I started my journey through the martial arts, in the 70's with Kung Fu and Judo.  

I moved on to Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do in the 80's.  I was also practicing boxing/kickboxing in the 80's.  

I continued to practice Tang Soo Do through the 90's.  

I dabled in Jiu Jitsu and MMA earlier, but really started to train in the 2000's.  I started boxing/kickboxing back up in the 2010's.  

Due to a back injury I had to stop practicing martial arts in 2019, which has been hard for me.  I have always been so passionate about martial arts, which fueled my desire to grow Kupa'a Gym

 Giving back to my community, especially the keiki, is the reason and backbone for all the blood, sweat and tears that I pour in to Kupa'a Gym.  We have a great team of coaches and instructors and I am so proud of all we have accomplished.

In 1984-1985 I started boxing for fun with my friends dad in Laupahoehoe. I could not fight competitively because my parents refuse to sign the forms.

1987-1989 tried Uechi-Ryu a form of Karate of Okinawa. But, it wasn’t for me.

1991-1994 took up Hung Gar Kung Fu and Ninjitsu under Sifu Rey Mercado and earned my brown belt in Ninjitsu.

1996 took up Kick-boxing and Kenpo Karate from Coach/Mentor Rudy Valentino. Took 3rd place in the Black belt division in the Karate tournament (Festival of Kings) in Maui. While fighting competitively in Kick-boxing, I held one of the fastest knock out (13 Seconds) in Hawaii. I fought on the under cards of Dennis Alexio kick boxing shows.  

2000 I started coaching for Valentino’s Kick-Boxing/Hawaiian MMA/Kupa'a Boxing at the Waiākea Rec Center when Coach Rudy V went to train former UFC Champion BJ Penn. For about 5 years or so, we trained in garages and warehouses till my friend and Brada founded Kupa'a Gym in Panaewa.

2010-2012 Valentino’s Kick-boxing/Hawaiian MMA fought out of Fuel Academy (Owner Tyrone and Tiff Ferreira). In 2011 Fuel Academy accumulated 11 Championship titles. By the time 2012 came, 7 championship titles was accumulated.

I continue my love for martial arts, by passing all that I have learned down to the next generation.

I’ve been training Jiu Jitsu for 15+ years. I decided to start coaching because I felt like I had the ability to teach not only a martial art but life lessons through it.