Ryne Yoshimura

My name is Ryne Yoshimura and I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.  As a child I grew around sports playing basketball and baseball but I always loved martial arts. In highschool I decided to enlist in boxing and kickboxing at HMC Academy and shortly after I decided to try Jiu Jitsu.  Since then my life revolved around martial arts and combat sports.

Some of my major life influence came from my travel and study abroad where I got to experience life in Bahia, Brazil and Busan, South Korea. I was fortunate to find gyms in both South Korea and Brazil where they welcomed me with open arms. There I was able to practice and share the mats with a variety of different personalities, ideas, creed and beliefs which opened my mind. Being immersed in another country where I was able to share the same passion I had for Jiu Jitsu with others from another country allowed me to communicate through a  universal language in jiu jitsu. This drew me closer to the art of jiu jitsu and gave me valued perspective that I otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed too. Another major influence to my life comes from the coaches and teammates at Sapateiro Jiu Jitsu, Team Chinaman and the local jiu jitsu community. It is a privilege to be able to learn and practice the values, techniques and principles of those that have done before me. I love learning and aspire to get better everyday practicing values instilled from me from my instructors and role models.

I am  currently  a Jiu Jitsu brown belt at Sapateiro Jiu Jitsu and also train with Team Chinaman. I have competed in Muay Thai and I am 3-0 in Pankration fights as well. When I’m not competing or training in Jiu Jitsu I like to go to the beach, read and exercise.
 

What is your current state of mind? 
My current state of mind is open.

My Addictions are:
Food, Travel, Jiu Jitsu, Good Company

Biggest accomplishment in life:
My study abroad scholarship to Korea. and my teaching abroad fellowship in Brazil.

Words that most describe you:
Passionate, Intense, Empathetic, hard working.

If you could super power, what would that be :
Alchemy or teleportation.

What is it that you want to do when you grow up?
I want to be able to use my passions and connect it to my career.

Tell us one thing we don’t know about but we should:
I enjoy playing and watching  basketball, baseball, football and other outdoor sports.

If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be and why?
I would change the means by which we communicate with each other to show the similarities and how interconnected each country is with one another.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Eudaimonia, inner peace.

What is your greatest fear?
Not fulfilling my goals and ambitions.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Hachiko

Which living person do you most admire?
My parents, brother and coaches.

What do you like most about yourself?
My team.

What is the trait you most DISLIKE in yourself?
Being better about accepting, and addressing my criticisms and faults.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Kimonos

What is your greatest regret?
I try to act upon what I believe without looking back.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Being more discipline.

If you were to die and come back as another person or thing, what do you think it would be?
An Orchid

What is your most treasured possessions?
My mind, my heart and my passions.

Where would you like to live if you could live anywhere in the world?
Japan

What is your ideal occupation?
To help those that need it more than i do.

Who are your heroes in real life?
The Sapateiro and Chinaman team, The martial artists that practiced and have done jiu jitsu before me who influenced me.

What is your life motto?
Hic Et Nunc (here and now)

List 3 things you cannot live without?
laughter, relations, love.

What is your legacy?
Help a cause bigger than myself. To use my passion to inspire others to fulfill and follow their passion.

What’s the greatest piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life.

What do you consider your greatest personal failure?
Not being able to give back and be a better overall person to my community.

Many thanks to:
Kekoa Collective, All my coaches and team members of Sapateiro Jiu Jitsu, Team Chinaman.