COACH TANNER FUJII
What made you get into martial arts?
My parents made me try martial arts when I was nine—despite my being a baseball kid. Our neighbors had a karate school, so I started there and began competing in point karate—that’s where it all began.
Tell us about your journey/background/accomplishments?
My journey has been long and varied. I started American freestyle and karate at nine, won my first tournament at ten, and got hooked on competition. I moved into sport karate and sport kickboxing, winning junior world titles in 2006 and 2008, then began training MMA at Grudge Training Center. At 16, I drove from Highlands Ranch to Arvada every day to train. After high school, I was sponsored by Brawlin Combat Gear and moved into a fight house with the pro team—training alongside fighters like Justin Gaethje, Melvin Guillard, and Tyler Stinson—making my amateur MMA debut at 19. Although injuries eventually forced me out of the fight game, I continued coaching and teaching striking at my family’s karate school, leading fighters to full-contact wins in state Muay Thai tournaments and national kickboxing events. In 2020, I attempted a comeback at Factory X, and in 2023, I booked a Muay Thai fight in LA—this ultimately led me to start training at High Altitude Martial Arts.
What is your goal as a coach?
My goal is to develop the skills and habits that empower fighters to succeed both in the ring and in life.
What makes High Altitude Martial Arts special?
High Altitude Martial Arts is remarkable because of the amazing environment our leadership creates—everyone is welcome, and we all share a genuine enthusiasm for having fun while working hard and learning new skills. There’s a vast amount of fight game experience here from our coaches and fighters, and it’s an incredible experience to be able to learn from everyone. Even as a coach, I’m always a student. This continuous learning and supportive community is what makes HAMA truly special.
