Our Story
Big, Little, & Aged to Perfection is how the three LŌKAHI partners, Nolan Campbell, Ryan Yamada, and Matt Hansen, affectionately describe themselves. With nearly 50 years of martial arts training between them, the creation of LŌKAHI Jiu-Jitsu Collective is a story of three Average Joe’s, each with a diverse set of skills and experiences, but a shared passion for Jiu-Jitsu.
The Why for LŌKAHI came from a desire to change the way people are introduced and taught Jiu-Jitsu. In many schools and academies, newcomers are quickly thrown into dangerous situations or lost in classes with no systems or structure. And as a result, becoming proficient in Jiu-Jitsu can seem frustrating or even unattainable. As Black Belts, enthusiasts, and experienced instructors, the LŌKAHI partners dreamt of someday owning a Jiu-Jitsu training facility that would raise the bar in Omaha, Nebraska. Through fate, friendship, and countless cups of coffee, the trio united to form the Collective.
About LŌKAHI
We wanted to a name and identity that was uniquely our own.
LŌKAHI (low-kah-hee) means Unity or Agreement in Hawaiian. Central to their way of life, the theme of LŌKAHI was central to how Hawaiians treated each other, their surroundings, and themselves.
To symbolize this concept, the Polynesians picked the triune (tri-oon) or the three stacked triangles. A shape known for its strength and structure, the triune represents the values and activities we share as a part of the Collective.
Surrounding the triune is the lauhala weave, which represents our members or the “Jiu-Jitsu Collective”. Lauhala was the process of weaving the ‘lau’ (leaves) of the Hala tree. Similarly, Jiu-Jitsu brings together people from all walks of life, creating friendships and memories that go beyond the mat.
“According to the map, we’ve only gone 4 inches.”
-Harry Dunne, Dumb and Dumber and (unconfirmed) Jiu-Jitsu White Belt