If you have never seen a girl well versed in mixed martial arts before, that’s because it really hasn’t happened yet until now. Four and half year old Jaelyn Unpingco (aka The Princess Warrior) has been training with her dad Mike since she was three in their home in Northern California. I posted one of her highlight videos last week as well as the one featured below on this piece if you don’t believe this little girl has serious skills.
“When she was two and a half I was hitting the bag at one point,” said her dad Mike. “I look over and I see her little arms moving back and forth like trying to practice and stuff. I thought that was pretty crazy. She’s really young and trying to do what daddy’s doing I guess. I would try to do push-ups and she would try but not right ones though.”
Obviously she was young and her dad felt it wouldn’t be right to train a child in kicking butt just yet.
“Later on when she was about 3 and a half I bought her pink boxing gloves from amazon,” said Mike. “Then oh my god, ever since then she took off with it. Once she got the gloves it was just on. She wanted to wear the gloves around everywhere too.”
At three years old many little kids struggle with detachment issues. Some suck on their thumbs while others walk around with pacifiers secured firmly and safely in their mouths. This one had to be weaned off of a mouth piece. I’m not kidding.
“Up until two months ago she wouldn’t take out her mouth piece,” said Mike. “We’d be at a restaurant, and I had always told her she could bring her mouth guard so she would get used to wearing it in practice. So ever since then she would wear it the restaurant. Actually it’s better than a pacifier. It took a while to get her off that stage but it was cool to see.”
Trained by his father in various martial arts activities at a young age, Mike was able to mix up fun routines for his daughter. “When I was five years old my dad had me jumping over barrels, rolling. He showed me the basics but later on in life I just kinda self-taught myself.” Miraculously, she picked them up faster than any of her slightly older relatives such as cousins and uncles that had received a little fun training from her dad as well.
“But with her she picks it up a lot faster. I would show her a couple moves, and she’s there. I do a lot of different things with her as well. I’ll put balloons on my mitts and she will kick the mitts and pop the balloons.”
Some people on YouTube brought up the point that training a little girl to fight and work out is not a healthy activity for a child. But talk to her dad for even a single moment and it’s obvious he sincerely loves his daughter and is intent on giving her the life she deserves, which is one he believes she will choose to live the way she wants to at the end of the day.
“It’s different, it’s crazy, but I love it because she’s having fun doing it. Like I said man she wakes me up in the morning with, ‘Daddy are we gonna train?’ and then what am I going to say to that, ‘No? Go watch TV?’ Let’s go baby get your gear on, get your gloves on and let’s go outside!”
At one point Mike found himself in front of one of those claw machines inside a glass box stuffed with animal prizes. Everyone knows the goal is to maneuver the claw properly and secure a toy. Unfortunately on this day, Mike ran out of quarters without a toy for his troubles. Turning to his daughter he said, “Hey baby I’m sorry I couldn’t get it this time.” She looked at him and replied, “Daddy, you said practice makes perfect.”
I like this story. This father and daughter will spend a life time enjoying each other’s relationship. This is the stuff real hero’s and role models are made of. “What’s cool about her too is that she does the cheer leading stuff, she’ll do the princess stuff. That’s why I call her princess warrior because she still does all the girl stuff. She likes ninja turtles, and I just love that cause I can sit down and watch those types of movies with her.”
I think about a father’s ability to love his daughter and marvel at someone who can take it a step further and create a bond of friendship with her as well. That’s what anyone should hope to accomplish with their kids in life and I hope to emulate what he’s created with his daughter whether my kid becomes the next great fighter, writer, or office assistant.
With Christmas around the corner, I couldn’t help but ask what Mike had in store for his little princess warrior. Unsurprisingly, he was able to rattle off a list on command.
“I already got it man. She asked me for nun chucks and I got her ankle supports because she gets tired of using the ace bandage wraps for her legs. I got her a new mouth guard and the fast insert MMA wraps. Of course she wants a bike, so I’ll get her a little bike, and of course there’s other stuff that you know the wife took care of.”
Every child must step outside of their parents shadow someday and at four and half years old, Jay seems intent on taking things in to her own hands at times. “The best thing about it too is my wife says that when I’m at work she’ll hear the speed bag going and she’s out here hitting the bag by herself.”
With his daughter by his side, Mike plans on making more fun videos such as the original highlights of his daughter’s training, featured below. He’s also thinking about training kids in the neighborhood at some point, if the right opportunity presents itself.