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American martial artist (1931–2011) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Tino Tuiolosega | |
---|---|
Born | Tu'umamao "Tino" Tuiolosega July 2, 1931 Utulei, American Samoa |
Died | March 22, 2011 79) Santa Cruz, California | (aged
Style | Limalama |
Rank | Founder and Senior Grand Master |
Years active | 1950−2011 |
Occupation | Martial artist |
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]
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]
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]
"Founder's Biography". Limalama. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
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