Tino Tuiolosega

Tino Tuiolosega
Born	Tu'umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega (1931-07-02)July 2, 1931 Utulei, American Samoa
Died	March 22, 2011(2011-03-22) (aged 79) Santa Cruz, California
Style	Limalama
Rank	Founder and Senior Grand Master
Years active	1950−2011
Other information
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

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

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

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

"Founder's Biography". Limalama. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.

References

1. "Tu'Umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega". Santa Cruz Sentinel. March 27, 2011. p. Obituary. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
2. 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.
3. "Lima Lama". Black Belt Magazine. 35 (3). March 1997. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. "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.
9. "Karate event is benefit". Times-Advocate. August 17, 1973. p. 24. Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
10. "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.