In the Clinch Vol.3

“In the Clinch”
By Coach Woodward

Welcome to ‘In the Clinch’ Vol.3, an up close, behind the scenes look at the Elite Fighting Team (E.F.T.) of Team Intense Martial Arts (TIMA). With Master Catalasan’s permission and support we will bring you inside the inner workings of the E.F.T. As we begin our descent on final approach to the Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida.

With the Junior Olympics less than 6 weeks away there’s much work to do and little time to do it. We hope you enjoy this blog as we attempt to make you feel part of our family. Without your support and encouragement none of this would be possible. Today we continue with our 3rd of 11 interviews of the amazing kids who comprise the E.F.T. We encourage you to share this blog with family, friends, co-workers and anyone else who might benefit or partner with us in doing what we can to give these dedicated athletes the support they need to accomplish all they’ve set out to do.

Please sit back, relax and enjoy being ‘In the Clinch’ with Jake ‘lil kahuna’ Kaihewalu.
On May 14, 2010 I had the privilege of sitting down with Jake and getting to know him a little better. When we started our interview teammate Sarina Oropeza was sitting with Jake. I offered her $25 if she could correctly spell his last name without assistance on the first try. I’m happy to report MY $25 dollars will be making an appearance at the upcoming TIMA Poker Tournament.

Jake is 12 years old and he’s been with TIMA for 4 years. This is his third year on the E.F.T. Jake is green belt (6th gup) in Tae Kwon Do. He also studies Muay Thai kickboxing with TIMA. I asked Jake why he didn’t study Kali to which he responded, “It doesn’t interest me. It’s too much thinking”. You have to give him credit for honesty, a trait that many of his teammates listed among his best.

I asked Jake which punishment he dreads the most. He responded, “I’d have to say burpies because they tire me the most and you can’t stop. It’s like nonstop.” Thinking back to our previous interview with Nicholas ‘The Wall’ Beltran, I asked Jake his feeling about the punishment known as The Wall. Jake’s response didn’t surprise me in the least when he said, “I’ve never been on it.” For family, friends and teammates hearing Jake has never been on the wall doesn’t come as much of a surprise. He’s uncommonly well-behaved for a boy his age.

Following this train of thought I’m reminded of something one of Jake’s teammates told me during our background investigation into Jake’s life. Brooke Barth (subject of an upcoming blog) shared one of her most memorable ‘Jakey’ moments with me. Brooke recounted an event that occurred in Detroit that most of the E.F.T. of 2008 would prefer to forget. The kids got a bit rambunctious and wound up on Guro’s bad side. What followed was an extended session of lecture and punishment that will go down in TIMA history. I said ‘Most’ of the E.F.T. because only Jake and Brooke escaped the wrath of a disappointed Guro. However, they were present for the entire episode. Brooke said even though they weren’t the one’s in trouble, they were on the verge of tears, overwhelmed by sympathy for their teammates.

To people not familiar with our unique family this may not sound like much fun. Admittedly, at the time it wasn’t. However, look how it impacts these kids long term for the better. It also show’s you Jake’s heart, another trait that came up over and over again during my look into his life.

Jake has many, many friends on the team. Just some of them he listed were: Brooke, Chad (his God brother and close family friend), Austin and Sarina. I noticed that Austin and Sarina were sitting next to Jake at this time. I asked him if he listed them among his friend just because they were sitting there. Jake replied, “Well, Ya.” He continued, “I’m closer to the Elite Team because I spend more time with them.” Jake also listed Seth and the ‘Kicking Guy’ as friends. Confused, I asked him who the kicking guy was. He informed me he meant the symbol on the Team Intense wall of a guy kicking. This only confused me further. Jake, sensing my frustration clarified his statement somewhat, “I’ve never met him, but I’ve seen him before.” Of course, I asked where? Jake looked at me like I was an idiot and said, “on the wall”. Finally, Jake listed Sara as a friend. Jake said, “I’m afraid if I don’t list her she’ll chop my head off.”

Jakes most memorable moment with TIMA occurred in Detroit, Michigan at Junior Nationals in 2008. It took Jake all of 2 seconds to come up with this one. “Oh that one’s easy. It was when we were in Detroit and I was sitting by the pool in a chair and I didn’t want to swim. Brooke, Guro and Brianna took my shoes and socks off and dumped me in the pool.” Asked if the water was cold he replied, “Yes Sir, it was freezing.”

Here are some fun facts about Jake you may not have known:
Favorite Toy: “I like Facebook.”
Favorite TV Show: I asked Jake, “16 and pregnant?” Jakes response, “No, I’ve never seen that show in my life.” “I like the Discovery Channel.”
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Fighters: Mr. Garcia. “I like how Willie fights because he doesn’t do just one kick.” “I also like Austin and Brooke because they both do fancy kicks.”
Favorite Band: Paramore
Favorite Sparring Partner: Daphne Tober. “She’s not my weight, but she’s my height and she challenges me.”
Favorite Thing about TIMA: “It’s like that it’s not just tae kwon do. It’s a family, a home away from home.”
Biggest Fear: “I’m not a big fan of sharks. It’s because of ‘Jaws’.” “I stepped on a
sand shark once.”

I asked Jake to share something about himself that few people know. Apparently Jake is a big fan of a toy named ‘K’nex’. He admitted to building a large roller coaster in his bedroom, “and it works.” Jake is also somewhat of a collector. An aficionado if you will of…..drum roll……’Duct Tape’. That’s right, duct tape. The stuff you use to patch a leaky radiator hose in the middle of the desert or replace a broken car window. “I have a lot of duct tape. I have Zebra duct tape. I have like 20 different colors.” How many 12 year olds can say that? Heck, how many plumbers can say that?

I asked Jake to name the 3 most influential people in his life. I can tell you he had a much easier time answering this question than what his favorite TV Show was. With NO hesitation he listed, in no particular order of importance, his mom, dad and Guro. What followed was in my opinion a brilliant quote from someone so young. Jake told me, “They teach me what NOT to do.” Not bad huh?

Jake has a scar on the top of his head. Ask him to show it to you sometime. Better yet, ask his little, sweet innocent looking sister Cassi to point it out. Seeing as she put it there. Jake told a story of a time when he was 6 years old and sitting in a chair. Harmless little Cassi came up on our Jakey and kicked him in the stomach. Any of you who’ve seen Cassi in class already know she’s a natural. With no formal training she was able to knock him backwards out of the chair. Unfortunately for Jake, there was a glass table just waiting for his skull. From there a nice bed of concrete was there to break his fall. As thick and soft as his famous brown locks are, they were no match for Cassi and Concrete. Jake told me he went to the hospital and got staples in his head, but suffered no long term brain damage. He then proceeded to repeat this story to me 6 more times. Can someone set Jake up with an MRI?

At this time I turned my attention to Jakes’ teammates, coaches and family to find out more about the boy behind the boy.

I started off with the man who should and does know Jake better than anyone else, his dad and TIMA coach, Jeff Kaihewalu. Coach K said,”When he first started I wasn’t really sure that he was up to the physical challenge.” At this age he had a “Lack of coordination. What I learned once he started this, by the mere fact that he wanted to keep going, he’s got a willingness to get better at things that don’t come naturally to him.” Coach K said tae kwon do revealed Jakes heart and work ethic,”This was the first sport for him.” “This is his deal.” Coach said he has no interest in other sports. “The atmosphere is what draws him. This feels good to him, the family and friends.”

Coach K’s most memorable moment came in Detroit at the 2008 Jr. Olympics. Coach K said, “When he took silver as a green belt when he wasn’t a green belt.” In fact, Jake was only a yellow stripe. Three ranks below his opponent. Not too shabby. There will be more on Detroit later in our story.

Coach said when Jakes little sister Cassi decided to try tae kwon do she got some brotherly advice from Jake because he was a little skeptical that she’d stick with it. Jake told her, “You’d better do it right if you’re going to try it.” Jakes mother, Lori Kaihewalu, said she thinks TIMA is the best thing that’s happened to him. Coach K closed our conversation by saying TIMA and tae kwon do have taught Jake respect and the benefit of hard work. “This has reinforced what we teach him at home. His message to his son as Orlando quickly approaches, “It’s important to remind him what we expect from him, determination and heart.”

Mr. Garcia described Jake as, “funny and colorful. He’s a cool little kid.” Mr. Garcia also wins the ‘Captain Obvious’ of the year award with this observation of Jake, “he’s got gorgeous hair.” Mr. Garcia described Jake as a smart and aggressive fighter who’s “light on his feet”. If you ever saw Jake lumber through training a few years ago you know what a tremendous compliment that is.

Chad Mertz, a close family friend of Jake as well as a teammate on the Elite Team, described him as funny, athletic and lovable. You’ll have to ask Chad for clarification. Chad recalled a time when he and Jake were kicked off the log ride at Knott’s Berry Farm. Chad for standing up and Jake for getting his beautiful hair wet. I guess it’s a crime in Buena Park for Jake’s hair to be out of place in public. Seriously though, Jake was laying down in the log but I like my version better.

Many of Jakes teammates described him as sweet, trustworthy and caring. Not surprisingly, those were his female teammates. His male teammates described him as a funny, smart person with a great attitude.

One of Jakes teammates gave me a great Jake quote. I promised not to reveal ‘Her’ name, but you can confirm the accuracy of this with Jake himself, as I did. She said,”he said once during poomsae he doesn’t condition his hair unless it’s for testing.”

Ismael had high praise for Jake, describing him as a great leader, hard worker, an awesome teammate with an indomitable spirit. Ismael continued, “When I spar him he doesn’t back down. Even though I’m bigger, he doesn’t give up. He’s strong and fast and works his angles.” I’ve had the pleasure of coaching Jake many times. I don’t think I can add to Ismael’s words. They’re all right on the money.

Little sister Cassi shared a hilarious memory she has involving Jake which happened very recently. Apparently, she had hidden behind his bedroom door. When he walked in, she jumped out. Jake screamed. Jake, following TIMA tradition set out to ‘Return the Favor’. Cassi was looking for Jake everywhere with no luck. She was in her room near her bed when all of a sudden two hands shot out from under her bed and grabbed her by the ankles. I’m sure you guessed it, Jakes hands, Cassi’s scream. Looks like his teammates were right, Jake is smart and funny.

Guro said Jake is one of the smartest fighters she’s ever had, “He was a white belt beating green belts. That says something about his skills.” That being said, Guro’s fondest memory of Jake wasn’t born out of a tournament, training session or TIMA event. “He wrote a paper last year about his favorite American and he wrote it about me. It was the best thing anyone has ever done for me. Out of everyone he could've written about, I was very honored he chose me.”

I like to include a coach’s perspective in these stories for each fighter. I’ve been privileged to coach Jake at several tournaments. Without a doubt he’s the most coachable fighter on the E.F.T. In fact, you get the sense that he actually can’t wait to see what wisdom we have to help him finish off his opponent. That being said, my strongest memory involving Jake does not arise from a time I coached him, but from a tournament where I didn’t coach him. We return one final time to Detroit and the 2008 Jr. Olympics.

Jake was fighting his first Nationals in the green belt division. As you read earlier he was in a division way above his true rank. Those of us who watched him fight years ago remember the slow, plodding flat footed fighter he was. As opposed to the quick angular fighter he is today. Guro was in the chair for this match. Coach Kaihewalu (dad) was in the stands with one foot in a walking cast. Mom had to remain in California to take care of family business and watch over Cassi. Jake won a very competitive first fight. He barely lost the final giving him a silver medal. I remember looking for Coach K at that moment only to see him standing on his one good foot in the aisle welling up with pride and perhaps a tear or two. At that instant, as a father, son, coach and man I was overwhelmed by the moment. However, I was fortunate enough to capture a picture of this incredible event. It’s worth searching http://www.teamintense.ning.com/ for the picture. Coach called his wife shortly thereafter to give her the good news, another amazing moment that as a husband and parent truly touched my heart. However, I chose not to photograph this one as it was theirs alone to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed being ‘In the clinch’ with Jake. Please check back in a few days when we get ‘In the Clinch’ with Marisa Espinoza.

For the Team,
Coach Woodward