My name is Erin Belair. I am a local writer living in Costa Mesa. Just graduating with a degree in creative writing from UC Irvine. I was given the chance to write this piece for the first issue of Locale Magazine. I was thrilled with the chance to flex my skills so soon after graduation, but after finding out my first assignment was on boxing I felt something close to terrified. I had never hit anyone or anything in my life, aside from the books. I was not even sure if I physically possessed the capabilities. A million thoughts were racing through my mind as I drove to the very end of 16th street on the west side of Costa Mesa in search of RVCA headquarters. I was nervous in the sort of way, like the first day of school or going on a first date. I had never done anything like this in my life. I couldn’t believe the luck of my life. I was invited to RVCA for a boxing lesson in their private gym with world famous boxing coach Jason Parillo. I truly had no idea what to expect, and my assignment was to capture every twist, duck, and punch of the experience. I quickly realized that this was why I became a writer, and the variety of situations I will find myself in are well worth the hard work.

Everything about the morning made me nervous. RVCA is a locally based company that has spanned the globe in popularity, with representation across North America, Europe, and Asia. I have always been a huge fan of what they do, and just going to their headquarters seemed to be one of the most unique things I have had the chance to do, RVCA has always been at the forefront of fashion and art trends. I have attended countless parties in Costa Mesa thrown by RVCA in the positive sponsorship of local art, progress, music, and . While they have always been a presence in the surf and skate culture, in recent years RVCA has expanded their team of sponsored athletes to include professionally trained fighters, such as BJ Penn and . RVCA’s dedication to these athletes includes owner Pat Tenore decision to convert a section of their warehouse into a state of the art training facility in 2009, including a 30 foot fighting cage. This was my final destination.

49 50 back to the lobby. With anticipation mounting, Parillo arrived. He led me back to the gym and as I followed I was captivated by all the large format prints from the talented RVCA photographers and I tried to catch glimpses of the new clothes hanging on long endless rows behind school yard metal fencing. While he introduced himself I was surprised by his small stature. His formative power exuded and that was enough to make me feel weak in the knees. Although we stood eye to eye, when I shook his strong scarred hand I thought quickly of how many faces it had come in contact with over the course of his career.

Having seen the gym once before at this point, I found it easier to keep my gaping jaw in check, and now noticed how beautifully the place was put together. I was impressed, but not surprised because if anyone could make a gym look like a work of art it would be RVCA. The space is simultaneously calming and serious, using whites, grays and blacks for nearly everything inside the gym, creating an aesthetically pleasing environment. It evokes an air of focus and dedication to the art of the MMA craft. In addition to the mats and the cage the gym is also outfitted with step and rowing machines, treadmills, and a seating area with a flat screen t.v and even PlayStation. Lastly, I noticed two walls entirely covered in what looked to be Before going to RVCA I did a little online research, session with Jason Parillo. I tried to sound like hieroglyphics, but in actuality they are amazing like any skilled writer would, on the importance a confident fighter going in to kick some butt. fonts and creative design listing the names of of boxing and the low down on boxing coach Surprisingly she let me through, and I wandered those who work in the gym. I felt like I had been extraordinaire Jason Parillo. I learned that many through the typical warehouse, then there was We can’t control who our familiy is let into a secret club, and my appreciation for of the fighters Parillo works with fight for the the gym I had heard so much about. I had a the opportunity began to relieve my anxiety. MMA arena, . I didn’t know good five minutes in there before someone We can’t control the people we have to associate with much about the sport before this, but I am realized that I should be waiting in the lobby. A Just as I suspected, Parillo was straight down to now convinced it takes a dedication and skill stereotypically artistic looking man in a flannel business. He taped both of my hands, covering level that most people would need a lifetime and horn-rimmed glasses escorted me back out We can have cool stuff them from the knuckles and past my wrists. to cultivate. MMA combines several types of to the receptionist to wait for Jason. He then found the cleanest pair of gloves that fighting disciplines such as jiu jitsu, kickboxing, existed in the gym and tightly laced them up for wrestling, thai boxing and traditional boxing, Within those precious five minutes before I me. My hands were lost and instantly sweating just to name a few. Parillo’s coaching focuses was taken back to the lobby I got an incredible inside the massive white gloves. I was starting the fighters on the art of traditional boxing. impression of the space. It was early in the to look like a boxer and I became more excited. It doesn’t happen often, but ideally a fight morning and the gym was completely empty. While Parillo did this he told me briefly about will not go beyond the point of standing and I could hear people his career and what striking. Boxing skills are essentials. Jason kept working in the it is he does, local reiterating that those in the know of boxing, “80 warehouse, sorting to Costa Mesa, he to 90 percent of fights end up on the floor, but massive amounts of works out of the 100 percent start on the feet.” The seriousness fabulous clothing. I felt There were two RVCA gym training dedicated to our session told me that boxing as if I had stumbled p r o f e s s i o n a l was more than a sport, a pastime, or even a job onto an alien planet. athletes and to Parillo. He explained to me how, “a trainer I walked out onto the scars near his left training clients he can count your reps and run you through the mats, my feet digging has maintained fundamentals of a workout, but a coach will add into the soft flooring relationships with inches to a person.” Parillo is most definitely a with each step; later eye and a fresh cut for over ten years, coach, in every sense of the word. being scolded for which includes having on shoes. On to his upper lip; Tenore. He helped I learned the truth of those words when the left side were open LA boxing interviewing Parillo. A few more people filtered two huge mirrors and in 1992 and taught into the gym to prepare for Parillo’s next in front of me hung I must admit personal and group training session with Vitor Belfort. When Belfort a dozen different lessons there for arrived I was stunned by the sheer massiveness punching bags varying nearly 17 years. AK Vintage Flor Missoni Home Suck UK of his person. He towered over me in the way form the size of my I began to find While a majority I would expect someone in his profession to, head to larger than my Arnold Zimberg Gucci Moth Love Shine Home of young athletes but to experience it in real life was awesome. entire body. I had really grow up playing Aviva Stanoff Howe Nasomatto Tavik Swimwear He reminded he me of one of the greek titans started to question these battle wounds typical sports like I spent so much time reading about in school. what I was doing there, Booty Parlor Indian Motorcycle Pan Am Ted Shreds soccer, baseball The width of his arm was that of my neck, and how totally out of my and basketball, Christian Dior Jouer Penguin TeNeues when I shook his hand I was made fully aware element I was, the rather sexy. Parillo began Chronicle Books Judy Ross Textiles Porsche Triumph of the power behind them. I could see exactly anxiety quickly began swinging only one what Parillo had meant when he described the to grow. Then, there it Cop Copine Klen Ray-Ban Toms thing - fists. He essence of being a coach. The strength, the was. Behind the bags. The 30 foot fighting cage. began martial arts at the age ten, kickboxing at Dayna Decker M a r v i s Simple Shoes Ubiquity power, and the control that I could see in Belfort It was much larger and much scarier than I had fifteen, and finally fell in love with boxing shortly was a true testimony to the art of boxing Jason ever imagined; this was the real thing literally after under the supervision of Coach Jesse Reed had instilled to me over the course of the day. the same thing you see on television, but far in Westminster, California. Fighting in both the more intimidating in person. Reality was setting amateur and professional ranks, Parillo’s career Once I arrived, parked my car on the quiet in, I am going to be inside of that thing. In that was cut short after sustaining a detached retina street, and found my way inside, I told the moment while I stood there in shock and awe, and experiencing nerve damage in his left hand. Newport Beach | 949.673.2220 | Zschoche.com pretty receptionist that I was here for my the man with the glasses showed up to take me Parillo showed me a thick scar running nearly

51 52 the entire length of his left arm from three grasping the movements and I was more the sound was something I’ve only heard in surgeries to his elbow. There were two scars surprised when he took me up into the fighting the movies. It pumped me up and I began OC’s Premier Location for Customized Automotive Products near his left eye and a fresh cut to his upper cage for some real punches. It was elevated bouncing around in the way I had seen lip; I must admit I began to find these battle from the rest of the gym so once inside I Sylvester Stallone do in every Rocky movie. wounds rather sexy. I suppose that goes to could see over everything else, it’s ominous He wore hand pads and at first I wasn’t sure show that the old saying, ‘chicks dig scars’ is presence now discovered. Inside the ring was how hard to hit them, but I quickly realized I actually true. firmer than the mats we had been on, we were was allowed to hit them as hard as possible. He now literally caged in surrounded by white was kind not to laugh at my meager punches, We went out onto the mats and this I cannot believe the power he must time I took off my tennis shoes and withstand when he is on the receiving socks. The gray mats clung to me feet end of Penn. I am sure, compared to the and the air the air was heavy with a thick fighters he works worth, my punches layer of salt and sweat that seemed were laughable landing on his hands. I to emanate from the gloves and mats used the same movements I had learned that sat in the far corner. Once in front in front of the mirror to land the punches of the full length mirror I laughed at in his gloves. My first few attempts were myself because I had spent more time questionable, but once I made a solid connection with my right fist to his left glove, everything changed. It felt right. It felt unlike anything I have ever felt in my life. I could feel it in my bones, and 80 to 90 percent of the crisp popping sound it made echoed through the cage. There may have been other noise, there may have even been fights end up on the music playing, but all I could here was Parillo saying, “right, left, right, right,” floor, but 100 percent and my glove cutting through the air before that perfect “pop”. I could tell by the shocked look on his face that he was start on the feet. surprised not only by the effort I was putting into it, but also by the punch picking out my workout outfit than I had my novice arms could pack. After a few stretching that morning. Parillo guided minutes the buzzer would sound and me into what would be my first boxing drag me back to reality. stance, and then started showing me the basic techniques of weight and balance. Between rounds, I was given a moment He emphasized that as a woman my to breath and Parillo would go over what power and balance are coming from I was doing well and where I was falling my hips. With my weight on the balls of short. The one thing I couldn’t seem to my feet, and my knees slightly bent, I get every time was the slight twist of my started throwing jabs and hooks while wrist making my fist go from vertical to twisting my hips, and pushing with my horizontal, which was the final element back leg for the final bit of force. It was in that connection. As each round went an interesting feeling throwing punches by and I began to grow more tired, I in the air at nothing, but I tried to focus became aware of how many facets of on the movement of my legs and hips. my body were being used in this sport. It only took a few moments before I My thighs and shoulders were burning, realized that this is a serious workout. It my wrists and elbows felt like they were was a heat in my body I have never felt before metal fencing and padded post that wore the becoming unhinged, I wanted to keep going. that started at the back of my neck and crept RVCA name. The magnitude of force usually What was originally an assignment, work, just over my shoulders; I could feel my thighs and exuded in this ring kept running through my another Wednesday, was now becoming a waist stretching and warming as I squatted mind, unable to ignore the images of serious necessary part of my life. I clenched my jaw and twisted in front of the mirror. fighters training where I was now standing. and gritted my teeth in the last round and -Continued on page 95 I was surprised when Parillo said that I was Parillo hit the buzzer to start our round, and

• Cars • truCks • Jeeps • IMports • luxury •

1500 AdAms Avenue #105 2524 Harbor boulevard • Costa Mesa • Ca • 92626 CostA mesA, CAliforniA 92626 714.424.0922 714.546.1936 • 888.699.8333 weAreprettyinpink.Com oCMotorsports.CoM • FaCebook.CoM/oCMotorsports

54