13N/144E:

Often folks will ask what this abbreviation is for and why we often place it into design.

For the educated ,its obvious –this is an abbreviation for Guam’s latitude and longitude for 13 degrees North 144 degrees East.

We added this to our campaign as a recommendation from a longtime surfing brother,  founder of Freedom Surf clothing cmpany and owner of Lotus Surf Shop, -Fred Mendiola.

13N144E is our mark on the world as an island. Its  a beacon to share where we come from.

And a reminder that even a tiny dot in the Pacific has critical position in a much larger world.

Culturally, we are blessed to come from a dignified people, and a lifestyle intimate and in tune with its natural environment. Geologically we are gifted to be in the situated  inside of an impressive exhibit of mother nature. Cosmically–we are  positioned within the vortex of some ridiculously awesome things.

We are at attention to a greater calling. Though far from perfect–Guam’s a great and blessed place We have a good people. And it’s hospitality is the living  legacy of its great ancestors. We believe in these  graces. we are confident of this lifeline. Through 13N144E We are happy and honored to share this on the world’s table

 

 

 

 

 

 

FSharp:Hafa Adai Authentic

We got into the clothing venture because we saw that Guam needed a dedicated label and tasteful product that could present Guam to the world  Respectfully.  That was in 1997. Time has flown and almost 20years later, we have seen more than 100 local clothing label s rise  since then with over 60currently  in operation, 30 of these still extremely active with several of them with flagship stores  and soaring! TREMENDOUS!!

It was filling the gap between sport and ambition with what we felt was  fashionable and island-serving.

Today this is still the case but  now there is a room full of labels standing ready, willing, and –more than ever–able to deliver.

The rise and breath of our local clothing industry  is a win for Guam as whole. Its great to see our  island having different creative options to share what might harbor their love for things local.

We had ventured into button shirts before doing shorts sleeve and some long sleeve flannels but only had them in occasional and sporadic releases. We crafted up some samples of button designs using local island  prints, but still friends and family were referring to these as “Aloha Shirts”

Before going further–first let it be said that we have absolutely nothing against “Aloha”. Though The Mariana Islands is thousands of miles apart from Hawaii–we’ve always had a respect for their gravity and efforts in the water, We’ve appreciated their hospitality and perfect weather,; i_in many ways we’ve embraced Hawaii as a sister island.

But what we feel that what we celebrate local–shouldn’t be done so in a foreign tongue, nor do we have to use overseas images, or tuck ourselves away in the shadow of someone else’s identity  to convey an island vibe r to manifest island treasures.

This is what F Sharp is for: To provide quality and comfortable island formal attire–with local elements as our staple to Share Guam as a paradise destination, a resilient people, and an asset to the world around us. We aim to greet with Hafa Adai authentic attire, and we aim to resonate this vibe engineered through an island-rooted  lifestyle to suit the needs from the beach to the Bassllica and everywhere in between

 

What is 1008?

1008 is  the physical manifestation of the guiding and overseeing forces at work in the unfolding of  Fokai’s call-to-duty.

ONRA: FOKAI & THE MARIANAS OPEN

ONRA: Fokai&theMarianasOpen

 

 Hafa Adai,

 

Brazilian Jiujitsu arrived on Guam at a time when No Holds Barred Fighting and Gracie Jiujitsu were virtually synonymous. It was a time when fighting proficiency was previously defined almost exclusively by kicks and punches. It was a time where the surprise onslaught of Jiujitsu’s combat worth had its representatives hardly ever losing in professional and amateur full-contact fighting competition.

 

 

Jiujitsu had flipped the script forever changing the world’s approach to self-defense training. It was the infant days of the UFC and the awakening of the beast that professional MMA has become today

 

As the sport of No Holds Barred Fighting evolved into Mixed Martial Arts competition, the curtains of secret techniques and strategies were opened wide for a receptive world to walk through. Martial Arts evolved speedily beyond the confines of style versus style and more towards conditioning and strategy.  In due effect  the rules, regulations, and point scoring system expanded Jiujitsu from “the Gentle Art” of self-defense to one of the most demanding facets of combat sports, high-level athletics, and unprecedented hand-to-hand martial science today.

 

Though no longer as dominant in MMA competition today. Jiujitsu has been cemented as the art and science that most significantly changed martial arts forever–paving the way for a still-evolving multidimensional approach to fighting, and offering to the masses a comprehensible and ready-to-use system of self defense.…

 

The Marianas Open was created in the thick of Guam’s Mixed Martial Arts heyday, and at a time when Guam Jiujitsu’s ambition began to sprout towards the light of larger tournaments. Under the council of World Competition decorated Jiujitsu Instructor/competitor Mike Fowler and Spearheaded by the efforts of Steven Shimizu and Tony Bashaw, the event modeled itself consistently with the International Brazilian Jiujitsu Federation events and standards—preparing Guam Jiujitsu practitioners with a test model and launching pad into larger events throughout Asia, The United States  and towards creating the drive for a Guam-based Jiujitsu World Champion.

 

In a time when Mixed Martial Arts was catapulting throughout the community, The Marianas Open started as a project to reset Guam back into basics and provide Guam with a preparatory event that would get our Jiujitsu competitors ready for larger tournaments. In the beginning, this extended hopes of a better training environment  for our MMA hopefuls; but I n the process further distinguished Sport Jiujitsu from MMA competition. This effort has since expanded to evolve Jiujitsu far beyond the shadows of Mixed Martial Arts and into its own light.

 

Today , alongside the Copa De Marianas, its mission has been successful with its veteran competitors garnering medals and gold medal finishes in events across the world as well as the ADCC Combat Championships and the Jiujitsu World Championships. With the momentum of 14 successful events, the Marianas Open and Copa de Marianas serves as the Ultimate Gathering for Guam’s Jiujitsu and Submission Grappling Community.

 

 This 12^th edition of the MarianasOpen, with four Copa de Marianas to add  inside of 10years in the making—–the vision of the promoters and long-time supporters

 of the event has taken form.

 

GuamJiujitsu has fast improved to dominate tournaments in the Asian-Pacific region times over with more medals than we can count in the PanAsian Brazilian Jiujitsu and No-Gi tournaments in the Philippines and repeat outstanding individual and team performances in  the TokyoOpen and Asian Open tournament in Japan.

Through the baby steps taken from the MarianasOpen, Guam athletes have been kept in a motion that has helped to elevate our athletes to the mats and even podiums of World BJJ Power tournaments such as the Pan-American Jiujitsu Championships, the Pan-Kids, the US Open, and even the World Championships in California.

 As a longtime supporter of the Marianas Open, FokaiIndustries is taking this opportunity to salute the organizers, competitors, champions and sponsors of the Marianas Open for helping walk the steps for the positive footprints that Guam has placed firmly in World Jiujitsu today.

Onra,TheForce,&Frank”TheCrank”Camacho

We have watched Frank grow tremendously through his career in combat sports and his life as a martial artist. Making headlines from Saipan to Maryland, throughout Guam and the Philippines, Camacho has carried the flags of our islands proudly across podiums with title victories through Submission Grappling, Braziian Jiujitsu, and Mixed Martial arts in Asia, mainland America, and of course in the islands of Guam and Saipan. With past career highlights including a 1^st place finish as a Blue Belt in the  Brazilian Jiujitsu World Championships, trying out on national television for The Ultimate Fighter television series—Frank , the competitor, has evolved into a world class fighter athlete that is not only a by product of training with the best; it is also the direct effect of his character and fortitude to work beyond himself to do ethically whatever it takes to win.

Doing enough in his career to earn props and respect for a lifetime, at only 24years old “The Crank” still keeps his eyes on the prize.  From his competitive demeanor and his ferocity in the mat and cage, its comforting t know that  defender, upholder, and son of the islands still has his heart set on the prize of honoring and cultivating the islands that shines brighter than even the UFC gold.

This is a recent interview copied and pasted from The Marianas Variety with our future champ

“For generations our people have been fighting. It runs through our veins. To save our land, preserve our culture, and our daily life struggles. That’s what I fight for. I’m on a mission to show the world where these islands in the Pacific are.”

‘The Crank’ takes on tough Japanese foe

Frank “The Crank” Camacho kicks off his 2015 campaign against Japan’s lightweight shooto champion Yusuke Kasuya in the Pacific Xtreme Combat 47 on March 13 at the University of Guam Feldhouse in Mangilao.

Frank “The Crank” Camacho aims for his fifth straight win when he goes up against Japan’s lightweight shooto champion Yusuke Kasuya in Pacific Xtreme Combat 47 set on March 13 at the University of Guam Fieldhouse in Mangilao. Camacho is fresh from scoring a submission win by arm-triangle choke against Korean Jae Woong Kim last December. (Jon Perez)

The Camacho-Kasuya bout is one of the four featured undercard fights of the Jang Yong Kim-Yusuke Kachi headliner.

The 25-year-old Guam-born fighter (15-2, with 11 wins by knockout) said he has prepared and trained hard against Kasuya (8-2, with 1 KO victory), who is a known scrappy fighter.

“I’m most excited about this PXC 47 fight in particular because my opponent, Kasuya, is a scrapper. From watching his previous fights, he’s a tough guy that finishes fights,” posted Camacho on his Facebook page.

“These are the opponents I look forward to. I fantasize about the hard-tough fights ahead. I truly get the full Fokai experience. Exhaust the body, proceed the mind, and cultivate the spirit.”

Camacho added that tough foes like Kasuya pushes and challenges him to further raise his game.

“Tough opponents like Yusuke force me to rise to the occasion and dig down deep for that extra push, that extra round, that extra punch during training, these are the things that make me a better martial artist,” said Camacho.

Camacho said he’s in great shape as he has not stopped training since scoring a first-round submission win over Jae Woong Kim by arm-triangle choke in Trench Warz 18: Rock and Rumble in his return bout on Saipan last Dec. 12.

“I’m in killer shape, weight in on point, zero injuries, and no more ring rust. This fight is very important for the goals I’ve set for 2015,” added Camacho, who is aiming to someday compete and represent the Marianas in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“For generations our people have been fighting. It runs through our veins. To save our land, preserve our culture, and our daily life struggles. That’s what I fight for. I’m on a mission to show the world where these islands in the Pacific are.”

He thanked his family, fans, and his girlfriend, Sarah (Filush), for all the love and support they’ve shown throughout the years.

“Thank you to my hometown CNMI fans. On March 13th, I’m not competing alone; I have my island behind me. For all that love and support, thank you. Thank you all very much for believing in me and supporting me through everything.”

Onra:AbuDhabi Pro Qualifiers

“F” is for FreestyleSessions:

Heres a video edit from the Fokai SoCal Project with Cros One of Freestyle Sessions, one of the
World’s most recognized and established breakdancing / B-Boy events. Watch this breakdown as he talks about the elevation of the game, its past, present, and future, and bringing the big show  to his backyard, San Diego.

Missing in Action/Found in Adventure

Hafa Adai,

Not too sure if anyone follows this blog anymore –with good reason. Its been more difficult to maintain than anticipated. Tons of things have happened since our last post and the reality of it is that while we wanted to created ablog that would share everythign from product development to life adventure.we got so caught up in deveopling product and adventuring in life that we have miserably  failed the viewers to share these experiences…to share THE FORCE.

In this aspect–at this point, it would seem that the Force that we preach is actually weak with us. Or isn’t it?  At this day and age of technology and social media, it seems that nothing is rea unless we have a photo, or unless its posted online,. the gravity and value of what we seem to do is measured by hw may likes or how may followers we have on Facebook and Instagram.

Thought these services were created to connected people together from far away distances in the cyber workd, the overuse of these powerful tools has instead succeeded in disconnecting people from each other in the physical world.

It is a pity that it is growingly more common to find groups of people traveling at times miles to be with each other but spend the majority of their time together staring into their cell phones. and whats even more pitiful is that this is in many places–acceptable behavior

As Natalie Merchant says “These are the Days” and as Bruce Lee says “Be Like Water”.

In the midst of this dissatisfaction, however, we have to remember that the internet was in large created to service mankind. not destroy it. It truly is a powerful tool. taking into account is that the keyboard is a powerful medium for people to express themselves we should at least give it that much credit.

Where many months would have passed and even more miles that would have to have been traveled  from scores of the most capable of  men and often with casualty to get a message across an ocean–A message now can travel all over the world SIMULTANEOUSLY with this developing magical device called a cellphone–in seconds, in the hands of a child.

With all there is to gain in this photo sharing, post-liking, instagram following world–we area t best to remember the words of another friendly neighborhood famous man

“With great power comes great responsibility”.

Who am i to bitch when im as guilty as charged. With that being said..welcome back to the diary of a madman. but first–let me take a selfie

TheForce&IvanFernandez

 

Very little has been said about this…..On December 2, Basque athlete Iván Fernández Anaya was competing in a cross-country race in Burlada, Navarre. He was running second, some distance behind race leader Abel Mutai – bronze medalist in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the London Olympics. As they entered the finishing straight, he saw the Kenyan runner – the certain winner of the race – mistakenly pull up about 10 meters before the finish, thinking he had already crossed the line.

FokaiIreland:The CorkOpen

Enjoy kids ……….Thank you to all of you who came down to support and represent your Team at this years Cork Open ….We hope you all made it home safe …See you again soon at the No Gi later on in the year …Thanks Tony .

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