About Us
Jack’s Story
Jacks Story
UCSC to Hiroshima, Japan
After graduating with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz, I was accepted into the JET program as an English teacher in Japan. For the next 11 years, I lived in the Hiroshima prefecture. These years introduced me to rice farming, the koto, okonomiyaki, and a busy schedule of competitive athletics, especially kickboxing.
Teacher to Kickboxer
When tattoos prevented me from becoming a member of local gyms, I was taken in by the fighters and owner of Studio-K. While training and competing in kickboxing at Studio-K, I took up running, cycling, and touch rugby as a way to cross-train and include cardio work in a fun way. As might be expected, I became more competitive and active in these other sports, which led to an inevitable injury.
Introduction to Acupuncture
Juggling multiple sports while training for the Tokyo Marathon culminated in the knee injury that led to my very first acupuncture treatment. Within two weeks, acupuncture and Japanese herbal medicine made it possible for me to not only restart training, but to finish the marathon in a respectable time. A friend of mine experienced the same injury the same week as me, and despite seeing physical therapists and the same massage therapist as me, was unable to continue to train or attempt the marathon. With that experience, I made acupuncture a regular part of my health maintenance routine.
Mastering Performance
Acupuncture and herbal medicine enabled me to sustain a daily 7.5-mile bike commute and compete in various sports for seven years, deepening my understanding of performance and injury prevention through Chinese medicine. While others were sidelined, acupuncture kept me active. After teaching for over a decade, I moved to Oahu to study at a traditional Taoist school. Now, almost ten years into my practice, Jackupuncture, offers a distinct approach to acupuncture in Hawaii.
Crush Limits and Elevate Your Game
with Next-Level Sports & Brain Acupuncture!
Jackupuncture was founded from a deep passion for excellence, competition, and helping others achieve their best. This is why the practice specializes in sports and brain acupuncture. Understanding the challenges of training or working while injured, sore, or exhausted—common experiences for those who push their physical limits—I personally faced these obstacles. My journey through pain has taught me the importance of proper recovery and care. Acupuncture has been instrumental in allowing me to pursue high levels of performance across various sports, and it continues to be a key factor in my well-being as I age.
Before becoming an acupuncturist, I held many roles in education. I was a reading and writing tutor for elementary, high school, and college students in California. Then, I taught English in Japan for 11 years. I actually come from a long line of educators. My great-uncle was a professor at Cal Poly. My great-grandmother was my Sunday school teacher. My cousin was my elementary school vice principal. And my grandmother is a retired public school teacher.
I started kickboxing in Japan because Studio-K, headquarters for Western Japan’s Kickboxing Federation, was the only gym in Hiroshima that would accept me. Even my friend, who was a professional boxer and the manager of a local sports club, denied me membership when he learned I had tattoos. Within my first year of training, I entered and won my first sanctioned fight.
I’ve fought in kickboxing and Muay Thai rings. I’ve played rugby. I’ve run marathons. I’ve played 2nd, shortstop, and 3rd base. I’ve cycled to work and school every week, every year, for a decade. I’m an athlete and a competitor, but now most of my competitive spirit is focused on outdoing myself and colleagues to provide the best outcomes possible for my patients.
Acupuncture is the reason I have been able to stay active and healthy for the last 20 years. Learning how to use it to better athletes’ lives is my passion. I work hard to help you feel increasingly better with every visit. I strive to make sure you are able to feel, live, and compete at your best for as long as you wish to do so. I want everyone to have the opportunity to experience a fulfilling and active life, and I take that part of my role in serving you as a healthcare provider very seriously.
What best describes your visit today?
PAIN
Break Free of Pain
BRAIN
Concussion Recovery, Cognitive Decline & Peak Performance
SPORTS
Overcome Injury & Other Limitations to Reach Your Peak Potential
HEALTH
Transform Your Brain, Body, and Life
What People Are Saying
Jack is very professional, educated, and has great energy in his craft. He made me feel very comfortable prior to and during the process.
Yancy Medeiors
I feel more connected to the ocean. I can see everything around me and am present in the moment. That’s so important in surfing.
Vaihiti Inos
PeakMIND is like legal brain doping. It’s given me faster reaction time and heightened focus. Mahalo to Jack for all of his help!
