He Left AOJ to Come Home | Ian Delizo

Ian Delizo’s jiu-jitsu journey started on the grass at Crane Park, where he and his friends would practice techniques they learned online before heading back to football practice. After high school, Ian moved from Hawaii to California to play college football at Santa Monica College. When football ended, he finally had the opportunity to begin formal jiu-jitsu training at Street Sports. Money was tight, and Ian eventually maxed out his credit card trying to pay for training. Instead of walking away, he began cleaning mats and helping with the kids class in exchange for his membership. Ian and his longtime training partner Evan Esaki later joined AOJ during its early years. Ian shares what those first competition classes were really like, how the Mendes brothers raised his level, and how he went from struggling to make the podium to competing in Japan and Europe. His journey eventually shifted away from chasing medals and toward coaching. That path led to Ian receiving his black belt from the Mendes brothers in 2017. But one of the biggest decisions of his life came when he chose to leave AOJ and return home to Hawaii. Ian wanted to be closer to his grandmother, help Evan build Esaki Jiu-Jitsu, and create a life on Kauai centered around family, coaching, surfing, fishing, and community. We also talk about why his black belt became his “degree,” the importance of cross-training, and how Hawaii’s academies can compete locally while still representing one team when they travel. If you enjoy hearing the stories behind Hawaii’s jiu-jitsu community, subscribe to the Small Man Podcast and share this episode with someone who would appreciate Ian’s journey. #IanDelizo #EsakiJiuJitsu #AOJ #BrazilianJiuJitsu #BJJ #KauaiJiuJitsu #HawaiiJiuJitsu #SmallManPodcast