TRISTAM 'TWISTER' APIKOTOA
Alongside the rise of Auckland’s City Kickboxing Gym, Tongan striking coach Tristam Apikotoa aka Twister or Twist, has often been credited by some of the gym’s biggest stars for the role he plays in their success.
Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker calls Twist his ‘secret weapon’ and Israel ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya has described him as being 'knowledgable in the game, under-rated and a dark horse'.
We first met Twist in the buildup to UFC271 where he was often seen quietly observing the boys training sessions and Spyda drills.
With City Kickboxing Gym making history at UFC 293 having the most fighters from one gym on a card, Twist allowed us a rare interview.
Get to know the man, the myth and the legend in his own words below -
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My Mum is Alisi Peau Ave-ika-Ki-Moana Wolfgramm from Neiafu, Vava'u and my father is Sosefo Losino Apikotoa Sapa'ata from Niua Fo'ou. Hihifo, NiuaToputapu. Both families migrated and settled on the mainland in the village of Fasi-Moe-Afi A Tungi, Tongatapu.
I'm N.Z born but was raised in Tonga until I was 8yrs old. My family moved to N.Z in 1983 and Onehunga and Mangere is where I grew up. My Primary School years were at St Josephs, then Onehunga Intermediate and I did Secondary school at St Peters College in Newmarket.
I'm a Youth Worker now and live between Auckland and Rotorua.
How did you get into fighting?
Kung Fu & Cowboy ( Terence Hill & Bud Spencer) movies growing up in the Kingdom.
My older siblings Joyce and Soana took us younger ones to see The Karate Kid at theatres in the 80s Downtown Auckland. Also, I was a fat kid so always fighting growing up. Haha she was a hard life.
When you were fighting - what was the best advice you were given that has stuck with you to today? '
"No one will help you, you'll see ... not even your closest friends will back you" ...
Wisest words ever from Coach and mentor Colin Oyama founder of Team Oyama Cali, Irvine. About going after something you want and life in general. He's not wrong.
How did you get the nickname Twister?
Grand Master Sifu Philip Lam couldn't pronounce my name properly so he just settled with saying Twister.
Coach Lolo Heimuli from Balmoral Lee Gar where I first started my fight journey in 1996 gave me the name.
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Side note from Lolo: "I called him the Twister from his first fight. This chubby guy was throwing everything in the book and had such a high work rate for a big guy"
Where or how did your love of the Los Angeles Lakers & Kobe Bryant come from or start?
Staying with cousins Tolo and Alfred in Favona Road, Mangere in the 80s -90s, I loved the Lakers and second to them was the Pistons lol I wasn't a Bulls fan at all. I have love for Kobe because ... he was judged beforehand , fans hated him yet they've never seen him play ... typical Jordan fans never gave Kobe the time of day.
Kobe to me is the G.O.A.T shooting guard in his era. Jordan is the G.O.A.T shooting guard in his era and Magic Johnson he's the G.O.A.T point guard in his era. There is no overall G.O.A.T that's ridiculous its a team Sport. Just my opinion.
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Now that Lebron is at the Lakers ... Kobe or Lebron?
Kobe forever
Throughout your fighting & coaching career, what would you say would be the biggest challenge you faced?
Stereotyping. Coach Lolo didn't call me Twister for no reason. Being judged by appearance. It's the way of the world.
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What would you say has been the most rewarding?
Witnessing students beat their demons, achieving better than their ability in the ring. I choose who I want to train on attitude not talent. I have a screening process that a lot fail.
I see through b.s - I'm Tongan and we're born professional liars lol! Talent is abundant but good attitude and mentality isn't.
What do you love about coaching and your CKB team/family?
Just the brotherhood, keeping each other in check. We don't cramp each others coaching style. All add our ingredients how we like. We've been together a long time.
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Apart from the guys you train, who would be your favourite fighter of all time OR one that inspired you throughout your career?
Boxing - Benard Hopkins
Kickboxing - Ernesto Hoost
Muay Thai - Namsaknoi 'the Emperor' Yudthagarngamtorn
MMA - Jon Bones Jones because he's Catholic lol
Inspired me most - my Uncle Alex Tu'itavake aka Alex Tui. Australias first World Kickboxing Champion. I would travel to Australia on my holidays just to train at Redfern Elouera Boxing Gym just to pick his brain. Alex Tui is the first fight trainer that was a punching coach I'd come across. I think it was just part of his teaching. Uncle did put a few people to sleep in the ring in his fight days. You'll know what I mean if you've ever had the privilege of training or hitting pads held by him.
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With 6 fighters from CKB on the card, it can be easy for us to take for granted the level of talent we currently have here. Can you put into context how big of a deal this is? Do you think it’s something we never see again in our lifetime or do you see this as just the beginning of what’s to come for NZ combat sports?
We're lucky to have Euge Captaining the ship at CKB MMA. You can have a lot of great fighters but need direction and diciplined people at the helm. When the headcoach's main goal is to do his utmost for the fighters (no matter if local champion or world champion) then it builds a very healthy environment.
You see this everyday with Eugene, at CKB nobody is treated better than the other. It's purely just about the sport all working towards the next fight. Definitely we should remain at this level of competition if this is the approach.
Izzy? no,we'll never see another unless they possess his heart and faith (And his speed and eyes hahaha)
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We asked a few of the people who have coached him and are being coached by Twist what they think made him unique as a fighter and what makes him unique as a coach now.
Lolo Heimuli (Twists former coach)
Simple. He loves fighting. Hahaha
When Tristam started with me he was 168kgs. He wanted to fight. I said OK but you need to come down to at least 130kgs. He wielded hard for about 6 months and achieved it. So I gave him a novice fight. Than I said you need to lose more. Tristam trained hard and came down to 118kgs.
What makes him a good trainer? Again because he’s passionate about the fight game, he studies the game and analyses it. But you have to love the fight games to go through all that trouble hahaha
John Vake (MMA fighter at CKB) on Twist
He's helped us develop in the sense of dedication to the game, the mindset it takes and the way we should approach it. Very cut throat, sometimes he doesn't always say what you want to hear but it's always what you need to hear at the time. You might not get it straight away but you'll get it later.
His coaching style is very old school but very necessary. There's not many coaches left like Twister.
Dan Hooker (UFC Lightweight on Twist)
Just the mans eye for detail like everything. He's just got a complete understanding of the whole game and he just see's things that I don't - like that man has forgotten more things in a day than I'll ever learn you know what I mean?
He'll say a small little thing that just completely changes your mind set. I don't even know how he does it (laughs) so to try and explain it is crazy but everything he says is ... yeah, I wouldn't be where I am without Twister.
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** At UFC293, 3 of CKB’s 6 fighters won their fights.
NB: Whilst Israel Adesanya lost his fight yesterday it was his 11th title fight in 4 years. We look forward to the rematch **
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