Antonio Bale Jr. | Family, Cancer, and Finding His Way Back to Jiu-Jitsu

Antonio Bale Jr. started jiu-jitsu because of his son. A few years later, he found himself facing a much bigger challenge outside the gym.

After undergoing emergency surgery for a tumor in 2022, Tony experienced complications that kept him away from training for an extended period. He talks about the uncertainty of recovery, the support he received from his teammates at Gracie Barra Kapolei, and how his perspective on jiu-jitsu changed.

Today, Tony continues to train, spend time on the mats with his children, and help raise money through Tap Cancer Out.

We talk about family, health, community, and learning to appreciate the opportunity to train.

Tap Cancer Out Donations:
https://wecan.tapcancerout.org/fundraiser/7365511

Rashguard Preorder:
https://www.hawaiisneakerheads.com/merch

Antonio's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/antoniobale_/

Steve Maxwell witnessed the beginning of American jiu-jitsu from the inside.

He opened one of the earliest Gracie Jiu-Jitsu schools on the East Coast, became Relson Gracie’s first black belt, invested in the original UFC and watched UFC 1 from ringside as Royce Gracie changed martial arts forever.

Steve shares stories from the early Gracie Academy, the challenge-match era, earning his black belt in Hawaii and surviving a 45-minute fight against a much larger NCAA wrestling champion.

Now approaching 74, Steve is still training and teaching. He also shares practical advice for older practitioners, including why we should tap early, avoid rolling to exhaustion and keep jiu-jitsu playful.

This is a firsthand look at where American jiu-jitsu began and what it takes to stay on the mat for life.

Kawika Yoneda grew up believing he was meant to become a fighter. When that path disappeared, he lost his sense of identity and struggled with depression. Jiu-jitsu gave him a new direction.

Kawika and his wife, Jamie, eventually sold nearly everything and moved from Hawaii to California with four suitcases. While Kawika trained full-time at the Art of Jiu Jitsu Academy under Rafael and Guilherme Mendes, Jamie worked long hours to help keep their dream alive.

They later returned to Hilo and took another leap of faith by opening Roma Jiu Jitsu Academy. In this conversation, Kawika shares the story behind Roma, the importance of Romans 5:1–5, receiving Rafael Mendes’ own black belt and building a program focused on faith, humility, character and the next generation.

This is more than Kawika’s jiu-jitsu journey. It is the story of what Kawika and Jamie built together.

“I did a lot of wrong things in my life, and this was right.”

Island Jiu Jitsu brown belt DeRoy Lupica shares how jiu-jitsu pulled him away from partying, gave him structure and helped him move through injuries, grief and major changes in his life.

After two serious knee injuries and the loss of his best friend, DeRoy entered his first IBJJF tournament with his family and newborn daughter supporting him. He won gold with a triangle and received his brown belt on the podium.

DeRoy also talks about competing after only three months of training, coaching at Island Jiu Jitsu, learning how to recover and turning the things that could have stopped him into fuel to keep going.

Follow DeRoy on Instagram: @ziggybiggunzdawigglah808

Jed Uson shares how talking himself out of college soccer became a lesson he now passes on to his students: take the chance and see what you can do.

A Hawaii teacher and brown belt who coaches the 5 a.m. jiu-jitsu classes at UFC Gym Mililani, Jed talks about fitting training around family life and overcoming his doubts about becoming a coach.

We also talk story about starting Campbell High School’s jiu-jitsu club, helping with NAGA and Triple Crown tournaments, and giving students opportunities beyond the classroom. Along the way, we discuss parents setting an example at competitions, respecting referees, and learning to recognize your own progress.

Connect with Jed on Instagram: @beforethesunrisebjj

Nathan “Nasty Nate” Feitosa shares his journey from Maui to Team Alpha Male and the physical price that came with chasing a professional MMA career.

Nathan talks openly about fighting on emotion, training through concussions and realizing that the jiu-jitsu he sometimes overlooked was actually his greatest strength. After walking away from MMA, he committed himself fully to the art, earning his black belt and becoming the no-gi instructor at Maui Jiu Jitsu Academy.

This conversation explores fighting, injuries, coaching, faith, fatherhood and how the mistakes Nathan made as a young competitor now help him guide the next generation.

Ricky Ridela’s martial arts journey began with his father and grew through judo, high school and college wrestling, and nearly 20 years of jiu-jitsu.

In this episode, Ricky talks about losing every wrestling match during his freshman year, competing against high-level athletes, receiving his black belt during COVID and recovering from ACL surgery. He also shares what it meant to train under Professor Rex from white belt to black belt and how that relationship grew into something much deeper than coaching.

Ricky’s wife, Alexis, is also an important part of his story. She introduced him to surfing, he introduced her to jiu-jitsu, and the mats became something they could share together.

Now coaching at Alliance, Ricky is discovering that helping his students grow can be even more rewarding than his own competition success. His story is a reminder that the hardest part is starting and that the right people can shape your entire journey.

Bobby Kahana is a purple belt at UFC Gym Honolulu, a 20-year Honolulu Police Department veteran and the founder of X79 Clean.

After contracting ringworm, Bobby began quietly cleaning the mats before jiu-jitsu class. What started as a personal effort to protect himself and his training partners eventually earned him the nickname “The Mat Sheriff” and developed into a specialized mat-cleaning business.

Bobby talks about the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, common mistakes academies make and the everyday habits that help keep training partners safe. He also shares what it takes to build X79 Clean while balancing police work, family, jiu-jitsu and his responsibilities at UFC Gym Honolulu.

This conversation is a reminder that protecting your training partners includes what happens after everyone leaves the mats.

Connect with X79 Clean:

Website: https://www.x79clean.com
Instagram: @x79clean
Phone: 808-838-2536