Jayson Vemoa

Originally a Muay Thai exponent from Phillip Lam Lee Gar in Auckland, NZ, Vemoa fought under NZ trainer Lollo Heimuli from 1990.[4] Early in his career Vemoa trained at Balmoral Lee Gar gym alongside Ray Sefo, Jason Suttie, Rony Sefo, John Conway (boxer), and Doug Viney. Well known throughout Oceania in the 1990s he obtained professional New Zealand, South Pacific, Commonwealth, Intercontinental and World Titles.[5]

Memorable fights of his professional career consist of Muay Thai legend Nokweed Devy (WMTA World Champion) from Thailand, Scott Bannon (WKA World Champion) from Australia, Winston Walker (ISKA World Champion) from the United Kingdom and Australian Champions Tony Hill (AUS), Brian Murphy (AUS), Steve Rosten (AUS) and Aaron Kirby (AUS).
Vemoa remains a LEE GAR family member to present day.

Retiring from professional fighting in 1999 Vemoa began his coaching career in 2002 after being appointed by Ray Sefo as the Head Instructor for the Ray Sefo Fight Academy in Waitakere Auckland. At that time helping produce notable champions Rony Sefo, Jordan Tai,[6] Paula Mataele and help Ray Sefo to 4 consecutive K-1 WGP Final 8 tournaments, K-1 World Grand Prix 2002, K-1 World Grand Prix 2003, K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 and K-1 World Grand Prix 2005.

During 2004 Vemoa was recruited by Jonah Lomu to help him in his physical rehabilitation before, during and after his Kidney donor replacement. Whilst at the Ray Sefo Academy, Vemoa also helped the Manu Samoa World Rugby Cup 2004 Team in crossing training in preparation for their upcoming World Cup Qualifying Games that year.

Vemoa has continued to maintain his connection with Team Sefo from Japan, throughout the following years helping train Doug Viney for K-1 and Jordan Tai for K-1 Max WGP competition in Japan. He prepared Ray Sefo for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 and helped corner Ray Sefo for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 Final and K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Seoul Final 16.

2011 to 2013 Ray Sefo entered the Japan Pro Wrestling ranks fighting in Antonio Inoki's new promotions named Inoki Genome Federation. Sefo enlisted Vemoa's help for his pro wrestling support team.[7]

Returning from retirement to professional competition, Vemoa faced several World Champions. [8]

In 2002 he entered K-1 and lost as a challenger for the ISKA World Title against Gurkan Ozkan (ISKA World Champion),[9] won against Aaron Boyes (WKBF World Champion) at the K-1 Oceania MAX 2004 event in Auckland, NZ and lost to Nathan Corbett (WMC World Champion) Boonch Cup Muay Thai Event, Queensland Australia, 2004. Vemoa retired for a second time from professional competition in 2005.

In 2005 Vemoa was recruited and contracted by Kancho Matsui to help prepare his Kyokushin fighters to compete successfully in the K-1. He was relocated to Japan to train Glaube Feitosa[10] and helped Glaube in the same year to win the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Las Vegas. In December 2005 Feitosa placed 2nd in the K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 Tokyo Dome. Vemoa continued to help Feitosa to qualify and compete in consecutive K-1 WGP Final 8 tournaments K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 and K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final.[11]
In 2008 Vemoa helped Ewerton Teixeira in his 1st year of K-1 to win the Japan K-1 WGP Tournament Championship Title Belt defeating Keijiro Maeda in the final at the K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka and continuing to help Ewerton gain wins over K-1 legends Musashi and Jerome Lebanner on his way to qualify for 3 consecutive years in K-1 World GP 2008 Final, K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final and K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final.
As the Head Kickboxing Instructor of the Ichigeki Academy[12]
Vemoa took general public kickboxing classes and has also trained other Kyokushin Champions for K-1, i.e. Aleksandr Pitchkounov gaining 2nd place in K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Hawaii, K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei and 3rd place K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Las Vegas. Takumi Sato gaining 3rd place in K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka and K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Seoul,[13] Jan Soukup (Czech Rep.) and Kou Tasei (Japan). [14]

Team Ichigeki from 2005 until 2010 consisted of 3 trainers Mauricio "Baboo" Da Silva (Brazil), Fai Falamoe (NZ) and Vemoa (NZ).[15]

In 2011 Vemoa helped train Jan Soukup in Tokyo for RISE 85: RISE Heavyweight Tournament 2011 in which Jan defeated favorite and number one seed Fabiano Aoki in the Quarter Finals. Jan eventually gained 3rd place in the 8 man tournament.

Vemoa finished his contract with Ichigeki Academy mid-2013.

Vemoa started Kyokushin Karate (IKO1 Matsui) in 2006 studying under Shihan Ryu Narushima (Japan) at the former Ichigeki Academy Dojo in Tokyo.

Vemoa was inspired to take Kyokushin Karate after being introduced to it by Glaube Feitosa while he was training Glaube for K-1 by request of Kancho Matsui.

Vemoa took part as opponent no.54 in the 100-man kumite for Arthur Hovhannisyan (karateka) held on 29 March 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.

In September 2010 Vemoa successfully passed his 1st Dan Black Belt (Shodan) from HONBU becoming Shihan Narushima's 1st original student from the Ichigeki Academy, Ebisu Dojo to gain Black Belt status.

In April 2011 Vemoa became an assistant Kyokushin instructor at Ichigeki Academy Ebisu Dojo under the supervision of Shihan Narushima.

From 2010 to 2013 Vemoa studied from Honbu Dojo in Ikebukuro, Tokyo in specialized training for Kyokushin Black Belts.

• 2014 IKO Kyokushin Karate 3rd Dan Black Belt - Japan
• 2013 IKO1 Black Belt Training - Honbu Dojo Ikebukuro - Tokyo, Japan
• 2013 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate Official Judge - Japan
• 2013 IKO1 International HONBU Winter Camp, Mt Mitsumine - Japan
• 2013 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate Instructor - Japan
• 2012 IKO1 Black Belt Training - Honbu Dojo Ikebukuro - Tokyo, Japan
• 2012 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate Official Judge - Japan
• 2012 IKO1 International HONBU Winter Camp, Mt Mitsumine - Japan
• 2012 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate Instructor - Japan
• 2011 IKO1 Black Belt Training - Honbu Dojo Ikebukuro - Tokyo, Japan
• 2011 IKO1 International 10th World Tournament Official
• 2011 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate Official Judge - Japan
• 2011 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate Instructor - Japan
• 2010 IKO1 Black Belt Training - Honbu Dojo Ikebukuro - Tokyo, Japan
• 2010 IKO1 Kyokushin Karate 1st Dan Black Belt - Japan
• 2010 IKO1 International HONBU Winter Camp, Mt Mitsumine - Japan
• 2009 IKO1 Kyokushin 100 man Kumite for Artur Hovhannisyan - Japan
• 2009 IKO1 International HONBU Winter Camp, Mt Mitsumine - Japan
• 2007 IKO1 International 9th World Tournament Official
• 2004 IKO1 Begins Kyokushin Karate with Shihan Ryu Narushima

Vemoa has done specialized personal training for famous celebrities from various sport codes and genres,i.e.Jonah Lomu (Rugby), Hidetoshi Nakata (Football), Noriyuki Higashiyama (Singer/Actor) and Koichi Nishimura (Volleyball), Kosuke Kitajima (Swimming).

Vemoa now uses his sports background experience for youth and non-athletes health and general well-being,

Vemoa utilizes his Muay Thai experience for coaching striking in mixed martial arts.

25 April 2010 - Antz Nansen enlisted Vemoa for ASTRA in Tokyo, Japan where he lost by submission to Enson Inoue (Japan)

26 February 2012 - Mark Hunt while in Japan enlisted Vemoa's help for UFC 144, where Hunt won by 1st-round KO against Cheick Kongo (France)

3 March 2013 - Mark Hunt enlisted Vemoa for UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann where Hunt won and earned a jaw breaking Knock Out of the Night against Stefan Struve (Nederlands)

25 May 2013 - Mark Hunt enlisted Vemoa for UFC 160 in Las Vegas, although losing to the former UFC World Champion Junior dos Santos he gained Fight of the Night Honors

7 December 2013 - Mark Hunt enlisted Vemoa for UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot in Brisbane, Australia, this fight was rated the best Heavyweight Fight in UFC History from UFC president Dana White, and once again Mark Hunt gained fight of the Night Honors.

20 September 2014 - Vemoa corners Mark Hunt for UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson Tokyo, Japan. Hunt was awarded Performance of the Night Bonus award with his KO of Roy Nelson (fighter)

9 July 2016 - Vemoa corners Mark Hunt for UFC 200 in Las Vegas, USA

3 May 2013 Kengo Shimizu (Japan) enlisted Vemoa's help as a major sparring partner in preparation for Glory 8: Tokyo where Shimizu won the 4 man - Glory Japan Tournament Champion (187 lb / 85 kg).

21 December 2013 Joseph Valtellini (Canada) enlisted Vemoa's help for Glory 13: Tokyo competing in the 4 man Welterweight World Championship Tournament. Defeating Raymond Daniels (USA) by KO in the semi-final to progress to the Final against Nieky Holzken (Netherlands).

In May 2017 Vemoa joined the BJJ ranks as a white belt under Professor Steve Oliver (NZ) a Rickson Gracie BJJ Black Belt [16]