The Wahine of MMA

MMA is male-dominated, but women are stepping into the octagon, including these two local fighters

Rocky Pa‘aluhi is 5-2 in two years of fighting. Greg Honda photo

wrestling after her first year in college, and sat down with her dad David, an MMA pioneer in Hawaii, and he asked her if fighting was something she really wanted to do. From there, Pa’aluhi and her dad made a 10-year plan, and they started by breaking down the first year. “I just hit my two-year mark, and I’m ahead of where I expected to be,” Pa’aluhi says.

She fights out of Gracie Technics and Jesus Salud Boxing, and her overall record is 5-2. Being in a male-dominated sport doesn’t faze her at all. “I don’t feel like I have to prove anything because I’m not trying to be the best male fighter, I’m trying to be the best female fighter.”

She’s getting ready for a fight in January and is excited to get the details locked in.

Her longing to learn and grow into the best possible fighter she can possibly be is evident in her drive. “Whether people agree with what I do or not, I’m still going to fight. I’m fighting at a time when the sport is trying to establish itself, and I’m happy to be a part of this,” Pa’aluhi says.

She trains five to six days a week, and she normally trains two different disciplines a day (between boxing, jiu jitsu and strength and conditioning). Her sparring sessions are spread out during the week. “You can’t be a part-time fighter if this is something you want to make a career out of,” says Pa’aluhi.

Before each match, Pa’aluhi goes through her prefight rituals. She says she always needs to have a good cry and pray before she fights. Crying gets whatever nerves she has out of her system. “I give God thanks for a safe and healthy camp, and I pray for my opponent and I pray for safety and just the ability to do my best while I’m out there.”

While Pa’aluhi doesn’t have any battle scars, she has a fragile face. “After every fight it looks like I was beat with a bat, win or lose. I bruise fairly easy,” she says. During the fight, all her focus goes to her execution. She doesn’t think about anything other than countering and landing punches and just lets everything flow.

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