When I was 6 years old…

Growing up in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn, NY, there was one man considered to be the baddest man on the planet.

My parents signed me up as a student at his Karate dojo. Although only there for a year, because we moved to New Jersey, the toughness I learned from Louis Neglia would have a lasting effect on my life.

Louis Neglia was also from Gravesend, where most kids had only two paths to follow out of the tough neighborhood: join the mob, or wind up on drugs. Neither was an option for Lou.

In neighborhood littered with tough guys, from renowned mafioso to golden gloves boxers, Lou thought he had seen it all. Then one day, by chance, he caught a Martial Arts demonstration. He realized that these were the real tough guys. It changed his life forever. He immediately knew what he wanted to do.

Martial arts was rare back then. Finding a place to train was not easy. Lou persisted with the passion he is renowned for and absorbed all he could. When the time was right, he went to his friend Joey, considered at the time the toughest kid in the neighborhood. Lou asked his friend, a golden gloves boxer, to spar. He used his kicks to beat Joey’s power and the whole neighborhood heard.

Joey was so impressed with Lou’s technique, he allowed him to start teaching out of his basement.

The rest is history.

Lou would go on to start his own school, and then become a World Champion Kickboxer by winning a fight in Madison Square Garden in 1979. This lead to movie opportunites and world fame.

This documentary explores how Lou’s passion for Martial Arts fueled his journey as a fighter, teacher, and then later, legendary fight promotor. Lou’s love and respect for combat sports was essential in the origins of MMA and it becoming legal in NY & NJ. The rest of the country would follow the rules set in NY / NJ to help set the path that has made MMA’s popularity what it is today.

Lou hosted the first ever sanctioned MMA bout in NJ, at his Ring of Combat promotion, where over 160 fighters have gone on to the UFC, including 6 world champions. Fighters from Ring of Combat, and his other promotions such as the Capitale (now Combat at the Space in Westbury, NY), have produced numerous other champions in many other prominent fighting organizations such as Bellator and ONE Championship.

Many of these fighters still visit regulary and send many of their fighter/training partners to start their careers under Lou’s guidance. A true testament to Lou’s character.

In addition to all these accolades…

Lou is also a true family man. A father, and now Grandpa, his family regulary works his events even though none of his children are in Martial Arts.

I learned all this through countless interviews with names such as Matt Serra, Ray Longo, Frankie Edgar, Dante Rivera, Al Iaquinta, Larry Hazard, Nick Lembo, Frankie Perez Sr., Chris Weidman, Alan Goldman, plus Lou’s family, former students, sponsors, and many, many more people who’s lives he’s touched.

I was inspired to create this documentary from my experience cornering a prominent Ring of Combat champion, Ricardo Romero, who went on the the UFC. I couldn’t believe the man I was frightened to dissappoint at 6 years old was now running one of the top promotions on the east coast.

So when I was looking for a project to pour my passion into, my dear friend at Jiu Jitsu, Chris Howard, suggested I should do a documentary on Ring of Combat. What started as a deep dive into the organization lead me to find the story of a man who’s passion and respect for Martial Arts lead him to find the key to living a happy life.

Can’t wait to present this incredible documentary and inspire every person to learn what truly matters in life.

Peter J. Normandia

Director / Producer

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