Tino Tuiolosega Explained

Tino Tuiolosega
Birth Name:Tu'umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega
Birth Date:2 July 1931
Birth Place:Utulei, American Samoa
Death Place:Santa Cruz, California
Occupation:Martial artist
Years Active:1950−2011
Martial Art:Limalama
Rank:Founder and Senior Grand Master

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

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. In addition, Tuiolosega studied aikido, Shaolin kung fu, Choy Li Fut and Hung Ga.[2] 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

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.[3] Tuiolosega practiced his martial art skills as a street fighter around the docks and bars of Hawaii.

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".[4] 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.[2] [5] 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. 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.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

In the 1980s, he moved to Santa Cruz, California and continued to instruct select students in Limalama.[1]

Personal life

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

Web site: Founder's Biography . Limalama . 13 May 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130529071505/http://www.limalama.net/Tinobio.htm . 29 May 2013 .

Notes and References

  1. News: Tu'Umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega. March 27, 2011. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Obituary. 31 October 2011.
  2. Lima Lama . . 35 . 3 . March 1997 . 13 May 2013 . January 29, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170129082957/http://www.blackbeltmag.com/category/lima-lama/ . bot: unknown .
  3. John P. . Patton . Serious Self-Defense from Carefree Polynesia . March 1997 . 80–87 . . August 2, 2023 . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211222412/https://books.google.com/books?id=CtoDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Tuiolosega+Tino&pg=PA85 . live .
  4. Web site: Have you heard of LimaLama? . Black Belt Magazine . Black Belt Team . 25 October 2023 . 10 February 2024 . December 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231202050114/https://www.blackbeltmag.com/have-you-heard-of-limalama . live .
  5. Book: The Way of the Warrior: Martial Arts and Fighting Styles from Around the World . 334 . Chris . Crudelli . Chris . Ross . DK Publishing . 2008 . 978-0-7566-3975-4.
  6. Limalama -- A Powerful Polynesian Hybrid . Carl . Totton . Inside Kung Fu . 32 . 5 . May 2004 . 74 . February 9, 2024 . May 6, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160506204636/http://taoistinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/limalima_ifk.pdf . live .
  7. News: Karate Gains at SUSC . Mel . Reisner . The Daily Spectrum . 24 May 1973 . 15 . 9 February 2024 . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211222523/https://www.newspapers.com/image/283160518/?terms=%22Lima%20lama%22&match=1 . live .
  8. News: Lima Lama self defense class open in area . 14 June 1973 . Uintah Basin Standard . 3 . 9 February 2024 . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211222413/https://www.newspapers.com/image/682008836/?terms=%22lima%20lama%22&match=1 . live .
  9. News: Karate event is benefit . 17 August 1973 . Times-Advocate . 24 . 9 February 2024 . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211222414/https://www.newspapers.com/image/569067175/?terms=%22Lima%20lama%22&match=1 . live .
  10. News: In the Spotlight: The Soft Touch . Daily Times-Advocate . 14 February 1972 . 11 . 9 February 2024 . February 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240211222414/https://www.newspapers.com/image/568868534/?terms=%22Lima%20lama%22&match=1 . live .