The Fight Stories
Documenting the lives of athletes and their battles beyond the arena.
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FIGHTSTORY presents an intimate look into the journey of Chad Starr—a father, mental health advocate, suicide survivor, and fighter. Chad shares his deeply personal battle with mental health and the devastating loss of his daughter, Sienna, to suicide. Through his long-distance walks, open conversations, and unwavering advocacy, Chad has turned his grief into a mission: to raise awareness for youth mental health and suicide prevention. This story isn’t just about loss—it’s about resilience, hope, and the power of community. Chad’s journey is a reminder that no one fights alone and that together, we can create a world where every person feels seen, heard, and loved.
Honoring Sienna’s Legacy & Raising Awareness for Youth Mental Health – Chad’s Story
Angela Lee Pucci opens up on mental health and Fightstory, a nonprofit organization inspired by the life of Victoria Lee. Angela discusses her own suicide attempt in 2017 and steps she took to improve her well-being and create an organization to educate and help combat sports athletes.
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Justin Yanagida, a Martial Artist, Coach, Author, and Fightstory Ambassador, shares his inspiring journey with martial arts, overcoming sickness, and the importance of health and community. Justin’s narrative unfolds as he navigates chronic asthma, bullying, suicide ideation and a near attempt. Through overcoming adversity and a promise of helping people, Justin is now living his purpose, helping others fight sickness with fitness.
Fighting Sickness With Fitness – Justin’s Journey
Angela Lee Pucci opens up on mental health and Fightstory, a nonprofit organization inspired by the life of Victoria Lee. Angela discusses her own suicide attempt in 2017 and steps she took to improve her well-being and create an organization to educate and help combat sports athletes.
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Erin Standage, a martial artist, self-defense coach, cancer survivor, and fighter, shares her inspiring journey with mental health and the ups and downs of life. Erin’s narrative unfolds as she navigates childhood abuse, cancer, a physical attack, and ultimately, a suicide attempt. Through travel and finding her tribe, Erin is now living a life fully aligned with her purpose.
Finding Purpose Through Pain- Erin’s Journey
Angela Lee Pucci opens up on mental health and Fightstory, a nonprofit organization inspired by the life of Victoria Lee. Angela discusses her own suicide attempt in 2017 and steps she took to improve her well-being and create an organization to educate and help combat sports athletes.
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FIGHTSTORY is an intimate look into the personal stories, struggles, and triumphs of fighters from all walks of life.
Maraya Tomiko Miller, a dedicated mental health advocate, jiu jitsu coach and lifelong martial artist, courageously shares her journey in this upcoming story. Maraya’s narrative unfolds as she navigates the process of confronting and overcoming experiences of sexual abuse. Through therapy and a steadfast commitment to her well-being, Maraya finds solace and strength in cultivating multiple outlets for her mental, physical, and spiritual health.
THE FIGHT STORIES: to Love, to Learn, to Live – Maraya’s Stories
Maraya Tomiko Miller, a dedicated mental health advocate, jiu jitsu coach and lifelong martial artist, courageously shares her journey in this upcoming story. Through therapy and a steadfast commitment to her well-being, Maraya finds solace and strength in cultivating multiple outlets for her mental, physical, and spiritual health.
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𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 our incredible Premier Launch: Kickoff With Aloha
To our FIGHTSTORY community, near and far, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 for your ongoing support and commitment to promoting mental health and well-being. Together, we are making a meaningful impact. We are grateful to have individuals like you, standing with us, as we fight for a better, kinder, and more loving world.A gracious thank you to our speakers: Chatri Sityodtong, Erin Standage, Chad Starr, Robert Villalpando, Enson Inoue, TJay Thompson, Bruno Pucci, Angela Lee Pucci and Paul Hosch. Thank you for your courage and selflessness to open up and share your experiences.
For everyone who attended and supported this event, thank you! Our mission is sacred and we need our community’s support if we want to see change. Let’s continue to fight the good fight together and champion this movement of mental health!
FIGHTSTORY Premier Launch: Kickoff With Aloha
To our FIGHTSTORY community, near and far, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 for your ongoing support and commitment to promoting mental health and well-being. Together, we are making a meaningful impact. We are grateful to have individuals like you, standing with us, as we fight for a better, kinder, and more loving world.
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FIGHTSTORY is an intimate look into the personal stories, struggles, and triumphs of fighters from all walks of life. Tiffany “Time Bomb” van Soest, 7x Glory Kickboxing World Champion and 5x Muay Thai World Champion, opens up about her peaks and valleys in the ring and beyond. We talk about mental health, her retirement and what life looks like for her now.
Thank you for joining us in this meaningful conversation.THE FIGHT STORIES: Peaks & Valleys – Tiffany
FIGHTSTORY is an intimate look into the personal stories, struggles, and triumphs of fighters from all walks of life. Tiffany “Time Bomb” van Soest, 7x Glory Kickboxing World Champion and 5x Muay Thai World Champion, opens up about her peaks and valleys in the ring and beyond.
What’s your story?
By sharing, we create community — every story is important.
In the ring, our guard is always up. We are told to never show weakness. Applied in everyday life, however, this practice can be devastating.
What challenges have you faced? How did you overcome them?
“I felt that I actually didn’t belong anywhere…”
— Rina Perra
FightStory Community
Read the inspirational stories of fighters from around the world detailing the struggles they faced – in their own words. Through sharing, we realize that we are not alone.
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From Rat to Warrior
I’m Joe Chan, a 44-year-old former social worker from Singapore, nowliving in Chiang Mai, Thailand, since December 2023. From my teenageyears, I knew I was called to work with at-risk youth, which motivatedme to pursue social work at the National University of Singapore. Mycareer progressed as I helped marginalized families and youth,eventually leading a team…
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Hope
I named my story “Hope” because hope has been my constant. What I want you to take away from my journey is that hope was the one unbreakable trait I refused to let go of throughout all my struggles. While motivation, belief, resilience, toughness, positivity, and encouragement often felt fleeting, hope remained my north star.…
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Finding a Solution Powerful Enough to Give Me a Better life
I first started Muay Thai as a way to overcome trauma. When I was 19, I was sexually assaulted by a family member who I had grown up with and knew well. I only told my parents 6 years later when I was 25, due to suppressing the memory and using a lot of things…
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I Was Born in a Cult, Cut off from the World Until Age 14
I was born in a cult and as far as I can remember I was always told to believe that the world was going to end and I would not go into the rapture if certain things were not done. I was not allowed to wear Jeans, or T-shirts, or shorts. As a kid, I…
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My Gym Community is Like Second Family
At 2 years old my father stabbed my mother behind the ear and nearly killed her. At 5 years old, I was molested by a babysitter. When I was 10, my mother started getting into heavy drinking and drugs. She became neglectful and abusive. This would lead me down a path of being molested again,…
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Rewriting My Own Narrative and Becoming an Agent of Change for Others
My name is Christina, born in Melbourne Australia from Vietnamese parents who immigrated to Australia by boat. Today I would describe myself as full of life, beautiful inside and out and resilient. In 2021, I was able to become a graduate of my degree in youth work which led me to become a disability support…
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I’m Learning that Not Everybody is an Enemy
My name is Laura Copeland and just under a year ago my life started to change for the better. It changed when I found Muay Thai. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Complex-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which stemmed from a number of traumatic events, including rape and witnessing my best friend’s suicide. I spent…
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I was a Quiet Teenager with a Massive Identity Crisis
Today, I am a soon to be 42 year old woman. I have been in martial arts of some description one or another since I was 8 and it has always held a place in my soul that is indescribable. It started with karate as a child, something my mum put me into to gain…
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I Hear the Demons but I Can Carry On
I started out boxing in 2015 in graduate school and I really got into it. I didn’t realize over the next three years how much it would dictate my life as I would become more restrictive with my eating. I could never be satisfied with my figure. I wasn’t happy, so in 2018 I stopped…
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We Broke Through the Chains Holding Us Back
Aloha, My name is Hazel-Rose Kamaka’ona’onaokamalani Nāhi‘ena‘ena and I am a survivor of Domestic Abuse / Sexual Abuse for 17yrs, & Rape my Highschool senior year. I have fought all my life as a Boxer / MMA fighter, but my hardest battles were mental, spiritual, & emotional. I have suffered from PTSD, Anxiety, & Depression,…
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Again and Again, I Rebuild, Restart and Reprogram
When I first picked up combat sport. I practiced it with the intention of strengthening my mind, willpower and unwavering desire, so that no matter what emotions I would feel, my mind could overcome it.Especially a mind that is constantly tempted by some of the 7 deadly sin.I was bullied, constantly, when i was a…
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I Felt like I was Still Breathing but Not Alive Anymore
My story begins in 2020. Although I had an upbringing that included its fair share of abuse, abandonment and molestation, and panic attacks, it wasn’t until the pandemic year that I started to realize how it all really affected me. When I began seeing video after video of people who were the same color as…
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