A Mixed Martial Arts show at the Kapa‘a High School gym will feature boxing and grappling for the second time on Kaua‘i but for the first time in a cage. This time around, Kaua‘i’s martial arts schools coordinated by the
A Mixed Martial Arts show at the Kapa‘a High School gym will feature boxing and grappling for the second time on Kaua‘i but for the first time in a cage.
This time around, Kaua‘i’s martial arts schools coordinated by the tireless Randy Ortiz are slated to enter their fabulous fighters such as Eben Kaneshiro, Dustin Rubin, Kyle Sukehira, Kaeo Lopez, Eric Pajdak and a host of other fighters from Kamole Jujitsu, Longman Jujitsu and Oki Boxing Club.
Professionals and amateurs will be contending to see who may become Kings of the Cage in this event promoted by the swash-buckling Sonny Westbrook of Kona.
Micah Matsushima, “The Hanapepe Hammer” is in the opening bout against a Kona opponent who is reported to be only 4’11” and at 95 lbs., probably looks like a little Hulk. The 13-year-old, rail thin 95 pounder is a 2004 Junior Olympic Boxing state champion who stands 5’4″.
Multitalented Alex “Brown Sugar Ray” Kamala who is headed for Saint Louis High School on an athletic scholarship is Micah’s chief sparring partner. Watch for Matsushima’s hammering straight right, which is propelled by stiff right leg pressure. He developed the strong right leg kick by skate-boarding at his home in ‘Ele‘ele to the gym in Hanapepe. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., don’t miss this bout!
Isaac “Ichiro” Josiah, appearing in the third bout on the card and Matsushima are pure strikers, they only hit with the gloved fist. Although, in boxing grappling or holding is common, as a technique it is illegal, Boxers supposedly can’t tap out or surrender although boxer’s cornermen do “throw in the towel” frequently. Otherwise when boxers like Roberto Duran quit, it shocks the world.
Assistant coach, Barbara Oki gave Josiah the middle name “Ichiro” when she heard that he was part Japanese. She was wistfully thinking then, that he would be as good in boxing as the real Ichiro is in baseball. From all indications Isaac will excel in boxing if he gives it his all. A couple of years ago with absolutely no training he became “Fite Nite” middleweight champion by winning three hard fought bouts. Josiah is now training so long and hard at the gym that his fiance, Maile is sleeping soundly by closing time. Josiah spars with Masao Fujioka, a black belt in karate but when the 17-year-old Fujioka gets in the ring, forget about karate, he is beginning to look like the Philadelphia left hooker, Joe Frazier.
All of Josiah’s teachers are probably saying that he had better be a great boxer just to vindicate all the fighting he did in school from kindergarten to senior. From his seventh grade year he only spent a couple of years in normal school. He spent the rest of his school years as an incorrigible at a special school in Anahola.
So under the Saturday night lights and under all future Saturday night lights, it will be redemption time for Josiah. If and when he achieves greatness, a lot of teachers’ hearts will be full as he stands there, in the ring with nothing more to give after giving it all he could.
Eben Kaneshiro is an exotic mixture of half Okinawan and half Native American but he is all warrior. He enjoys one on one combat and proves it by kicking butt all over the world from the Philippines to Guam and Hawai‘i.
He finally lost to a madman in a California King of the Cage Championship fight. According to Kaneshiro, he believes that he can whop that “one dimensional” fellow in a rematch. Kaneshiro loves to fight, as a teacher loves to teach or a doctor loves to doctor or a lawyer loves to talk. He is a professional ultimate fighter. He will be in the main event at Kapa‘a.
Dustin Rubin has several claims to fame on Kaua‘i. One is that he never lost a fight while attending Waimea High School. Another is that he was a USA Boxing regional champion of the combined states of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Several months ago he lost to Kaleo Padilla in Kona and was nearly crippled by a hurt knee. Before the fight Rubin carried coach Ken Oki’s jumbo gym bag but after the fight Oki nearly had to carry both Rubin and the bag.
Nevertheless, Rubin has recovered and is ready for another go at Padilla on Saturday.
The duo of Kaeo Lopez and Kyle Sukehira are Kaua‘i’s hidden talents being readied to blossom by Kamole Jujitsu. Both at 5’8″ are getting ready to rumble in their first mixed martial arts matches. Both of them are Naga (grappling) champions and black belts in jujitsu. Lopez may be a little heavier than Sukehira but both can come in at 160 pounds.
Everything else being nearly equal, Sukehira most likely thinks he is better looking and vice versa.
Eric Pajdak, a master grappler from Kamole Jujitsu has a friendly rivalry going on with Longman Jujitsu’s Aaron Moller. Whatever the point of contention between the two, it was mind boggling enough for them to want to settle it before facing opposition from any other island.
Don’t miss this rare chance to see some of Kaua‘i’s home-grown fighting talents. So come one, come all on Saturday evening, March 19 at Kapa‘a High School’s gym, with the doors opening at 5:30 p.m.
