David Krapes
Owner & Grandmaster
Biography:
Coach Kumu David Krapes started his martial arts journey in 1968. He mastered the Polynesian Martial Art of Kaheiwalu Lua and was honored and promoted to the rank of 10th degree by Hawaiian Grandmaster Olohe Kolomona Solomon Kaihewalu in February 2015. David competed in martial tournaments all over the country. After receiving his Black Belt in 1979, he started boxing at the Huntington Beach Boys & Girls Club, and the Westminster Boxing gym, which was sponsored by the Legendary World Welterweight Boxing Champion Carlos Palomino. He trained boxing with the South Pacific Bantam Weight Boxing Champ Coach Mac “Miyagi” Kurihara. Mac introduced David to Japan’s “Bantamweight World Kickboxing Champion, Yuki Horiuchi known as “The Little Piston”. Uyuki managed and trained David in Muay Thai and Kickboxing where he entered the ring and started his career in Orange County until 1985. In 1986, David moved to the San Fernando Valley and opened his first Martial Arts School in Encino, California. He taught Martial Arts to children and adults, and was mentored in the business of kickboxing by the late Great Kickboxing Coach Ruben Urquidez, Benny The Jet Urquidez’s older brother. David trained fighters in Kickboxing and Kaihewalu Karate in Encino for 6 years. In 1991, the WKA (World Kickboxing Association) CEO Howard Hansen honored David with the WKA Professional North American Light Heavyweight title in Kickboxing, and in that same year entered the (NBL’s) National Black League Tournament and became the Professional Champion in Adult Forms and Amateur Forms. David competed at the Southern California Karate Championships and won Overall Forms Grand Champion in Martial Arts. David received two Hall Of Fame Awards for Outstanding Life-Time Achievements, and is considered today as one of the prime “Trainer of Champions” in the field. In 1991, David moved his Kickboxing fight team to the famous North Hollywood Muay Thai Academy in North Hollywood, California. He was mentored by Legend Thai Fighter, Saekson Janjira, from 1991 to 2022. David has successfully produced Martial Arts Events in competitive tournaments for both children and adults, and is now involved in Professional Kickboxing/Muay Thai Fight events as a promoter/producer. His career has ventured him in the American Gladiators (AG) as a Show Referee and Head of Security in Orlando, Florida. His passion and devotion to many of his students has led David to mentor four generations of martial artists.