From zero to hero: Luis Larios’ journey to Karate Grandmaster

From getting bullied as a kid to becoming one of the best self-defense artists, Luis Larios' story is quite the journey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Grandmaster Luis A. Larios turned a childhood marked by bullying into a lifetime of discipline, innovation and mentorship, building a world-class self-defense system that continues to shape lives decades later.

Now 70, Larios remains driven by the same passion that first brought him into martial arts as a child.

"When I was little, I suffered a lot from bullying," Larios said. "I was a small kid. I'd step outside my house and my neighbors would beat me up. At school, the same thing."

That hardship became the foundation of his life's work.

Larios rose through the ranks of martial arts, earning a fourth-degree black belt in Okinawan Kenpo karate and eventually achieving a 10th-degree black belt, the highest rank, in his own self-defense discipline, the Larios System.

The system blends elements of karate, boxing, pressure points, small-circle jiu-jitsu and more, designed with a specific purpose in mind.

"Most techniques were made for people fighting someone their own size," Larios said. "But nothing for smaller people against bigger people. That's why I started creating my own system."

His approach, rooted in real-world application, has helped establish him as one of the top practitioners in pressure point fighting, earning recognition as the highest-ranked Latin American in that discipline.

What began as a way to protect himself evolved into something much larger.

Larios has spent more than three decades running his dojo in Yuma, welcoming students of all ages and experience levels. For many, the dojo is more than a place to train. It's a place to grow.

Luis Castaneda first walked through the doors looking for something new.

"I thought maybe some martial arts," Castaneda said. “I looked it up, found this place, gave it a try, and I liked it."

For Edgar Rueda, training became a form of therapy during a difficult time.

"After my breakup, I needed something to keep me physically and mentally busy," Rueda said. "I just wanted to feel stronger, mentally and physically. I found this place, and it motivated me to see what I could reach at this point in my life."

Students say Larios pushes them to improve both physically and mentally, which is why his dojo is a special place for them.

Even younger students are finding their own paths through the program.

"I don't really like sports, but my dad asked me if I wanted to try karate," said Leonel Rodriguez. "I said, 'Sure, why not?'"

For Kael Graciano, who began training at age five, he know the rules on how to improve your craft.

"Hard work, discipline and keep training," he said.

Those values reflect the sacrifices Larios made throughout his career, sacrifices he says were necessary to reach the highest level.

"It's a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication," Larios said. "You have to sacrifice family, money, time...everything. But I love it. If I were born again, I would do it again."

Even after decades of achievement, Larios has no plans of slowing down. Instead, he's focused on the next generation.

"I see the kids training, the new generation, and I love it," he said. "That's my passion."

For Larios, the journey is far from over.

"I feel inside of me I need to do more," he said. "If I stop, that’s the end of my life."

From a child searching for confidence to a grandmaster shaping futures, Larios' story is one of resilience, and a reminder that strength is built not just through skill, but through perseverance.