Castillo fights for himself and his hometown

Chances are you've never heard of Raul Castillo. The 26-year old mixed martial artist resides in Half Moon Bay, a city known more for its views than its fighters. In a lot of ways, Castillo's persona mirrors that of his hometown -- low-key and quiet. So to figure out what makes the mixed martial artist successful requires a trip down Highway 1 to his gym off of North Cabrillo Highway. There you'll find everything you need to know about Castillo and his desire to rise to the top of the mixed martial arts world. Word is spreading quickly about Castillo. So the perception about not knowing who he is and what he brings to the ring might change very soon. Castillo's next big step to the peak of the fighting world comes tonight when he looks to defend his perfect 6-0 record against Yancy Medieros (4-0) of Hawaii on the main card of "Strikeforce: Challengers" in San Jose. The MMA event will be held at the San Jose Civic Auditorium and will be aired on Showtime sports. "Fighting for Strikeforce is a dream come true," Castillo said. "I want people to recognize all the hard work we put in here at Half Moon Bay and put us on the map." While Castillo's story might read like any other fighter's -- all the hard work, the ups and downs -- what stands out about him is his will to not only reach the apex of his profession, but to bring his entire community along with him. Raised in Half Moon Bay and a graduate of Half Moon Bay High 2002, Castillo enjoys the laid back settings of his hometown. At the age of four, his father brought home a Bruce Lee movie which introduced Castillo to the martial arts. "I was hooked. I was kicking and punching. I was infatuated," Castillo said. From there, his life has been about mastering the arts. Castillo became a black belt at the age of 11 under George Marenco in the art of Kami-Do-Ryu. At 22, he achieved a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Today, Castillo holds over 40 titles in competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling. "Jiu-Jitsu is me. I am Jiu-Jitsu," Castillo said. Castillo began his professional MMA career in 2006 and has been nothing short of dominant. Aside from his undefeated record, five of his six fights have ended in the first round and the other was over before the second. It's his impressive resume and work ethic that is opening a lot of exciting doors for Castillo. Along with his Strikeforce participation, Castillo recently won the Abu Dhabi West Coast Professional Jiu Jitsu trials in Santa Cruz in January. For his efforts, Castillo will travel to United Arab Emirates to fight in the biggest tournament of his life. "I'm really confident right now," Castillo said. "I'm a professional and I love competing against the elite. It keeps (my fighting) at a high level." But while all these doors keep opening for Castillo, maybe the most important one in his life opened three years ago when Castillo and a trio of friends started the Raul Castillo Martial Arts School. It's through his gym that Castillo can give back to the community that raised him and brought him to where he is today. "I don't feel that I'm just a fighter," Castillo said. "I have a gift to teach." It's the youngsters at his school, and the support of his team, that drive Castillo to reach the top and reach it in the place he calls home. While career exposure might be easier to accomplish in larger cities like San Francisco or San Jose, Castillo knows he has something special in Half Moon Bay, something that he has created and wants to see succeed. "I've learned to believe in myself," Castillo said about the experience of owning his own gym in his hometown. "I've learned to have faith and to believe in all the tools that God has given me. "I try to teach discipline and that it's more important that you are a champion in life," Castillo said. "Be humble. I try to teach character." Aside from the joy of teaching and fighting, Castillo's school has also netted him positive gains in his personal life. Castillo met his fiance at his gym. The two have been dating for three years now and recently got engaged. Along with his fiance, the entire city of Half Moon Bay might be out to support him tonight. In Medieros, Castillo might have his toughest opponent to date. The Hawaii native also has an undefeated record. He's stepping down from his usual 205 pounds to face the 185-pound Castillo and is a terrific striker. Like Castillo, Medieros' fights are usually over very quickly. "I live and breathe this," Castillo said. "You're going to have to train harder and it's gotta be your day (to beat me)."