COME TO KNOW OUR TEAM, PHILOSOPHY, AND PRACTICE WITH US!
Located in Honolulu, Hawaii on the beautiful island of Oahu, Sapateiro Jiu-Jitsu Academy offers a safe, fun, clean, and welcoming environment to learn the martial art and sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (bjj) for people of all ages and skill levels. We offer group classes, private lessons, and semi private classes to kids, women, and men in our program.
We proudly serve the communities of Nuuanu, Kalihi, Liliha, Salt Lake, Downtown Honolulu, Makiki, Kakaako, Nimitz, and the surrounding areas.
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MEET OUR TEAM
EDMUND LI
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Luis Franca > Oswaldo Fadda > Sebastião Ricardo > Wendel Alexander > Leandro Nyza > Edmund Li
Edmund has been training in martial arts for 20 years. He joined the premiere MMA gym, HMC Academy and started competing in kickboxing, submission grappling, and MMA competition. He formally started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when Leandro Nyza took over the grappling program. He quickly took a liking to the competitive side of the art, and immediately started competing in as many tournaments as he could. Through his time achieving his white belt through black belt under Leandro Nyza, he has traveled to train at some of the best schools throughout the country to further his knowledge in the art. He has experience competing at every level of the sport as well as coaching many students to achieve numerous titles. In addition, Edmund also possesses a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Kinesiology, and an Associates in Exercise & Sports Science which helps maximize his knowledge of sports specific training and periodization for athletes. In addition to his competitive aspirations, Edmund started to help his instructors with many of the teaching duties during the year 2012. Since that time, he has developed and coached students of all ages from the local competitions up to the highest levels of the sport. He has produced a number local and national champions, in addition to those at the Masters World Championship level.
Career Highlights (Black Belt)
IBJJF American Nationals (adults) silver medalist
multiple time F2W Superfight Winner
Hawaii Triple Crown Champion
Career Highlights (Colored Belts)
No-Gi World Championships Bronze medalist
No-Gi Pan Championship Silver medalist
AZ Southwest Classic Gold medalist
US Open Silver Medalist
Multiple Time VK Invitational Champion
Multiple Time Hawaii Triple Crown + NAGA Champion
Career Highlights (other)
OIA Wrestling Easterns Championships (4th Place)
K.I. Amatuer Kickboxing champion
Shooto veteran (C-class)
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3rd Degree Black Belt, Founder
Kyle has been training and competing for over 20 years and has experience in mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Judo. He received up to the rank of purple belt with Renato “Charuto” Verissimo while focused on MMA. Upon his retirement from fighting professionally, he decided to focus on the art with the gi, where he achieved the black belt under Leandro Nyza. Some of his accomplishments include, but not limited to:
-2012 IBJJF World No Gi-Silver medalist
-2013 Asia Open-Silver medalist
-2014 World No-Gi-Silver medalist
-Shooto veteran (A-Class)
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Black Belt
Having trained in boxing and wrestling for many years, Daniel has also achieved black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Daniel has trained with many of the best in the world. He received his blue belt from Carlos “Caique” Elias, then his purple belt under Mocir Boca Oliveria. After returning home to Hawaii for a few years, he continued his training and eventually earned his brown and black belts under Leandro Nyza. His experience in competition spans from boxing, wrestling, judo, and Brazilia Jiu-jitsu. He is an avid student of the game and is always up to date with current trends and developments in the sport along with athletic development and training.
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3rd Degree Black Belt
Seth is one of the premiere submission grappling/no-gi instructors in the state. He has been training and coaching for over 20 years and has been in the corner for countless amateur and professional competitors in all aspects of combat sports. He achieved the rank of black belt under Renato “Charuto” Verissimo. His focus on the past years has been the practice of the art without the kimono, and developed strategies and techniques to specialize without the advantages offered by the gi.
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Brown Belt
Rob started training in 2012 under the tutelage of Leandro Nyza. He had a sharp eye for detail, technique, and perfection. Competition quickly piqued his interest and he started competed locally. In 2015, he entered the IBJJF Masters World Championship and in an impressive feat defeated 5 opponents in one day to attain the title of Master 2 Blue belt World Champion. His desire for knowledge has not diminished and he can be found on the mat enthusiastically honing his skills to further improve.
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Black Belt
Ryne has been training in martial arts for more than half his lifetime. Starting mixed martial arts under the tutelage of David Yeung, he had a strong interest and was talented on the mat and soon took his focus into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has achieved all his belt rankings under Kyle Takao and Edmund Li. In addition, Ryne has trained with many of the biggest names in the sport and has spent time training internationally in countries such as Korea, Brazil, Japan, and Australia. He has much experience competing at both the local and national levels. His career highlights include:
-Hawaii All Stars Invitational Superfight Winner
-F2W Superfight Winner
-Hawaii Triple Crown Brown Belt Open Class champion
-Multiple time Hawaii Triple Crown
-Multiple time NAGA champion
-Multiple time IBJJF Worlds & Pan competitor
-Triple Threat Superfight winner
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6th Degree Black Belt
Although not a day to day instructor at the gym, many of the instructors and senior students have spent extensive time training under his guidance and can trace their lineage back to him. With his open minded foresight, many of the students carry his training philosophies and technical prowess in their personal styles. These days, Nyza runs his own successful academy in Kailua called Masters Martial Arts.
Accomplishments:
Rio De Janeiro State Champion (1999)
Mundials Silver Medalist (1997 brown)
Pan American Silver Medalist (1995 brown)
Brazilian National Champion (1993)
former professional MMA fighter (WEC Veteran)
