Marvin Latchumanan’s prompting to learn how to defend himself has led to him discovering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art, and the lifestyle it offers. His interest in martial arts began as a desire to learn self-defense and later turned a way of life.
“My favorite thing about martial arts is that there is a lot of failures and a lot of correction. You have a lot of time open to yourself to really understand yourself and accept new things,” said Latchumanan, a junior from Malaysia studying communications.
He also added he has learned a lot more than what he initially thought about martial arts, which was just learning how to defend himself.
Latchumanan is currently working on mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Casa de Fera, which is run by the bishop of the 16th ward, Nihi Napoleon, in the Laie YSA 2nd Stake. Latchumanan eventually wants to become a personal trainer and travel while doing so.
He is currently taking the personal training certification class at BYUH, and he feels martial arts is a good supplement and addition to learning how to become a personal trainer.
Delphia Lloyd, a sophomore from Idaho studying hospitality and tourism management, is a friend of Latchumanan. Lloyd said, “Marvin is a very quiet and private guy so I often don’t get the chance to learn or see much about him, but his passion for martial arts is something you’ll catch onto first about him if you pay attention.
“It kind of surprised me at first because he is such a gentle person.”
Inspiration to learn
Growing up in Malaysia, Latchumanan had witnessed a lot of crime and robberies near his home. “I remember as a young child, I was walking with my mom and a snatch-thief tried to steal her purse.
“Luckily, my mom wasn’t robbed but I remember seeing other people having their belongings stolen from them quite often. People would just get their bags or purses stolen in the streets, or houses would get broken into.”
Three years ago, in Feb. 2016, Latchumanan, had just returned home from his two-year mission for the Church, where he was serving in the Philippines. “When I came home from my mission, I just felt this strong need and inspiration to learn how to defend myself.
“I knew I needed to learn how to protect myself so I decided to follow the inspiration and learn martial arts.”
Latchumanan began searching for gyms that would allow him to learn and practice what he wanted. After looking near his home in Malaysia, he said he was ready to give up his search for a martial arts gym after traveling long distances to several gyms.
Eventually, Latchumanan found a martial arts gym which was in his budget and close to his home. He began with traditional Thai kickboxing and eventually made the transformation to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is what he is still practicing and trying to master.
Latchumanan said he genuinely enjoys learning martial arts, and this sport is more than just a sport to him. He is constantly finding new skills and disciplines of martial arts to learn and develop.
Latchumanan’s younger sister, Vanessa Latchumanan, a freshman from Malaysia studying social work, said, “I think my brother is an inspiration towards martial arts. Just by his example towards it teaches me strength comes within ourselves and our passion drives us to come forward.”
Later when he began attending school at BYU–Hawaii, he found a gym in Laie. Now he currently trains at Casa De Fera near Hukilau beach, two times a week for an hour and a half each training session.
How martial arts has been different from other sports
Latchumanan summarized martial arts as a sport which teaches individuals how to put their confidence in the right place. He said, “Martial arts teaches important life principles for the participants. It is a way of life and encourages humbleness and meekness.
“This discipline teaches those who participate how to shift negative feelings into positive energy. No matter how many times you fail, you keep on going.”
Latchumanan recounted an experience he had with soccer he remembers vividly. He shared, “My progression in soccer was [limited] because I lacked so much self-confidence. I now feel that I have developed more self-confidence because of martial arts, which has helped my progression in this sport.”
Latchumanan grew up playing soccer in Malaysia. He said he remembers often lacking self-confidence in soccer because he was not as close to some of the coaches as some of the other players would be, so he felt at a disadvantage.
He said he remembered trying out for a team and the coach gave both, him and the other boy a challenge to kick a rugby ball a certain distance. “I was not familiar with rugby and this other boy was. I was trying out for a soccer team so rugby shouldn’t have mattered, but because this boy was able to meet the goal and I wasn’t, he made the team.”
Martial arts, for Latchumanan, acts as a remedy to stress as well. He said it helps him balance every day stresses out of his mind and helps him think clearly. Similar to the gospel, which is an escape from the world for him, and martial arts is also another form of an escape.
Stetson Slade Jones, a junior from Utah studying business finance, does martial arts with Latchumanan. Jones said, “Marvin is a true student of the arts, while we have been trying to set up the self-defense club started over the past two years, every time we would meet, he always was the first one to help out with anything and everything the club needed.”
Jones added, “Marvin has a huge desire to help others learn and to always learn ways that he can improve himself in this sport.”
Latchumanan said, “I’ve spent my last two years left with the team because they value loyalty like it is a treasure. I want to owe my progression in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to that gym.”
Writer: Mackenzie Beaver