Maluafiti-Buendia falls for judo
By ROBERT COLLIAS, Staff Writer WAILUKU – Treaven Maluafiti-Buendia used to think judo was a sport that didn’t quite fit his image. Now, after two state medals in just two years of practicing the centuries-old sport, he can’t get enough of it.
The 18-year-old soon-to-be Maui High School graduate wishes he had discovered the sport earlier.
“It hasn’t even been two years, only like four months really, because the season is so short,’’ Maluafiti-Buendia said. “I love it. I bleed and sweat this sport. There are so many different styles, and so much technique. It is hard to explain. It is like a relaxed sport, but really competitive at the same time.’’
Maluafiti-Buendia went into the state tournament last week at the Stan Sheriff Center as the No. 1 seed at 220 pounds, based mainly on his fifth-place finish from last year. He lost his first match, but came back with five straight wins to get the third-place medal this season.
All of those wins came via an ippon, the judo equivalent to a pin in wrestling.
Wrestling is a sport where he has also been competing at the high school level for two years and he was a Maui Interscholastic League champion this season. He also played football for the Sabers until he dislocated his right shoulder in a first-round game against Kamehameha Maui midway through the 2005 season.
Judo, however, is the sport that has changed his life. A student who struggled with grades and attitude through his sophomore year, Maluafiti-Buendia is now a B student who will attend Maui Community College in the fall. He wants to continue his judo career in college and sees San Jose State as a possible destination after two years at MCC.
“I regret not going out for judo my freshman year, but I thought it was kind of a sissy sport,’’ Maluafiti-Buendia said. “My friends, Fernand (Baldonado) and J.J. (Dollopac) got me into it.’’
Baldonado and Dollopac were among five Saber boys who came home with state medals, each finishing sixth at 145 and 161, respectively.
Losing his first match at state only made Maluafiti-Buendia more determined.
“I really wanted to win that state championship this year, so when I lost I was really salty,’’ he said. “I just killed the next guy and went out to get ready for my next match.’’
That kind of determination drove Maluafiti-Buendia all season, coach Glenn Agunat said.
“This year he was a little more focused,’’ Agunat said. “His technique actually improved a whole lot and he added more technique to his repertoire. His fighting experience is really limited and there weren’t many opponents on Maui for him this season. He stepped up his technique and added a lot more to his mental preparation. He was a lot more focused.’’
Maluafiti-Buendia said the sport where he fights on the mat has helped him stop fighting off of it.
“This sport keeps you humble,’’ he said. “When people want to fight you on the street, you just leave them alone. We are fighting every day practicing, so why do you want to fight on the street? It doesn’t make sense. I used to get in fights and not go to class, all the bad things. Judo and wrestling, because I wanted to compete, so I needed the grades, so I had to go to class. It was has really helped me straighten out my life. Plus my friends always tell me to leave it on the mat, so I don’t do it on the street anymore.
“I am a different person now, more relaxed, more quiet. When guys look at me now, I don’t care anymore.’’
While he will leave Maui High as a student in a couple of weeks, he vows to stay with the sport through the Maui Hongwanji Judo Club and he will be back with the Sabers as an assistant coach next year.
His bronze medal is the highest place ever achieved by a Saber judoka. His attitude about that shows how much the sport has helped him grow.
“That makes me feel good, but I didn’t care how I did,’’ he said. “I wanted everybody else to place and do well. I am going to miss all of this so much. I am going to cry when I graduate. This is my family right here. I am going to come back next year to help out the next generation.’’
Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias@mauinews.com Fonte: http://www.mauinews.com/
The 18-year-old soon-to-be Maui High School graduate wishes he had discovered the sport earlier.
“It hasn’t even been two years, only like four months really, because the season is so short,’’ Maluafiti-Buendia said. “I love it. I bleed and sweat this sport. There are so many different styles, and so much technique. It is hard to explain. It is like a relaxed sport, but really competitive at the same time.’’
Maluafiti-Buendia went into the state tournament last week at the Stan Sheriff Center as the No. 1 seed at 220 pounds, based mainly on his fifth-place finish from last year. He lost his first match, but came back with five straight wins to get the third-place medal this season.
All of those wins came via an ippon, the judo equivalent to a pin in wrestling.
Wrestling is a sport where he has also been competing at the high school level for two years and he was a Maui Interscholastic League champion this season. He also played football for the Sabers until he dislocated his right shoulder in a first-round game against Kamehameha Maui midway through the 2005 season.
Judo, however, is the sport that has changed his life. A student who struggled with grades and attitude through his sophomore year, Maluafiti-Buendia is now a B student who will attend Maui Community College in the fall. He wants to continue his judo career in college and sees San Jose State as a possible destination after two years at MCC.
“I regret not going out for judo my freshman year, but I thought it was kind of a sissy sport,’’ Maluafiti-Buendia said. “My friends, Fernand (Baldonado) and J.J. (Dollopac) got me into it.’’
Baldonado and Dollopac were among five Saber boys who came home with state medals, each finishing sixth at 145 and 161, respectively.
Losing his first match at state only made Maluafiti-Buendia more determined.
“I really wanted to win that state championship this year, so when I lost I was really salty,’’ he said. “I just killed the next guy and went out to get ready for my next match.’’
That kind of determination drove Maluafiti-Buendia all season, coach Glenn Agunat said.
“This year he was a little more focused,’’ Agunat said. “His technique actually improved a whole lot and he added more technique to his repertoire. His fighting experience is really limited and there weren’t many opponents on Maui for him this season. He stepped up his technique and added a lot more to his mental preparation. He was a lot more focused.’’
Maluafiti-Buendia said the sport where he fights on the mat has helped him stop fighting off of it.
“This sport keeps you humble,’’ he said. “When people want to fight you on the street, you just leave them alone. We are fighting every day practicing, so why do you want to fight on the street? It doesn’t make sense. I used to get in fights and not go to class, all the bad things. Judo and wrestling, because I wanted to compete, so I needed the grades, so I had to go to class. It was has really helped me straighten out my life. Plus my friends always tell me to leave it on the mat, so I don’t do it on the street anymore.
“I am a different person now, more relaxed, more quiet. When guys look at me now, I don’t care anymore.’’
While he will leave Maui High as a student in a couple of weeks, he vows to stay with the sport through the Maui Hongwanji Judo Club and he will be back with the Sabers as an assistant coach next year.
His bronze medal is the highest place ever achieved by a Saber judoka. His attitude about that shows how much the sport has helped him grow.
“That makes me feel good, but I didn’t care how I did,’’ he said. “I wanted everybody else to place and do well. I am going to miss all of this so much. I am going to cry when I graduate. This is my family right here. I am going to come back next year to help out the next generation.’’
Robert Collias can be reached at rcollias@mauinews.com Fonte: http://www.mauinews.com/
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