TONY CARAVELLI

In 1983, Coach T’s martial arts journey took a pivotal turn when he met the legendary MMA coach, Javier Mendez, in a Tang Soo Do class in San Jose, California. At the time, Coach Mendez was an emerging martial artist, and Coach T was refining his skills in boxing. One day, as Coach T was preparing for class, he noticed Javier in the corner, shadow boxing with intense focus. It was clear they shared a deep passion for combat sports, and that moment marked the beginning of a lasting bond between them.

As their friendship developed, Coach Mendez, who was teaching at a local health club, invited Coach T to train with him. Over time, Javier’s vision began to take shape, and he transitioned to teaching at a friend’s glass shop in the evenings. This was when Javier made the decision to focus on kickboxing, stepping away from traditional martial arts. Coach T, eager to learn and grow, followed Javier’s lead and became one of his top students. Coach Mendez often recalls how talented Coach T was, with exceptional potential in martial arts, a sentiment that reflects the strong mentor-student relationship they built during those formative years.

In the years that followed, Coach Mendez’s vision for a comprehensive combat sports gym came to life with the opening of the first American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) on Foxworthy Avenue in San Jose. This was around the time when the UFC began gaining national attention. Javier’s goal was to create a gym that embraced a variety of martial arts disciplines—Judo, wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing—all under one roof. AKA quickly became one of the first gyms in the world to embrace the concept of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in its truest form, a place where fighters could test and refine their skills against opponents from all styles.

Coach T became one of the original members of Team AKA-Shamrock, alongside Crazy Bob Cook and Brian Johnson. As the gym grew, so did the ambition of its fighters. Brian Johnson began competing in the UFC, and soon after, UFC legend Frank Shamrock joined the team. It was during this time that Coach T adopted the same philosophy as Javier Mendez: “Use what is useful, and discard what is useless.” This simple yet powerful mindset became the foundation of MMA, and Coach T stood at the heart of it, training alongside some of the sport’s most iconic figures like Frank Shamrock and Brian Johnson.

While Coach T harbored aspirations of fighting in the UFC himself, life circumstances prevented him from pursuing that dream. Despite this, his commitment to martial arts never wavered. Today, Coach T continues to contribute to the world of MMA by regularly traveling to San Jose to train and help coach with the best fighters in the world at AKA. In a significant moment in September 2024, Coach Mendez entrusted Coach T with the opportunity to open the first licensed AKA gym in Southern California, located in Chula Vista. This honor speaks volumes about Coach T’s knowledge, experience, and dedication—qualities that Coach Mendez has always admired and respected.

As the head coach of AKA San Diego, Coach T now carries the responsibility of representing one of the most prestigious martial arts academies in the world. This new chapter reflects the trust and respect he has earned from the legendary Javier Mendez. With decades of experience, Coach T continues to inspire the next generation of martial artist and fighters, upholding the values and vision of AKA, and playing a crucial role in the ongoing evolution of MMA.