A black Honda Civic hatchback cruises up Kawaihau Road Tuesday evening on the Eastside. Two teens trail close behind on a moped, its headlight illuminating a TapOut decal plastered to the car’s tinted window. A pair of left turns later
A black Honda Civic hatchback cruises up Kawaihau Road Tuesday evening on the Eastside.
Two teens trail close behind on a moped, its headlight illuminating a TapOut decal plastered to the car’s tinted window.
A pair of left turns later and the caravan rallies with several vehicles parked outside a two-story house on Ioana Street.
A dozen dudes in board shorts and rash guards spill into an empty garage.
After lining the floor with mats, they stretch under a fluorescent light.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructors Syrus Melandish and Doug Gayagas tie their belts around their gis and start practice.
This marks the first night for some students, whose ages range from 11 to 28, to learn the increasingly popular martial art sport.
For others, it is another day added to years of training.
The youngsters and young adults may have arrived via different routes for different reasons, but they leave the KG Jiu-Jitsu school with discipline, honor and loyalty, Melandish said.
The 28-year-old Kealia resident has studied more than five years, advancing to purple belt with three degrees.
This style has five belts that progress from white to blue to purple to brown to black — requiring four degrees each to advance.
The self-defense art promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person can defeat a bigger, stronger attacker through techniques that use leverage, joint locks and holds to force submission — signified in class and competition by “tapping out.”
In fact, Jiu-Jitsu translates as “the gentle art.”
The KG Jiu-Jitsu school sends several fighters to compete at events on Kaua‘i, Maui and O‘ahu. The vast majority bring home medals, Melandish said.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blew up in the 1990s when Royce Gracie, a professional mixed martial arts fighter, won three Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Melandish claims it is the largest growing sport in the state. There are now five Jiu-Jitsu schools on Kaua‘i, he said, and countless in Honolulu.
Kapa‘a resident Preston Nago, 23, said the surging worldwide popularity of mixed martial arts fighting sucked him in.
The twice-weekly practices keep him in shape and out of trouble, he said.
Melandish agreed.
“When I was 18, I was headed down the wrong path,” he said. “I thought I was the king of the world and could kick everybody’s butt.”
Since deciding to study Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Melandish has helped to run after-school programs for kids, start the Kauai Police Athletic League and instruct martial arts classes in Arizona last year.
He raved about a “phenomenal” 11-year-old student who started training at the school at age 9 and consistently brings home gold medals.
Meanwhile, the fighters shifted from practicing arm locks and triangle chokes to sparring.
The instructors paired the pupils appropriately and monitored their skills as the grapplers sprawled across the mats.
Blue belt Kaipo Barretto, 22, of Kapahi, faced Gayagas as Noa Mau-Espirito, Shayce Yasutake, Charles Colomo, Bryson Gonzalez, Marco Daoana and Ty Relacion found fairly equal partners.
Michael Tunac, 21, said he has studied martial arts for a year, but preferred to just spectate his first practice with KG Jiu-Jitsu.
“You no going get perfect in one time, two times … going to take years and years,” Gayagas told the students.
The six-minute ground fights drew heavy breathing and left sweat smeared on the mats.
The students and instructors commented on the need to do more cardio and lift more weights in between practices.
Training also involves avoiding fast food and soda, drinking more water, eating more fruits and vegetables and feasting on five small meals per day instead of three large ones, Melandish said.
Mental conditioning also helps, he added, comparing the sport to chess.
Higher belts start using the techniques to make double and triple attacks, he said.
“You know how he’s going to act and how to counter it,” Melandish said.
The school has helped many, such as Nago, learn self-discipline and meet new friends.
“It’s also fun,” he said.
Gayagas, a 31-year-old lifelong Kapa‘a resident, said he started training in martial arts as a little kid.
“I was always a big fan of UFC and got into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as soon as I learned they were doing it on Kaua‘i (about seven years ago),” he said.
Melandish uses the art as a stress-reliever and another hobby next to fishing and surfing.
“Some people drink … I come and train,” he said. “It’s a great place to take out aggression in a controlled environment.”
KG Jiu-Jitsu will have a permanent home soon. Melandish said they are shooting for late March to open the doors at 5739 Kuamoo Road, Wailua.
There they will teach kids, adults and hopefully add a women’s self-defense class two times a week.
Current costs are $55 per month for adults, $35 if under age 18.
For more information, e-mail kgjiu-jitsu@hawaiilink.net.
• Nathan Eagle, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or neagle@kauaipubco.com.
