HONOLULU -- A popular teacher and coach at Punahou School is being accused of beating a young wrestler.

Kena Heffernan was a star Punahou athlete who enjoyed competing as an amateur sumo wrestler. After graduating from Yale, he returned to Punahou as a math teacher and wrestling coach.

The family of a 15-year-old wrestler has accused Heffernan of brutalizing him during practice.

"He's being beaten by an adult -- a trusted coach -- and it's happening in the presence of his teammates and his other coaches," the family's attorney, David Gierlach, said.

The allegation stems from practice at the Punahou athletic building 10 days ago when the student said the coaches proclaimed it was "brawl day."

"It was basically no-holds-barred wrestling matches, beat-up matches, with coaches taking on students," Gierlach said.

The boy told his parents that the only rule on "brawl day" was no fists. The boy said that his coach used his forearm, repeatedly hitting his face even after his nose and mouth were bleeding.

"He's bleeding from the mouth and the nose, he's breathing in blood and he's still getting pummeled," Gierlach said.

The boy's parents hired Gierlach, who demanded Heffernan and other coaches be fired, "because they obviously shouldn't be dealing with kids."

Late Friday afternoon, Punahou School announced its reaction to the "brawl day" incident.

Punahou said the assistant wresting coach, Heffernan, has been removed as a wrestling coach, which is a paid position at the school. He is continuing to teach the seventh grade.

Punahou suspended head coach Mathew Oney until Feb. 7. The school said he was the one who introduced "brawl day" as a way to teach wrestlers to handle tough matches.

Punahou said "brawl day" will no longer take place at the school. The school has also offered counseling to the young wrestler.