Tino Tuiolosega

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.

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. After moving to Oahu, Hawaii, he attended the University of Hawaii. Tuiolosega practiced his martial art skills as a street fighter around the docks and bars of Hawaii. 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. 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.

In the 1980s, he moved to Santa Cruz, California and continued to instruct select students in Limalama.

Personal life Tuiolosega was married to Claire Punani Nelson Tuiolosega with whom he had ten children. He married a second time, to Adele Tuiolosega Radicchi, with whom he had one child. He suffered a stroke in 1994 but recovered. Tuiolosega died in Santa Cruz on 22 March 2011.