ONRA:November19th

Hafa Adai,

How many of us caught the last Strikeforce event on CBS? Its always a treat to watch Emelianenko Fedor prove again to an estimated 11million viewers that he truly is the greatest fighter in with the respect and demeanor to match his legacy as a true martial artist. Food for thought—pretty amazing that the Philippines made news in this weekends professional combat sports with Manny Pacquiao in WorldChampionshipBoxing and Brandon Vera in world pinnacle MMA. Words for Philippine MMA fans from a previous interview with Brandond Vera—“Mabuhay Lahat!”

In Arizona, Herman Torrado made real short work of his opponent with a  devastating first round victory in DesertRageV1 on November 7th.

Saipan had a successful All-_Island Submission Grappling tournament with theArtOfWar 4 on November 14^th. Guam Judo will be holding their Fundraiser tonight at the Sheraton to send a team to HongKong  compete in December’s EastA sian Games. Justin Cruz is on his way to defend his Bantam weight title against Philippine MMA noteable Mark Sangiao in this weekend’s URCCXV:Onslaught at the World Trade Center.

With a host of other matchups, Guerrilla Warfare3: Confrontation will be hosting the CNMIs first official Championship title match as Guahan Top Team’s John Tuck will be facing Ed Folayang in their mainevent in pursuit of the lightwheight belt ath the WorldResort in Saipan.

Tetsuji Kato of Trench Tech/Purebred Saipan has left yesterday for Japan to compete in Professional Shooto for next Wednesday at the JCB Hall in Tokyo.

Purebred/Lloyd Irvin Jiujitsu is digesting a week long instructional camp from visiting BJJ Celebrities and Multiple World ChampionsRaphael and Guilherme Mendes in preparation to compete in the TokyoInternationalOpenJiujitsu Championships at the Tokyo Budoh-kan on November 28^th and 29th.

Lets bow our heads and lift our hearts in rememberance and respects for the late Carlos Palacios of Guam Kyokushin who had passed away on November 8^th.

Unfortunately, though Ive had the pleasure and honor of some martial arts conversation with him, I cant say that ive trained under Mr. Palacios nor can I say that I knew him very well. I can, however, speak more from the  very-respectable reputation that preceded him as a man of strength and a man of honor.  Finally able to meet the man, I also feel very fortunate to know that Mr. Palacios was a reader of this column.

With all Ive ever gathered about Kyokushin through friends, videos, or watching classes, it was comforting and confidence-giving to see that even  in a way of training that seems to create hands and legs of steel , through Kyokushin, Mr. Palacios seemed to move forward as a mentor to his students and a human being among others with a heart of gold.

MartialArts or Martial Sport?
It seems that our martial arts environment of the past is different than that of today. Recently,Competitive martial Arts has been so decorated in sport, that it becomes so easy to saturate ourselves so much in competitive results that w e might lose sight of the gifts beyond the fist

All over the  world, MMA is taking off .  In the MarianaIslands, with all the sciences of effective training and the ever-growing canvas of in-the-field development—many, but not all, our athletes as fighters are more formidable than ever. Hopefully we can learn from the examples of good men like the late Carlos Palacios and our other Martial Arts pioneers to recognize that, through diligent training, Martial Arts offers  the tools to deal with more opponents other than those that stand on the other side of the ring, cage, mat, or alley.Martial Arts also provides the tools and cultivates the perspective(s) to conquer the obstacles that might stand in the way of a productive and meaningful life. And with that—a life peacefully among others.

So Hopefully, for all that is good–Fight Tough.

Osu! Rest In Peace Mr. Palacios.

Thanks for dropping by.