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Rudy Valentino started training in the martial arts at the age of five. His stepfather,
Sodie Cabalis, and his uncles trained him in the art of boxing and kajukenbo, a mixed
martial art combining Korean karate, judo, jiujitsu, kenpo and kung fu.
At 15, Rudy’s formal martial arts training started with Lohe Ka’aloa in Hawaiian
Self-Defense on the Big Island of Hawai`i. After moving to Honolulu, O’ahu, Rudy
trained with Dana Goodson, full-contact karate heavyweight champion and Sitsaya
Jaiut, bantam weight Muay Thai champion. Rudy won his first professional fight at the 50th
State Martial Arts Spectacular championship in the middleweight division.
Rudy also continued his training with Hawaiian Self-Defense grandmaster Brother
Abe Kamahoahoa who was proficient in Kamahoahoa Lua, Danzanryu, Karaho
Kenpo and Kajukenbo. Learning these fighting styles taught him a whole spectrum
of MMA. When Rudy turned 19, he was awarded his first black belt from Brother Abe
Kamahoahoa and Professor Chow of Karaho Kenpo. He also attained a first degree
black belt in Dana Goodson’s Kenpo Muay Thai Academy at the age of 21. In 1998, Master Dana Goodson awarded Rudy to Master Instructor.
Today, Rudy Valentino is best known as BJ Penn’s head MMA trainer and has trained
BJ to win THREE world titles. BJ’s first MMA title was Rumble On The Rock
lightweight world championship beating Takanori Gomi in 2003. His second win
came in 2004 when BJ beat Matt Hughes for the UFC welterweight title.
BJ beat Joe Stevenson for the interim UFC Lightweight Championship title in 2008. And in May 2008 BJ became the UFC’s Undisputed Lightweight Champion beating Sean Sherk. Most recently Rudy brought Kendal Grove back from a two fight loosing streak to beat Evan Tanner
With many dedicated years of training, competing and coaching Rudy Valentino is one of the
most respected mixed martial arts trainers in the world.