PO’IPU — Fresh of off a World Superbrawl Championship, O’ahu’s Niko Vitale chose Kaua’i as his destination for his firstever Mixed Martial Arts seminar. “I’m just trying to give these guys some information and hopefully they’ll take some of the
PO’IPU — Fresh of off a World Superbrawl Championship, O’ahu’s Niko Vitale chose Kaua’i as his destination for his firstever Mixed Martial Arts seminar.
“I’m just trying to give these guys some information and hopefully they’ll take some of the things they’ve learned and utilize it in their bouts,” Vitale said.
The group of about 20 fighters gathered at the Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort’s Grand Ballroom yesterday to learn from one of the hottest MMA fighters in the world.
“At the beginning some of them were intimidated, but after a while, they just enjoyed themselves and worked hard,” Vitale said.
So why was Kaua’i so lucky to have Vitale do a MMA seminar?
Well, it all started with close friend Dennis Bohner, who met Vitale through the MMA ranks.
Bohner, a part-time Kaua’i and O’ahu resident caught up with Vance Pascua, a long time Kaua’i promoter and MMA teacher, who asked Bohner to set up a possible MMA seminar involving Vitale.
“He (Bohner) set it up and is responsible for Niko being here; I just asked about him coming and — boom, the next thing I know, he’s already confirmed to come,” Pascua said.
Individuals from different schools learned the ins and outs of MMA and even some new moves from Vitale, who is scheduled to defend his Super Brawl Middleweight title against Robbie Lawler on June 16.
But despite all the new techniques and tips, just being around a champion was well-worth it for the Kaua’i fighters.
“It’s all about learning from each other and coming together,” Pascua said.
