Aaron Phillips has been doing mixed martial arts since he was 7 years old. He holds a black belt in taekwondo and competed in the UFC. But his proudest moment may have been Saturday, watching his 8-year-old son, Hosea, compete in the 2024 USA Karate National Championships in Lafayette.
It was the first time the tournament, which attracts fighters from ages 5 to 60 from across the country, was being hosted in Lafayette.
While watching his son perform Saturday morning, Phillips said it was a nostalgic moment and definitely a memorable experience.
"It’s not very often that a young man, 8 years old, gets to go in the Cajundome under the bright lights in front of a huge crowd. So certainly that's, you know, an experience that we'll always remember," he said.
Although they didn't make it to the finals, Hosea is proud he was able to try something new, and hopes he can do it again.
“Whether or not he sticks this with it for a lifetime, he’ll certainly have the skills that he's learned forever, and then hopefully, the respect and courtesy and the discipline will be imparted to him for a lifetime,” Phillips said.
Phillips, who was born in Houston and whose mother is from Malaysia, has established firm roots in Acadiana.
He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and for years taught mixed martial arts classes there. He did two stints in the UFC, and in 2016 he and his wife, Charity, opened Headkicks Mixed Martial Arts & Fitness.
Hosea was born two weeks after the grand opening and has been in the gym doing martial arts since he was 3 years old.
“When I first opened up I was setting out a mission to create something for our community and for my children,” said Phillips, who also has a 5-year-old daughter, Esther.
“After my competitive career, I knew that I wanted to do this for lifetime, and although I enjoy competing, I also enjoy teaching others, so I always thought that this business was going to be something that would grow and impact our community."
With over a decade of competing in mixed martial art tournaments and boxing matches, Phillips' last competition was in April 2023.
While he still actively trains he is not competing but "is prepared if the right opportunity comes." Instead, he is focused on the future and is taking pleasure in the simpler things: fatherhood and teaching.
"I think, as a parent you're always trying to set your son or daughter up for success in their future. Oftentimes, the best thing that we can do is give them our experiences, and my experience in martial arts, if I can pass that on to Haseo and open up opportunities, I feel like it sets him up for success in his future.”
Hosea has competed in kick boxing, jujitsu and MMA tournaments. He also does wrestling and a little bit of judo. Saturday was his first time competing in a karate tournament.
Phillips sees the sport as a way to build family relationships.
"Also, the goal is not just in the medals and the trophies, but in the experiences that we get, just being able to coach him, be part of his journey, travel with him and do all that just makes it bigger than the trophies and the medals, because these memories are equally important,” he said.
When asked what is his favorite part about the tournaments, Hosea replied, "The celebrations, when I get to dap my matches, and celebrate with my family."