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Living in Santa Cruz, Calif., Chris Smith initially met a friend’s suggestion more than a decade ago that he come to Hilo with a shrug of his well-trained shoulders.
But his “eh” eventually would turn to a “wow.”
He found a calling.
The Brazilian jiu jitsu professor’s friend was not only a student of Rudy Valentino, best known as BJ Penn’s trainer, but he also was persistent in talking up the evolution of martial arts on the Big Island.
“Once BJ came on to the scene, I said I’m going there,” Smith recalled.