by By Dan Ninham
“I am a Jiu-Jitsu fighter. I represent my family and community. I fight for those that cannot fight. I was taught to be a fighter as all my ancestors before me did. I represent them. I am a product of their sacrifice, selflessness, and hope. They survived for me to be here. In return, I have to work hard and be proud but also have fun. Just as I dance and fast at home for our traditional doings, it has prepared me to be a fighter because fighting takes lot of energy and focus.” Povi Hayes, Navajo/Pueblo, 9 years old.
“I like to be called ‘Povi’ and it means ‘Flower’ in my dad’s tribal language, Tewa,” said Povi Hayes. “When I was named in Nambe by the Leader of the Winter Clan, it was super cold outside and the river that flows through Nambe had ice over it, so my Nambe name is ‘Ice Flower’. I was actually born in San Diego, California.’
“My parents are Jeremy Hayes and Kelly Concho-Hayes,” said Povi. “We are currently stationed in San Diego, CA again. I am a nine-year old Navy kid and will turn 10 in February. My dad has been in the Navy for over 20 years and is a Chief Petty Officer. My mom has worked and ran all over the country.”
“I am Big Eagle of the Acoma born for Navajo-Red Running Water Clan, Nambe-Winter Clan, and Zuni-Child of the Turkey Clan,” said Povi. “My mom is Navajo, Acoma, and Zuni. My dad is Nambe.”
“I was five years old when I started participating in Jiu-Jitsu in Las Cruces when my Dad was stationed at White Sands Missile Range,” said Povi. “I remember my mom and dad wanted me to learn how to protect myself. The dojo in Las Cruces focused on Japanese Jiu-jitsu and Kickboxing. It was awesome because I learned so many different moves in protecting myself and had lots of fun.”
“My older sister, Nanabah, followed in my footsteps and joined Jiu-Jitsu. I cannot wait for my little sister, Makowa, to join jiu-jitsu too. Together, Nanabah and I earned many stripes and new belts while in Las Cruces but then my dad got re-stationed. We went to San Diego again,” added Povi.
“Together, we joined a new dojo called City of Champions and they focused on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” said Povi. “This meant we had to start over on our stripes and belts but we were ready. I have a gray white with four stripes belt.”
“Our coach’s encouraged us to join tournaments throughout San Diego, so we did,” said Povi. “I remember one of the tournaments I competed in, and it was against boys in my weight class and I lost all of my rounds. I cried in my mom’s arms. I remember my mom and dad telling me, ‘There will always be someone better than me but continue to work harder.’ This pushed me to keep trying harder. The next tournament, I lost again to more boys but managed to beat the one girl in my weight class by points. That was a great feeling.”
“With my mom and dad having a solid foundation of values, I have learned about sacrifice, discipline, authenticity, compassion, creativity, and humor,” said Povi. “With my dad in the Navy and us moving a lot, I have gone to five different schools since I started school. But we try to go home every chance we can to participate in our Nambe and Acoma traditions. I dance in our traditional Nambe dances with my sisters for our family and community. When we are not able to be home for traditional doings, we wake up every morning before the sun to give our offerings and blessings with our precious cornmeal to family back home and those who have passed on before me.”
“My mom and dad help us learn our different languages of Navajo, Acoma, Zuni, and Nambe but it is hard since we are not close to family,” said Povi. “I remember our songs, our dances, our villages with kivas and have learned that everything has a spirit. This means I give offerings and blessings to everything with cornmeal from my own cornmeal pouch. It protects me.”
“Many people have influenced me,” said Povi. “My dad for being in the Navy all my life. He sacrifices a lot for our family. I actually practice my moves on my dad and when he is not looking, I try to make him tap out. He is always telling me other ways to protect myself.”
“Being a father to three girls, I wanted them to be able to defend themselves,” said dad Jeremy Hayes. “I also made it a standard for them to be active in at least one sport. When our oldest joined soccer we were looking for something for Povi and she was asking about being a fighter. We visited a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Academy and after some of hesitation, Povi liked it. She was six years old at the time.”
“Povi is always ready and dressed an hour before practice even starts. When I am not on duty and home to watch fights with the girls, we talk about the fights and the different things they would do in that situation,” added Jeremy.
“As parents to three jiu-jitsu fighters, we are constantly on watch for fear of being put in a rear naked choke hold or arm bar because to them it is merely practice,” said Jeremy. “Our goal as parents is to have to learn how to protect themselves. As for Povi, she wants a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu possibly Judo.”
“My mom has helped me in so many ways,” said Povi. “We work out together every morning but I do not run with her because she goes too far for me and too fast. She tells me all about taking care of yourself inside and outside your body and around us. She also tells me about how to carry myself as a Native girl and woman someday. She is honest with me about everything and how to be good to myself.”
“I have two sisters, Nanabah my older sister, and Makowa my little sister,” said Povi. “I am the middle child. Sometimes it is hard for me because I feel like I am left out, blamed, or ignored. But there are so many times, they are always laughing with me, practicing with me, and encouraging me. My older sister and I go to jui-jitsu practice together. She helps me get better because she is older, bigger, and faster. I can’t wait for my little sister to start when she turns five years old this month so I help teach her.”
“My coaches at City of Champions are awesome!” said Povi. “They are dedicated to teaching us the correct technique in defending ourselves. They have fought for many years so they teach me from their experience. They are very patient with me because sometimes I can be a little dramatic.”
“All of my Grandmas and Grandpas have taught me so much,” said Povi. “They all talk to me about how to treat others and be a good person. I miss them everyday that I cannot see them.”
“Although I am not really around family a lot because we live so far away, I still get their calls, texts, and mail almost every day for encouragement and ask about how jui-jitsu is going,” said Povi. “They always encourage me a lot.”
The holistic concept of wellness is based on physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health. To perform in practice and competition at a high degree, a balance needs to occur with each of these components.
“I practice every Monday, Wednesday, Friday,” said Povi. “I also walk and run every morning with my mom and then do home body workouts every weekday. Mentally, it is to stick to the basics of Jui-Jitsu. Remembering all the technical techniques is key.”
“Emotionally, I take deep breaths with my eyes closed then I bridge then shrimp,” said Povi. “Once out, I remember my coaches advise me on the next moves.”
“With the constant changes in my life, I will always have a sense of humor with lots of love to share,” said Povi.
“I remember my family’s stories about our ancestors and they were fighters,” said Povi. “I fight for them and represent them because they survived for me to be here. I fight to represent them to be remembered, to be acknowledged, and to be represented.”
“They are the Spirits everywhere around me that protect me,” said Povi.
Photo Credit: Kelly Concho-Hayes
