lima lama

CUMMATA Lima Lama (Hand of Wisdom)
Sensei J.R. Rocha teaches CUMMATA Lima Lama (Close Quarter Combat) Training Program. Lima Lama is a type of hand-to-hand fighting that emphasizes moves that break and dislocate bones (in Hawaiian "hakihaki") along with hand catches and traps (paa lima), throws (hikua), and attacks on nerve centers (aalolo). It also includes wrestling (hakoko), boxing (ku'i ku'i), kicking (peku), leg sweeps (waho/loko hio), and dirty fighting (mokomoko) techniques, along with the use of weapons.

Sensei Rocha received his 4th degree Black Belt in Los Angeles CA, from Professor Gilbert Tonali Garcia. Professor Garcia was one of the first students in the U.S. to receive a 7th degree black belt under the founder of Lima Lama, Grand Master Tuumumao "Tino" Tuiolosega of the Royal Family of Samoa. His grandfather Tagaloa Tuiolosega was the last King of all the islands of Samoa before it was divided and American Samoa became part of the U.S. Territory. As with most early martial arts, the techniques were a secret (enforced by a strict "Kapu")  passed down usually within families or communities. Polynesian culture spanned many of the Pacific Islands, and Lima Lama has roots across Polynesia including both Samoa and Hawaii. It was banned by the missionaries in the mid 1800s and only recently has resurfaced.