By Hadley Catalano

A new year has begun and with it will be New Beginnings for Hawai`i martial arts fighters. On Saturday, January 7, Toughman Hawaii will present “New Beginnings,” a Toughman Tournament of Champions at the Hilo Civic Center.

This Toughman match-up will present a chance for winners to advance for a shot at the title, explained Toughman founder Walt Carvalho. “There will be 40 athletes competing,” Carvalho said of the Martial Arts competition that will primarily feature kickboxing and other stand-up techniques.

Carvalho, who has a history of competitive and professional athletic feats on his resume, including pro time with baseball’s Cincinnati Reds and as an amateur boxer in California, has been running the Toughman Hawaii Association as an outlet for Hawai`i’s youth to participate in a sport, while learning the proper techniques for competition.

“Our Association’s objective is to challenge children through consistency and discipline through a martial arts program that teaches rules and regulations,” he said.

However, the high level of quality competition is what Toughman Hawaii fights — which have been taking place in Hilo since 2001– are best known for.

After a brief hiatus, Carvalho is back, promoting positive athletic competition, boasting some of the best martial arts action on the island and promoting the first of six 2012 Toughman fights.

Doors for the “New Beginnings” contest will open at 5 p.m. with the undercard fighters facing off at 6 p.m. There will be 21 fights at the Tournament of Champions showcasing amateur and professional talent in various division, in 18 and under, wahine, weight class, up to super heavyweight competition. All categories of fighters will be pair exciting match-ups. Some of the crowd pleasing and highly anticipated bouts begin with the Tough Wahine.

Representing history in the making the three Pruett girls (the first trio of sisters to compete in a Toughman competition) will kick off the wahine open division with top ranked 14-year-old Ashlee Pruett leading the charge.

Another exciting wahine showdown will be between Abigail “The Bumblebee” Hendrix of Kohala versus Ku`ulei Estabillio of Hilo, in the 125 weight class.

The two main card events will be worth the wait. The first two scrappers that will square off will be Jon “Untamable” Barnard of Waianae, O`ahu versus Donald Gonzales Jr. of Puna in the open lightweight division title fight.

When interviewed by MMAHawaii.com the hometown fighter, a former welterweight champion who has dropped weight, explained that he as been working at BJ Penn’s Training Center on his standup, conditioning and agility training and feels in optimal shape. The skilled kick boxer is ready to take on Barnard, who is a seasoned competitor that has gone undefeated in his last 12 fights. And when interviewed Barnard told MMAHawaii.com that he is ready for Hilo, a place where he has a made a name for himself in his last five fights. He explained that he knows of Gonzales’ skills and is confident in his own abilities to mix it up and work hard.

The second main card event that will have crowds at the edge of their seats will showcase Jacob Smith of Kaneohe, O`ahu versus Dylan Rush of Ka`u in the super heavy weight class. Smith is a Tae Kwon Do champion with five national titles and a skilled kick boxer. A member of UKA, Smith’s training with Johnavan Vistante, Jon Barnard and Ben Santiago has prepared Smith for the test of his upcoming challenger.

Rush, another hometown favorite, is an athlete in every sense of the word. He has been a top super heavy weight fighter in the state and has wrestled for Stanford and played football for UCLA. According to an interview with MMAHawaii.com, Rush said that he will play up his strength, quickness and his size. He fights for fun and this battle of fists, knees, elbows and skins will prove his training and skills are in tune.

The action packed event will open doors at 5 p.m. with the first round starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at CD Wizard, Big Island Surf Co. and at the door. For more information call 960-4341 or visit www.toughmanhawaii.com.

Saturday, Jan. 7

Toughman Hawaii

Hilo Civic Center

Doors 5 p.m./ Show 6 p.m.