What I was into, or got into every day, was street fights. The town in Guam where I grew up, that was how you got recognized, and essentially, it was an inevitable part of growing up. Everyone knew their own way of fighting. Starting jiu-jitsu was just a natural extension of that.
I was also obsessed with Michael Jordan in his prime. Like everyone else, I was a basketball kid. Being drawn to the Ferrari Testarossa, loving Oakley, wearing white socks, all of it was Jordan’s influence. It is true that what you see as a kid shapes your style (laughs).I also was crazy about hip hop, but there was no internet back then, and the culture reached Guam a few months after it did on the mainland U.S., so I was always hungry for information. In a way, that turned out to be a good thing. The feeling of “I want to know more!” makes everyday life richer, so I feel like I was raised by that curiosity.

They were the type to show love through actions, not words. If I had to put it simply, my parents are not good with words; they never talked much. Maybe it’s a generational thing. The other day, they FaceTimed me on my birthday and sang “Happy Birthday,” and it felt very much like them to show they care in a way other than saying “I love you.” They were strict about parenting, and they pushed me to learn actively by trying a lot of new things. But I was a pretty rough kid, I hardly listened, and I got spanked a lot (laughs).

I was never told this by my parents, but I believe putting feelings into words really matters, so I make a point of saying it to them. That clicked when my kids started going to school. Mornings felt rushed with getting ready and watching the clock, and they seemed to start the day stressed, so I started calling our drop-off time “day care.” I drive them to school, and before they get out, we always do a handshake and say “I love you” to each other, and then head in our own directions. That little routine helps us get ready for the day, and I think it lets them move through it feeling blessed.

I try not to push my values as a parent too much, or repeat the same thing like a broken record, saying “you should do this” or “you should wear that.” There is a moment that shaped this. When my older son was four, I tried to get him into jiu-jitsu out of my own ego, but he pushed back, saying, “Don’t try to make me do what you want!” So, I backed off. Two years later, he wanted to start again on his own, and he did. That taught me that kids are always watching; they absorb things before you realize it, and they eventually do them themselves. You don't have to force it.
I can also see how my parents’ lives are etched into me without my noticing. So I try not to overdo the “I am the parent” thing, and I stay my true self in front of my kids.

With the internet, kids today pick up information, sometimes much faster than their parents can teach. They know more than I did when I was little. That makes it hard. So I don’t try to preach, but I share my life stories so they can remember them when they need to and draw their own lessons. It is like planting seeds. After that, I just watch over them. In the end, I think the biggest joy for kids is knowing their parents are really paying attention. If they can feel that we are proud of them, that is enough. Looking back at my own childhood, I feel like it was the same.

Learning always happens alongside teaching. I often tell my kids, “don’t worry,” “just enjoy your life,” and as I say it, I realize those words are exactly what I need for myself. I work hard to give my kids a good future, but adults quickly forget to enjoy life in the rush and grind of work. When that happens, the simple advice I give them reminds me to slow down

It has changed completely, 180 degrees. Before, I worked to prove myself and be recognized, but now I work for the family. Wanting to relax and spend real time with them pushes me to be efficient at work. The kids are growing every day, learning new things, always leveling up. Once they hit those teenage years, they will start to pull away from us. I do not want to miss any of those moments.

That’s a hard one. I don’t think we will ever fully figure it out in this life (laughs). But what I do know is that the things you learn in school are only guidelines and directions, and not real life. So I don’t think parents should feel satisfied just because their kids are getting a school education. One of our roles is to create an environment where they can try things, have all kinds of experiences, and learn, so they are ready for life's ups and downs.
That said, I still want them to be kids, so I do not want to be harsh or put them under pressure. Failure comes with the territory, so I am always telling them, “enjoy the process.”

More than being a father, I want to be their best friend. It is important to correct them when they do something wrong, but I do not want to just lecture; I want to relate person to person. When my kids want to talk, I want them to feel that they can, without hesitation. That is why I always tell them, “I am always there, I have your back.” Even without talking, just sharing the same space can say that. That’s why I often have them come with me to my office while I am working, just to stay and hang out.

I want to be someone who can say “I love you” not just to my family, but to my friends too, and “sorry” as well. Everything changes so fast, you blink and no one knows what tomorrow will bring. So, don’t wait to say sorry, don’t wait to say I love you. It is simple, but surprisingly hard. In Japan, I feel it's common for people to apologize, say sorry. But in the U.S., not so much. If you skip those words, at times, it can turn into resentment.

Hmm, I guess it’s living as stress-free as I can while working hard and staying creative. I grew up watching my dad work nonstop and come home exhausted, so I’ve valued balance where I can stay busy and still enjoy life. I try to remember “Tomorrow is tomorrow,” and not get more down than I need to when things don’t go well. At the very least, if I’m trying something and moving a little farther than yesterday, I figure I’m growing.

What I want to leave to the next generation is not myself, but the stories I have shared with my family and friends. When I am gone and people think of me, I would love it if they remembered how I helped others and the moments when we made something together. Especially with what I have built for the brand, I hope people keep adding their own perspectives and voices so it evolves, and that it is passed along to the next generation, steadily and in new forms.