results for Yourself
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT BAM BAM MARTIAL ARTS
Backed By the best
Bam Bam Martial Arts Houston is recognized by the top governing bodies in the world of jiu-jitsu.
