Sifu Pete Gallardo can’t hide a chuckle when he watches his prized student, 10-year-old Titi Saiki, fight at martial arts tournaments. “One time she was knocked down by some boy, and she got back up and yelled, ‘say go!’ before
Sifu Pete Gallardo can’t hide a chuckle when he watches his prized student, 10-year-old Titi Saiki, fight at martial arts tournaments.
“One time she was knocked down by some boy, and she got back up and yelled, ‘say go!’ before the judges were ready to let the fight continue,” said Gallardo, founder of the Garden Angels Kajukenbo School. “She really loves martial arts and competing in these tournaments.”
Saiki beat everyone in the past two Kaua’i Open tournaments, and placed first in soft forms (she won the 18-year-old Kung Fu Forms division), third in hard forms and first in fighting at Maui’s 10th Annual Festival of Kings Karate Championships. Saiki is making a name for herself in dojos both on-and-off the island, and competes in tournaments from Oahu to Las Vegas.
“She has such confidence,” said Gallardo. “That’s what we try to instill in our students, along with pride, discipline and a good attitude.”
Where does Saiki find the confidence, especially when she faces boys in such a male dominated sport?
“She tests the boys more than they test her,” said Gallardo. “Every Wednesday we have a sparring night. Our girls live for that night.”
Saiki isn’t the only girl under Sifu Pete making waves in the martial arts world.
Arissa Thronas, Layna Christian and Kacie Kelekoma have also upped the ante for kids (including boys) their age.
Thronas, 8, won the Age 9-12 beginner division in forms at the Kauai Open last weekend, along with first place in the 6-8 intermediate Fighting/Kumite division. She took third in both forms and fighting in the Maui tournament.
Christian, 9, took second in the 9-11 Beginners bracket for the Fighting/Kumite Division.
Kacie, 12, won the Age 12-14 Under Brown Belt girls bracket for the Fighting/Kumite Division.
“These girls listen to me, they work hard and they love it,” said Gallardo. “It’s great watching them consistently improve. I can’t wait to see what they will be able to do when they are 16-years-old.”
What Gallardo has taught the girls doesn’t just apply to martial arts and his dojo. For all of his students, Gallardo and his Garden Angels set a goal to help kids learn coordination so that they will be just as capable if they want to compete in other sports.
“Kids who learn martial arts and play other sports in grammar school and high school have an advantage,” said the sifu, who noted that Saiki is also a junior golfer. “Martial Arts, more than anything, helps the young ones learn coordination along with confidence. And it helps them with other things in which they participate in life.”
