Bayo & Liani Torres: Buffalo NY Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Women's Fitness Member Feature

This weeks featured WNY MMA & Fitness Jiu-Jitsu and Kids MMA members are: BAYO AND LIANI TORRES!!!

by Cara Nassar

Bayo and Liani are the epitome of dedication.

I don't think there is anyone quite as dedicated as the two of them. They love this sport, and they love this gym. 

They really do.

The one other thing that stands out to me about the two of them is their good-hearted nature, a quality that Liani clearly has inherited from her father. It shines through.

A native Puerto Rican, Bayo moved to New York in his mid-twenties for work. Liani was very young at the time.

How did you both get into martial arts?

Bayo –Since I was a kid I had an interest in martial arts and boxing. Boxing is a major sport in Puerto Rico. I originally came to Buffalo cause of work, then I started looking for an academy for boxing. I found WNY MMA at the old location and talked to Coach Dub about it. At that moment he convinced me to join jiu-jitsu. Specifically Alliance.

Liani - I was getting bullied in my old school, so my mom said I should go to my dad’s gym because they teach martial arts. I switched schools so the bullying stopped, but I see other kids getting bullied. When I see other kids getting bullied I give them a card and try to get them to come try it out.

How long have you been training?

Bayo – Two years. I was training everyday for the first year. Sometimes twice a day.

Liani - A year or a year and a half.

Why WNY MMA & Fitness?

Bayo – I liked that everything was clean. When I talked to Dub he was super convincing and it made me feel like this is what I needed. I needed something more suave.

What do you like about WNY MMA & Fitness? Anything you don’t like?

Liani - I like this place because you can meet friends, you can learn a lot. And also adults can meet friends and learn too. They have really nice people here and really nice managers and people who work here. There is nothing I don’t like!

Bayo – Everything. I like everything. I like everybody. All my coaches, Dub and Matt. I like Matt’s fancy techniques.All my teammates. Being an assistant in kid’s class. Sometimes it fixes my day. Every time I see a kid smiling it’s special for me. I love everything here.

Have you won anything?

Bayo – In 2012 I went to Boston for the IBJJF Boston open. I took second place. It was my first experience in a competition and it was huge. I was nervous, but I learned  a lot. It was also hard for me cause I had to cut weight for the first time in my life. To be honest, I wasn’t feeling ready to roll. I was feeling like 'I need food! I need to eat! I need something!' I felt weak and I tried, but lost by a few points. After that I went to Mission Submission 2 in Erie, PA. No time, only submission. I don’t even know how many matches I won, but I won a lot. I didn’t take 1^st place but I learned, and learned, and learned. My last match lasted 49 minutes. No GI. I’m still working on my lower body through an injury but in the future I want to keep competing. My personal opinion is you’ll never know how you’ll do until you put yourself in the real situation. I try to get experience that way. I plan to keep on doing tournaments.

Liani - I want to and I’m going to! I want to compete in a kids MMA tournament.

What does it mean to you to be a fighter?

Bayo – I’m a fighter already. I don’t need to go to a cage to show anyone. I know what I can do. I’m confident of my techniques, thanks to my teammates and coaches.

Liani - To me a fighter is.. you have to be healthy, exercise daily, get really strong and learn how to defend yourself.

What are your goals/what do you hope to accomplish in the near future?

Liani - I want to compete soon and be an MMA model in MMA magazines like Rhonda Rousey.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

Liani - Rhonda Rousey and also Valerie Aspass. They are both really good fighters.

Bayo – In MMA George St. Pierre . Lyoto Machida. Victor Belfort. Helio Gracie. Kyra Gracie. Miesha Tate. Rhonda Rousey.

Liani

How old are you?

9 years old.

What belt are you?

I am a yellow stripe. Between a yellow and a white belt.

What do you know how to do that you can teach to others?

I know how to do an arm bar. I would show them with another person who knows it, but I would not really do it! [laughs]

What are three words you would use to describe yourself?

Strong. Creative. I’m a giver. Sometimes i'm a little grouchy [laughs].

And three words to describe your dad?

Awesome. Really good at fighting. Strong too!

What is your favorite thing about your dad?

I like it how he teaches others and he’s sweet sometimes because he can hug you he can love you and do a lot of sweet stuff. Sometimes when my mom’s not home he cooks for me.

What is something no one knows about you?

I like to learn a lot. I like to read a lot. I like math and reading comics.


You can see more in a video featuring Liani here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cveoMRRUQp4

“Liani has got the spirit of the tiger. I know it comes largely in part from her father – whom I once sparred with. I see it in the ferocity, will power and personal strength. Above all else she shows true dedication. She has been here whether there have been 15 kids or at times it’s been just her. Her arch nemesis is Landon – just kidding [laughs].” – Coach JJ

Bayo

What is your favorite submission?

Oh that’s a secret [laughs].

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

I’m fast and sneaky. I’m light and strong. I don’t want to get injured anymore training. I believe in safe BJJ.

What are three words to describe yourself?

Honest. Family guy. Athletic.

And Liani?

Lover. She's a lover and she loves everybody. Fighter. Smart. Shes so smart. She’s got good grades and she does all her homework by herself.

What are you most proud of Liani for?

The confidence she’s built in the year and half she’s been training here. 

What is something about you that people here don’t know?

I’m honest with everyone. There isn’t really anything I hide from people. But when Im not training I do my doughnuts diet! And I’m in love with quesitos from the Puerto Rican bakery in Buffalo.

What is the biggest difference between New York and Puerto Rico?

The weather! And the language. What I like most about Puerto Rico is the culture, the weather and family of course. And NY? I love seeing and living every four seasons. I can’t wait to go skiing. The first time I saw snow I was 26 and in Long Island. It wasn’t even snowing, just flurries and it’s amazing honestly. The first time you are in touch with the snow and low temperatures it’s like a gift from earth, like going to the beach in the Caribbean.

What was the hardest adjustment for you when you moved here?

When I started in Western New York was being one of the smaller guys in the class. Until more people started to join our team, I was like struggling with that and the adaptation of a second language. But hey, Jiu-Jitsu is a Universal language meant for everybody! You should try it Cara!

I know you are a bit of an artist, can you talk about that? Do you do it just for fun? Who are your inspirations?

It runs in the family. My Uncle Eduardo Torres Soto, who just passed away this year, was a recognized artist / painter in Puerto Rico. He is one of my inspirations. I started my studies in visual art in 7th grade and did very well but decided to experiment art with developing photography. By that time there was non digital noting lol..... had a successful. I worked in television and as an event press photographer. I won a lot of contests, local and internationals. Yeahh I’m pretty good, now lets go back to Jiu Jitsu [laughs].

You can check out more of of Bayo’s art here: 

www.bayoantorres.com or http://www.modelmayhem.com/1057535

You said Jiu-Jitsu is everything. What did you mean by that?

I started training in the old gym they found the new location and I helped with the mats ring cage and building the gym. I do what I can for my team I teach all I know.. All my techniques. This is my family. I have no family in Buffalo so this is my family right here. Alliance forever! Jiu Jistsu is a lifestyle. It’s the one thing that keeps me busy, happy, confident and in shape. What I mean is for some reason all I think is Jiu-Jitsu, instead of my usual activities like tennis, drawing, photography.. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing [laughs].

And I have to ask! Whats with Bacon?!

I love bacon! I had to cut weight for the tournament Mission Submission 2 and it’s hard for me to cut weight. One day I was talking with Coach Corey about how to cut weight and he just kept saying “No bacon! No bacon! You can’t have bacon!” My teammates heard this and started calling me ‘Bacon.’ It stuck. They used to call me ‘El Conquistador’ because I’m from Puerto rico. Spanish blood.

"Bacon! That's Bayo's nickname. When people ask me why, I just say; Because everyone loves Bacon! Haha, seriously though, Bayo is that guy that shows up Day 1 and then again Day 2 and Day 3 and Day 4.... you get the idea. The guy just kept showing up, did what he was asked and subsequently earned his blue belt through me faster than I have ever gotten someone to blue; 12 months flat! The sky's the limit. Keep your eye out for this guy, he's going to be fun to watch!!" – Coach Mike “Dub” Dauenhauer

Hope you enjoyed this weeks Buffalo NY Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing & Women's Fitness Member Feature!