The martial arts world truly lost one of its “Giants” with the passing of Grandmaster “Tino” Tu’umamao Tuiolosega on March 22, 2011.

Highly regarded as a “Grandmaster to the Grandmasters,” Tu’umamao “Tino” Tuiolosega, Grandmaster and Founder of the Polynesian Arts of Self-Defense, LIMALAMA, died at the age of 79 in Santa Cruz, California.

Born in American Samoa, on July 2, 1931, to his Royal Highness Tu’umamao Tuiolosega from the Island of Olosega, and Sapasopoaluga Feagaimaleata Poumele Tuiolosega, Grandmaster “Tino” Tu’umamao Tuiolosega arrived in Santa Cruz in 1982.

A true genius of martial arts movement, the legacy of Mr. Tino, affectionately known to many as “Pop,” will live on through his worldwide family of martial arts students.

A devoted family man, Mr. Tino was an accomplished guitarist and enjoyed reading and writing. His favorite read was The Bible, which he studied daily. His religious beliefs and his family were at the core of his life.

To call Mr. Tino Tuiolosega a ”genius” of martial arts movement would not do justice to his vast knowledge and experience of proper application and technique, for without proper application, the practitioner would have limited benefit. His expertise in taking any art and recreating it in a much more efficient and effective manner is legendary.

Spanning a lifetime of learning, developing, creating, and teaching, his martial arts career began at a very young age. As a young adult, he was involved in Western Boxing and won many titles as a Golden Gloves boxer. His championship status is renowned in the martial arts world and with those who trained and studied under his tutelage.
His strong beliefs and his expertise drove him to make the “underdog” a phenomenal fighter. He could turn anybody into a champion. However, he was demanding of his martial arts students. Knowing that nobody ever achieves “perfection,” it was always used as a goal in utilizing his martial art as a tool to self-improvement.

Anyone who trained under the direct tutelage of this man knows that the workouts were intense, demanding, and challenging. They could have been no other way.

If he chose to take you under his wing, he would give you his best to help you find your inner strength, and ultimately, set you free.

Mr. Tino’s legacy will always be his martial arts and his family. His wish was for his students to continue on with his martial art and pass it on so that others would also benefit from this incredible gift.

To know both sides of this man was an honor. To train under his tutelage, and learn from him the finer points to human movement was an opportunity of a lifetime. Not many were able to do this. The lucky ones who did, know they were truly lucky. He touched many lives with his training and his system LIMALAMA.

Mr. Tino’s family is vast and spans 4 generations. They will all miss him dearly as will his martial arts family, which spans the entire globe. May he rest in eternal peace.

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Grandmaster Tino Tu’umamao Tuiolosega is survived by his entire family who reside all over the world. Currently his wife, Adele Tuiolosega, and sons Joseph Tuiolosega and Rudolph Tuiolosega reside in Santa Cruz, CA.

Clara E Minor studied under the direct tutelage of Grandmaster Tino Tu’umamao Tuiolosega for 12 years, spanning over 26,000 hours of training. Grandmaster Tuiolosega promoted her to Full Professorship. She is currently teaching men, women, and children at MINORSAN Self-Defense & Fitness in Santa Cruz, CA. She can be reached at 831.458.0900.