LIHU‘E — Just after the new year, Adam Britto received two black belts after 10 years of martial arts training. Better known as the “Kauaian Animal”, Britto was given first-degree black belts for his work under Sensei Kenn Firestone at
LIHU‘E — Just after the new year, Adam Britto received two black belts after 10 years of martial arts training.
Better known as the “Kauaian Animal”, Britto was given first-degree black belts for his work under Sensei Kenn Firestone at Universal Karate of Kaua‘i.
The nickname came from Britto’s former days as a cage fighter, when an official commented that he resembled an animal after getting hit continuously, but not relenting. He has won numerous tournaments on O‘ahu, Maui and Kaua‘i.
Growing up in Wainiha, Britto, who is Hawaiian and Portugese, began as a backyard fighter and, by his own admission, got mixed up with people and patterns that sent his life in the wrong direction. Drugs had become his downfall, with many of his friends and family giving up on him.
“After you do some things, they kick you loose,” he said.
He began martial arts a decade ago, studying various forms, but always quit his training before reaching black-belt status.
Then in 2004, he began working with Firestone.
“I went to Kenn at first to learn how to cage fight better,” Britto said. “But then the goal changed. It became about teaching and bettering myself.”
The structure and serious nature of that new training comes from a program designed by Chuck Norris that has no shortcuts.
“It’s not watered down,” he said.
Some of the teachers who have helped in his development are Ken Pits, Brett Gold and Shelly Yokote, in addition to Firestone.
Britto considers their determination for his black belts to be an incredible honor.
“People who have given me this black belt aren’t just backwoods martial artists,” he said. “To get a black belt from these people is not easy.”
Having dedicated his life to various martial arts — including Hapkido, Muay Thai, Grappling, Tai Chi, Capoeira, Boxing and Tang Soo Do — Britto, now a Sensei himself, has taken the next step of keeping the tradition alive by offering training at two separate locations.
“This changed my life,” he said, noting that he now has the opportunity to take other people in to show them what it takes.
“In life, you’ve got to move forward, or you get left behind,” he said. “You can’t lock yourself in the closet and not deal with the world,” which was something he did as drugs took over his being.
Having also started his own security company in Princeville, Britto thinks that anyone struggling to get their life on track can see him as an example of what is possible. People turn to drugs because they have less and less freedom to live, he said.
“You can become a Sensei,” he said. “You can own your own business.”
He said there are probably many people still on Kaua‘i who would be shocked to see that “this guy made it.”
“No matter how hard, how painful, if you stick through, there is something good at the end,” he said.
Aki‘i Services Tang Soo Do Martial Arts of Kaua‘i has two locations for those interested in taking lessons, a private dojo in Kapa‘a and a public dojo in Princeville at the community center.
