TRAINING

As a native Hawaiian, who was born on the island of Oahu and raised on the west side of Makaha. In the 9th grade, struggling with dyslexia I remember being told by a teacher that I wouldn't amount to anything more than a labor worker. Discouraged like never before. Subject to my circumstances and surroundings and not possessing a knack for most sports. Combat sports at the time was my only way out. I saw combat sports as a way to lose weight, and gain confidence, and quite frankly this was the only thing I was halfway decent at.

Six months into training Martial Arts I found myself across the ring of an opponent with an undefeated record of more the 10 matches. As my first fight, I was sure to lose with those odds. Locking eyes with my opponent across the ring thinking “Why did I sign up for this?” I was about to face the toughest challenge of my life. All that was running to my head was how am I going to overcome this. Remembering what my coach said to me earlier ensured me, "I can do anything that I put my mind to". Against all odd and external doubt. My life changed that very day.

Not knowing the additional benefits of combat sports, my first fight transforms my life. Teaching me how to overcome ambiguity, lead me to meet extraordinary people, and learn new soft skills. Ultimately, changing the trajectory of my life. Former science and technology educator in Kapolei and current IT developer for a few Corporate 500 companies in the past 5 years. I share my credentials to affirm the contributions mixed martial arts had on my professional career. Awarding me the discipline to focus; the ability to cultivate my future; and the grit to be resilient within ambiguity. My commitment to combat sports led me to secure a bachelor's degree in Business Management even after I counted out furthering my education. I knew if I could get through a competition, I could accomplish anything. My first fight was the moment I knew I gained the required skills to become a champion. While acquiring soft skills that deem me a competitive candidate in the IT industry. With that, I want to thank the Hawaii combat scene for bestowing on me additional character traits that led me to become a proud contributing member of society.

Over 10 Years, I was able to compile a winning record with over 50+ fights in Hawaii alone. Secured five titles in multiple weight classes. Featured on TV shows, commercials, podcasts, newspapers, and magazines. Trained with a bunch of UFC champions, traveled the world, and changed the lives of so many kids all through the benefits of mixed martial Arts. If you met me when I was an adolescent. like my 9th-grade teacher you too would have had a similar forecast of my adult life. But fighting changed that for the better.

Today I volunteer and lead a combat team of 15+ young men and women in a town that used to be known as one of the most rough neighborhoods in Charlotte North Carolina. These are some of the troubled kids that society has given up on. The young who couldn’t see a future for themselves. While being coached, members are mentored to take alternative paths in life using characteristics found in combat sports. Countless testimonies of positive feedback with life-altering changes are felt throughout their community and expressed to our gym. This was done by giving them competition to look forward to. Indirectly emphasized in combat sports are self-control and concentration. Students also learn to focus on individual growth; learn to work towards specific goals; and operate within structure, rules, boundaries, and respect. These are priceless values that benefit all surrounding municipalities.

Since the involvement of the DCCA in the later years competing in Hawaii I've witnessed the erosion of mixed martial arts and its communities. Have you ever wondered if there was a correlation between the rise of deadly violent crimes and the lack of avenues for individuals to control their aggression/emotions? Mixed martial arts is one of the best developers of self-discipline, and self-control. If we can give kids and adults a safe place to channel their aggression. I am sure we would see a downtick in violence in our communities. 

I have spent the past 4 years analyzing and conversing with other regulating bodies in other states on how they are handling and regulating combat sports. In conclusion, there is a much greater benefit to creating a self-governing body detached from local government. I am not sure why the DCCA decided to intervene and regulate an industry that was doing just fine. Would you say the initiatives set out by the DCCA have been met? If so was there a hidden initiative to kill all combat sports from existing? Because that is what happened. When the DCCA was NOT involved there were events every weekend giving the community something to look forward to and to work toward. Since the DCCA, we went from 100's of events a year to 2-5 events a year. Diminishing the garage gyms that kept kids off the streets, and potential coaches from the nightlife. It gave so many people a purpose outside of their mundane lives. 

DCCA heard several testimonies from promoters. DCCA knows the numbers exposing the truth of how much a promotion can make for each event in Hawaii. Thus proving that most local promoters truly love the arts and have no intention of trying to get rich from it. Hawaii is already expensive to do anything as is. The DCCA has disincentivized promoters from holding events in Hawaii through added DCCA event ticketing fees, licensing fees, and all other miscellaneous DCCA required costs. How are these sanctioning fees helping this industry again? it is not. It is hurting future generations and excluding a large portion of the island's youth from being a part of an extracurricular activity that aligns with their Polynesian warrior spirit.

I urged the DCCA to take a step back, support, and allow the people who have had their boots on the ground of combat sports to take a stab at creating a self-sustaining commissioning body that will be designed and formed by the MMA community who truly care about the sport and its competing athletes. This will be our last chance to bring back the glory days of mixed martial arts. The last chance to discourage gun violence is through mixed martial arts. And the last chance to make a difference in the lives of youth who are excluded from other extracurricular activities and want to call MMA their sport.

The Warrior spirit is in every native of Hawaii. I truly believe that this will lead to communal change that our society will enjoy for years to come. I have my boots on the ground in the MMA industry and I will support this initiative hands-on with my learned corporate skills, resources, and vast network.