Tino Tuiolosega
| Tino Tuiolosega | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tu'umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega July 2, 1931 Utulei, American Samoa |
| Died | March 22, 2011 (aged 79) Santa Cruz, California |
| Style | Limalama |
| Rank | Founder and Senior Grand Master |
| Years active | 1950−2011 |
| Occupation | Martial artist |
Tu'umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega (2 July 1931 – 22 March 2011) was an American Samoan martial arts Grandmaster who founded the self-defense system of Limalama.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Tuiolosega was born 2 July 1931 in Utulei, American Samoa, the son of Tu'umamao Tuiolosega, the king of Olosega and Saposapoaluga Feagaimaleata Poumele Tuiolosega.[1] When he was 5-years-old, he began learning Polynesian self-defense techniques from his father and uncle. Tuiolosega also learned Polynesian dances which he said he later incorporated into his fighting style.[2] In addition, Tuiolosega studied aikido, Shaolin kung fu, Choy Li Fut and Hung Ga.[3] After moving to Oahu, Hawaii, he attended the University of Hawaii.[1] Tuilosega earned a juris doctor from the Irvine College of Law in 1979.[1]
Career
[edit]Tuiolosega joined the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War and fought at the Battle of Inchon. He later served as the Marine Corps' Chief Instructor of hand-to-hand combat. He also boxed for the Marines and was the Armed Forces Middleweight Champion.[2] Tuiolosega practiced his martial art skills as a street fighter around the docks and bars of Hawaii.[4]
After moving to Southern California in the 1950s, Tuiolosega began developing his own martial arts system called Limalama, a portmanteau of the Polynesian words lima (hand) and malamalama (understanding) and defined by Tuiolosega as "hand of wisdom".[5] The system eventually incorporated elements based on Tuilosega's experiences with Polynesian self-defense, boxing, judo, aikido, Shaolin kung fu, Choy Li Fut, Hung Ga and Kenpo karate.[3][6] Tuiolosega worked out with other martial artists including Kenpo Karate innovator Ed Parker and Shaolin Kung Fu grandmaster Ark Yuey Wong. In 1965, he began teaching Limalama to a group of black belts including Richard Nunez, Saul Esquival, John Makaalu Louis, Solomon Kaihewalu, and his cousin, Haumea “Tiny” Lefiti.[4] By the 1970s, students of Tuiolosega had opened Limalama academies around the world mostly concentrated in Mexico, South and Central America, as well as California and Hawaii.[4][7][8][9][10]
In the 1980s, he moved to Santa Cruz, California and continued to instruct select students in Limalama.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Tuiolosega was married to Claire Punani Nelson Tuiolosega with whom he had ten children.[1] He married a second time, to Adele Tuiolosega Radicchi, with whom he had one child.[1] He suffered a stroke in 1994 but recovered. Tuiolosega died in Santa Cruz on 22 March 2011.[1]
Further reading
[edit]"Founder's Biography". Limalama. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h "Tu'Umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega". Santa Cruz Sentinel. March 27, 2011. p. Obituary. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ^ a b Patton, John P. (March 1997). "Serious Self-Defense from Carefree Polynesia". Black Belt: 80–87. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ a b "Lima Lama". Black Belt Magazine. 35 (3). March 1997. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c Totton, Carl (May 2004). "Limalama -- A Powerful Polynesian Hybrid" (PDF). Inside Kung Fu. 32 (5): 74. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ Black Belt Team, ed. (October 25, 2023). "Have you heard of LimaLama?". Black Belt Magazine. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Crudelli, Chris; Ross, Chris (2008). The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World. DK Publishing. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-7566-3975-4.
- ^ Reisner, Mel (May 24, 1973). "Karate Gains at SUSC". The Daily Spectrum. p. 15. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "Lima Lama self defense class open in area". Uintah Basin Standard. June 14, 1973. p. 3. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "Karate event is benefit". Times-Advocate. August 17, 1973. p. 24. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "In the Spotlight: The Soft Touch". Daily Times-Advocate. February 14, 1972. p. 11. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.