Page 14 - MidWeek - Jan 26, 2022

14 MIDWEEK JANUARY 26, 2022 A Teacher, Student
And History Buff FROM PAGE 13
“My dad was a major and my mom was a lieutenant nurse,” explains the oldest of six children born to Louis Di Virgilio and Sadie Yoshida and raised in Kailua.
While he loved the military stories he’d hear in his youth, his eyes were always fixed on the kung fu realm. Yet, despite desperately wanting to study a Chinese-based style and find “Asian cultural enrichment through a martial art,” he was rebuffed at every turn until De- Mile and Yeung came along.
“Actually, my very Chi- nese grandmother tried to get me into (kung fu) class- es, but they wouldn’t let me in because I wasn’t Chinese enough,” recalls Di Virgilio. “So, I was kind of let down as a kid and wound up spending most of my time trying to get into high school sports.”
Finding success in football as a starting center and backup outside linebacker at Kailua High, he was able to parlay that rugged gridiron demean- or and adept mind of his into a solid foundation built on brawn and brains.
Turns out it was his phys- ical nature that made Wong Shun Leung take notice of him when the two first met in 1980.
“Wong Shun used to say that a lot of Chinese practitioners were a bunch of scaredy cats who didn’t like getting hit,” remembers Di Virgilio, who would spend many of his adult years coaching football at his alma mater. “When he found out that I was a football coach, he really liked that.
“I mean if you don’t like getting hit, you’ll never be a martial artist.”
But with lots of practice and patience, you might just become like John Di Virgilio, one of martial arts best teach- ers and rarest of treasures.
Pen not included.
GIFT WITH PURCHASE
January 28–February 1
Receive a limited-edition Year of the Tiger canvas zip tote when you spend $125 or more at Ala Moana Center. Redeem your receipts dated 1/28–2/1/22 at Guest Services located on Street Level 1, Center Court behind Centerstage.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
ALAMOANACENTER.COM
While supplies last. Limit one gift per person. Must be 13 or older. Receipts must be dated 1/28/2022–2/1/2022 and redeemed during these dates at Guest Services. Actual store receipts required; e-receipts from online orders do not qualify. No more than three individual receipts per store. Taxes, tips, service fees (including delivery), card purchases (gift and pre-paid) and bill payments cannot be applied to reach minimum spend. Valid government issued photo ID must be presented for verification. No substitutions. No cash value. Employees of Ala Moana Center merchants excluded from participation.
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