FokaiAmphibiousDivision:StayReady

GuamBJJBringsBack34Medals

A Guam contingent of Brazilian jiu-jitsu players won 34 medals and took second place in the team category at the Asian Open Jiu-Jitsu Championships last weekend in Tokyo, Japan.

The Asian Open is the largest jiu-jitsu tournament in Asia and one of the five most prestigious tournaments in the world, according to Stephen Roberto, head instructor of Purebred Guam/Lloyd Irvin Jiu-jitsu Academy.

Joining the team were black belts Mike Fowler and Jonathan “JT” Torres. Fowler and Torres are from Purebred’s affiliate school in Maryland. Fowler is a former instructor at Purebred.

Divisions

The tournament divided competitors by belt ranking, weight class and age, according to the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s official website.

The senior level is for competitors born between 1970 and 1974. The master level includes competitors born between 1975 and 1980 while the adult division is for competitors over the age of 18. The absolute division disregards the competitor’s weight class.

Roberto won gold in the heavyweight and absolute divisions at the black belt senior level. Fowler finished second in the middleweight division and earned a fourth-place bronze medal in the absolute division of the black belt adult level. Torres was first in the lightweight division and also took home the third-place bronze medal in the absolute division adult level. Roberto said the IBJJF gives out bronze medals to third- and fourth-place finishers in divisions that have a high number of competitors. Fowler and Torres were the lightest competitors in the absolute division, he added.

Terence Aflague won gold in the middleweight division and bronze in the absolute division at the black belt master level. Roberto said this was Aflague’s first tournament as a black belt.

William Escobar won a silver medal in the middleweight division at the brown belt master division.

Joshua Jerome, Eric Sian, James Paek, Javier Mirelez and Mike Sanchez all competed at the purple belt adult level. Jerome was first in the ultra heavyweight division. Sian won gold and Paek won bronze in the medium heavyweight division. Mirelez won bronze in the middleweight division and Sanchez finished first in the light featherweight division.

GoodVibrations:Stranger

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Love Guam and Back

Posted by Trent Moorman on Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 12:41 PM

The hermit crabs on the south end of Guam have the deal down. Toward Cetti and Umatac Bay, claws go unclenched crawling through secluded days on seldom touched, unspoiled beaches, or ranches as they say. Few are the humans there. Air breathed in adds days to your life. Thick air. Jungle air. Crustacean air. Sand is sugar, pulling at ankles. It may rain, but it’s welcome. It may thunder, but it combs the distant sky past the green hills of Fort Soledad. Ocean is clear and warm. Coral mazes run forever. Blue starfish, flying fish, possible octopi. The quickness of the barracuda seems out of place. Time seems out of place, washing through like the daily storm. You’re a hermit crab, you’re house is attached to your back. Your antennae spin the earth. What matters? Elsewhere out there, calculus exams are taken. Traffic clogs highways. People argue. There’s war. The planet clocks in. Blood pressure spikes. But not here. Time doesn’t really happen on Guam. It’s somewhere else. Magellan won’t land here until March 6th, 1521, so you’re good, you got millennia. And your shell. Come out. Be. Bask. Elongate. Move, or don’t. Sun is. Sun is all.

Guam lies in the Pacific, south of Tokyo, and north of Australia. It’s thirteen degrees above the equator, thirty miles long by nine miles wide. It’s the southernmost island of the Marianas chain and the largest in Micronesia. Buildings and houses are made to withstand Typhoons. In 2002, Typhoon Pongsona had 173 mph winds, with only one fatality. The indigenous Chamorros and the people of Guam are nobles of and for the sea. Women, goddesses and mermaids. Everyone is warm and open. Hafa Adai is hello, the Latte Stone, the symbol of the island. Maliciousness does not compute.

Guam craves music. They have a lively scene, mostly reggae and cover bands. Hip hop has yet to arrive. There are hip hop DJ’s and MC’s, yes, such as Aaron Tamayo at Hit Radio 100 KOKU, and heads, like the family at Fokai Clothing. But the music and radio mainly resemble Top 40. Promoter Delia Lujan is trying to change that. She started a pioneering promotions company called Quasicool, and has begun to bring music and bands to Guam. Her first was Meiko, who collaborated with Crystal Method last year.

Head Like a Kite was Lujan’s second go-round. A lawyer by trade, she’s a promotions machine, treating us like kings, and doing everything rightly, garnering sponsors, news, radio, signage, and TV spots (CW4 and Guam News Watch). She also hosts a show called Folk Waves on KPRG Public Radio for Guam. She gave us a car, phones, and went way out of her way to make us feel welcome. To her and her friends I have endless gratitude and thanks. Because Guam is so far, it’s hard to get bands and indie type music there. But that’s exactly what Lujan’s plan is. The next act she’s prepping to bring Guam’s way is her biggest yet (announcement is pending). Manila, Philippines is an area close enough for bands to hit as well, so growth and the future of music expansion in Guam look promising. Our shows were good, there were two. One was all ages. People hesitant at first, were up close and jumping by the end.

(Pictures after Jump.)

The week there was a blur and I didn’t want to leave. People like J. McFerran – the Mayor of Mermaid Tavern, paddle-board guiding Chamorro Pedro talkers, Brogan.biz, Leslie and the Buffy watching party, Jackie the blackbelt, Jayton all ages man, Steve, Matt, Tish, and Tano, I had to force myself on the plane. The food, the drink, the beaches frikking everywhere, make you want to stay. Ribs galore and chicken with finadene, a soy, vinegar, lemon sauce, and Sweet Tuba, a drink made from the first sap of a young coconut tree. Tuba may be the liquid consumption experience of my life. Watch out for duendes, the mischievous goblin spirits, they’ll trip you up. And Betsy, the Carabao, ring through her nose, up for a pat.

Crossing the international dateline to get to Guam puts a twist in the jetlag. Our second night there, we were guests at a fundraiser for the Lt. Governor. He had mean, svelte Power Slide moves on the dance floor. The dude needs to be on Soul Train. I believe I met the Governor as well. I was full of Bud Light and accidentally coughed a fleck from a meat skewer on his lapel. He was forgiving. It was tiny and bulbous and wiped away instantly. Sorry Delia, it just flew right out.

Speaking of American moves, Guam is set to undergo a large US troop build up. Some 30,000 soldiers and family will be heading there. (Unrest in North Korea?) In classic American fashion, they’re trying to build a firing range on sacred Chamorro land. DEAR WHATEVER GENERAL OR OFFICIAL PUT THIS IN THE PLANNING, Not a good idea. Not such a great way to implement the build up. You think? Hello, it’s sacred land. Find another place for your target practice. You’ve already taken the nicest beaches in your third of the island, and all the barbed wire around the US compounds (to keep the locals out) isn’t the best look. Duendes will have a field day with your toiletries if this happens. As will the Taotaomona ghosts of the ancients. The troops might want to try the Chamorro saying Guella yan Guello, “Excuse us, elders. May we walk through and visit your land?” And while your at it, tell your boys to get out of the Inarajan pools, turn down their shitty music, and pick up their fucking beer cans. Tell them to ogle each other for a change.

Another Guam discovery was Japanese soldier, Yokoi. A hold out from the WWII hostilities in 1945. When American forces liberated the island in the 1944 Battle of Guam, Yokoi went into hiding. Due to shame for not killing himself because he was still alive, he stayed in hiding for twenty-eight years. I don’t know why his cave made such an impression. Twenty-eight years, in a cave. With an airshaft. Harnessing river food, making shoes, and a cooker. He was a full on Pre-Macgyver, coming out in 1972 to be hailed as a hero in Guam as well as Japan.

Another hero, Asya from Smoosh, was there to guest with us. Hearing her sing Tilson’s parts was a highlight. Asya’s got the mermaid thing going on as well. Duendes are definitely not messing with her.

In other Guam news, they do more than massage in massage parlors. And there’s a guy who murdered his wife who somehow has been doing work release outside prison after serving only three years of full incarceration. He continually fights for parole, and his daughter, who was five at the time of her mother’s murder, continually and traumatically has to go in front of the parole board and tell them to put her father back in prison. She says, “I’m serving a life sentence without my mother because of his selfishness. He should have to do the same.”

Back to the beauty, the last day there, I was graciously taken out on a boat to the South end of the island for snorkeling. Rain washed in then out. Looking at rain hit the surface of the ocean from underneath is a muted sound. Drops as little fingers push the boundary back from the edge of the world. Then it was undulated suspension in the swaying algae on the coral, and the clicking sound of Parrotfish chipping away at the coral. Next thing I knew, I was on a plane, then was sprinting through the airport in Honolulu to make the connection home. Duendes jacked my wallet at the metal detector and I had to run back for retrieval. I bet Asya didn’t have any duende wallet problems at the metal detector.

Goodbye for now, island in the Pacific. Flying fish and the fly Chamorros. I love you, Guam.

TeamPurebredLloydIrvin&TheAsianOpen

Two world champions, AsianOpen returning champions, other champions from Guam’s most competition decorated academy in Brazilian Jiujitsu Competitionthe will be accompanying a host of other AsianOpen, MarianasOpen, Tokyo Open to the Japan to compete in the 2nd annual AsianOpen BJJ Tournament.

Team Purebred/LloydIrvin’s Impact last year was phenomenal enough to gain the interests of the Asian Open coordinators and received nothing but praise from counterparts and associates in Japan and abroad for a stellar performance in 2008”s event. Returning with one 2th place novice team title, one 3rd place overall team title, 11gold metals, 4silver medals, 2bronze medals, and one new Guam BJJ blackbelt from last year’s Tokyo OpenJiujitsuChampionships, Team Purebred/LI is looking to echo last year’s prestige of the Tokyo Open BJJ Championships most outstanding single academy.

Accompanying Team Purebred/LI again will be world-profile BJJ athletes, returning instructors Mike Fowler and JT Torres. Eescorting with them the attention of the international BJJ media, Fowler and Torres will be joining Purebred/LI head instructor Stephen Roberto to bring testament to the high expectations from academies throughout Japan.

Both originating from the EastCoast United States( Fowler from Maryland and Torres from NewYork), the LloydIrvin BJJ instructors have both received criticisms in the past for a speedy climb to the ranks of black belts but have times over shut down all skeptics with phenmomenal results in competition against the world’s finest. Often traveling the globe to instruct and compete, we caught up with them from an interview conducted with the man many have come to know as CrazyMike, the east coasts version of one of our favorite super heroes and local fighter-athletes “Spiderman”, and one of Guam’s major leaders in Brazilian Jiujitsu.

First would like to begin by saying its an honor to have you guys back on island. You have contributed tremendously to Guam BJJ and it’s great to see you guys here again After watching all your clips on youtube.You’ve really helped A lot of guys and gals in BJJ here to expand their horizons and your success feels in many ways as our success.
Welcome back and thanks for your time. I know it’s a rock and roll schedule…

JT TORRES
How does it feel to return to Guam and what have you digested from your ventures here in BJJ?
What type of impact has Guam had on you as a repeat guest and guest-instructor?
JT:It feels great to be back on Guam! What I have digested is that the level of BJJ is rising here day by day. I first started coming out to Guam 2 years ago and every time I have come back, I can feel the BJJ force here getting stronger. This excites me because I love seeing the growth of the Gentle Art.

The islands are grateful…You fell into alignment with two Guam-based companies (Shoyoroll and Fokai) on independent occasions…What impact, if any, has this had on you and your digestion of GuamBJJ?
Yes I am VERY grateful of getting into alignment with Fokai and Shoyoroll. Both of these companies have helped me greatly! They show me great support and love when I am here on the Island and all over the world. They have also helped me in the styling department because I now have the sickest gear on and off the mats! I have also have meet the coolest people, that I now consider family, through these companies. Another thing about Fokai and SYR, thats I love is that, they treat me like family and make me feel very welcomed, which is what counts in the end…family and love.

What personal growth do you think BJJ has provided in your life?
I feel that BJJ has made me the man I am today. It has really made grow up because of the all the places it has taken me all around the world, all these great experiences it has provided me. I have meet some the coolest people during my travels and seen some of the coolest places as well. I am so grateful for BJJ.

How did it feel to fast excel to your blackbelt and what have you discovered in the new pool of sharks?
It almost feels unreal sometimes when I think about how fast I got my Black Belt and how well I am doing already. When I first got my Black Belt I thought to myself ” O damn, now I have to fight the Black Belts that I have been admiring since I was a 15 year old Blue Belt!”. Since being in these pool of sharks, I have learned that you really have to focus on always adding new weapons and expanding your game, because if you get stuck on one certain thing it can really hurt you in the long run and prevent you from doing well at Black Belt.

You are both testaments of the Grappling game plan. So what words might you have about the philosophy of moving forward with “the empty cup” (be formless like water) So BJJ—Sport or MartialArt? If both can you briefly discuss that synergy?The synergy is all about taking any style and being able to learn it and defeat it. This what I feel when I hear “be formless like water”. You should study all different games and prepare your game to overcome those.

What words of advice would you have for people interested in training BJJ?
The words of advice that I would give is to make sure when you started training BJJ, go in there with a open mind and open heart. You must really embrace BJJ into your life, if you wanna feel the full effect of this beautiful Martial Art. And it also a great workout! It will provided nothing but great joy, I guarantee it!

In the near future I know I will have a world title as Black Belt around my neck! I also want to fight MMA, becoming UFC light weight Champion in the near future, after I am done accomplishing all of my BJJ goals of course. Some words I like to live by are: ” A true champion always finds his way” and ” You make yourself and you destroy yourself”. Ok guys thank you so much for everything! and keep training hard!!!

-JT Torres
ForMike what are your thoughts of Guams BJJ training and goals after living here
And then returning as a guest instructor? What are the positives and negatives of training onGuam?
Guam is on a level that most gyms in the mainland strive for. After living here and seeing where the jiujitsu is now from when I left, it’s awesome! Amazing how high the level is continuing to rise. For sure will see more and more world champions come out from the island. The only negative is the distance from most of the best tournaments. Other than that, nothing comes to mind.

How do you feel Purebred/LIGuam is doing in BJJ, not just in competition but in terms of an academy and lifestyle?

The guys at Purebred have come to show the level and standard you would expect to see from the students of a martial arts academy. Even the young kids have great manners and conduct themselves like real blackbelts.

Off trac k—what words would you have of instructing and training beside our island’s favorite Frank”TheCrank”Camacho ?
Frank is a real blessing to have as a training partner. The most well mannered and hard working guy you will meet. He is elevating his game to such a high level! One of my favorite guys to train with.

What personal growth do you think Guam has provided in your life?
Guam helped me grow up and into my own. Learning just as much about living from Stephen Roberto from watching his example. A great role model within the gym. The island life opened me up to a better mindset and really helped me for the better.

Seeing how the team has grown, what might you have to say about this years participation in the Asian Open?
This is our biggest year yet! A solid squad with hard training. Can’t wait to see the amount of medals the team brings in!!

What positive impact(s) can you see resulting from Guam’s participation in this event?
Purebred is continuing to put Guam on the map and make noise thoughtout the world. This tournament will only further solidify what is already there!

What additional steps do you think can be made to improve Guam’s position in WorldBJJ?
More gyms on island should really buckle down and get serious. The more serious you take it, the better the results for everyone. Bring the level up of everyone.
You are both testaments of the Grappling game plan. So what words might you have about the philosophy of moving forward with “the empty cup” (be formless like water) So BJJ—Sport or MartialArt? If both can you briefly discuss that synergy?
Always have a empty cup. Be humble. Accept what people show you and really take the time to understand. It will click in A sense and you will understand what you have been shown.

What words of advice would you have for people interested in training BJJ?
Take that leap! Proven over and over the most effective martial art. No matter age size shape boy girl, jiujitsu is for everyone. It will better your life in coutless ways! Jiujitsu saved my life.

Anything else to add? Words to live by?
Thanks to the people of Guam for the blessings and hospitality while on island. To many more trips! Team Lloyd irvin purebred. Fokai since ever since.

Good training
Mike Fowler.

INNERVIEW STEPHEN ROBERTO:
So please tell us something about this years tournament and what it means to lead,coach, and compete alongside TeamPurebredLloydIrvin to the 2010 Asian Opens?
We are a team of 34 comprised of members from Purebred Jiu Jitsu Academy Guam and Team lloyd Irvin camp Springs, Maryland The Asian Open Jiu Jitsu Championships is Considered one of the top 5 Events in the IBJJF (In ternatinal brazilian jiu jitsu federation) Mundials (Worlds), Basiliero, Pan Ams, Europeans Champs, Asian Champs. I’m stoked about competing. The team has trained hard and prepared well for this tournament. The next best thing to competing is watching your team compete.

What’s new for this years team?
the team was exposed to some incredible technique from so many incredible black belts that have come to Guam and trained at Purebred. from the Mendes Brothers (Rafael and Guilherme), Mike Fowler Jt torres, Shishido isamu and many other black belts from japan. They brought alot of new technique and strategy that is used at the highest level. If we drill and apply we cant go wrong. I’m starting to see such an advanced game from all belt levels.

what it means to have Fowler and JT back in the gym.
Wether your training with them or hanging out they are very inspiring for ones jiu jitsu. Sick technique and good vibes. They’re definately on the cutting edge of todays jiu jitsu.

And why the AsianOpen?
Japan is the birthplace of jiu jitsu, its so nostalgic and voodoo like. Also the japanese and brazilian competitiors are top notch. Alot of japanese have no social life. all they do is work and train. real warriors. The team trains for the best and the Asiatico is where its at.

FokaiFemme:TraceyGoodell

Fokai:/f’keye/via MendesBros

Guilherme and Rafael Mendes will spend two weeks at some of the most popular tourist sites in Europe.

But they’re going there to work. “We want to let everyone know we’re heading to Europe; we have seminars scheduled in Switzerland, Turkey and Birmingham, England,” wrote Guilherme Mendes to GRACIEMAG.com.

“We invite one and all who can make it to our seminars, to get to know us, our way of training, our game a bit better,” says 2009’s light featherweight world champion.

“Thank God we’re seeing wonderful recognition from people; we receive emails asking for seminars in different places every day. We want to take the opportunity to say thanks for the affection, it just motivates us to train even more. The joy of being an athlete and achieving victories goes beyond winning on the mat, there’s also the gratifying victory outside of tournaments: that of fulfilling dreams and conquering people’s admirations, and being happy with one’s own self,” he says.

“We’re going to compete this year; we’re training a lot and are in top shape, feeling really good!”

If you’re nowhere near Europe or Rio Claro, Brazil, you still have the opportunity to learn from the Mendes brother in GRACIEMAG. In this month’s training program. Subscribe here and secure your copy of GRACIEMAG every month at home.

Zurich, Switzerland – 10 September
Team Nogueira
EMAIL: info@frota-team.ch

Geneva , Switzerland – 11 September

Team Anderson Pereira
Academy Shinbudo 81,Av louis Casai 1216
+41787448972 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +41787448972 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Istanbul, Turkey – 12 September
Corvos MMA Academy
05335604424
Sehit Tegmen Ali Yilmaz sok. no:16
Besler Plaza Kavacik

Birmingham , UK – 19 September
GB Birmingham
01217068465
steve.fan@btinternet.com
Station Road, Acocks Green

10,000XMakesTheMove

The Not so secret training of Champions as broken down by Master LloydIrvin and Friends

TrainOfThought:MendesBros

Whenever I’m going to fight I am very confident because I know I’ve trained a lot, I know all I did to be there so i will not look at the name of my opponent, if he is famous or not, if he has many titles or not, I only think of one thing be a champion, this being my goal, I will not let anyone take that ! I believe that is my day, th…e day of my victory! And I get on the mat and gonna do the best I can, we can never get out of the mat winning or losing a fight and think “I could have done better, or I could have been devoted more” needs to give the best that you have, always!never give up and always believe! You need to have lots of faith in God, everything is possible with him! Be trained and confident and you will be a champion!

nekotnedlogeht:Sincerely

Thegoldentoken is a symbol of gratitude and a sincere act not to place anyone above anyone else but to extend an extra note in the goodvibration that is defined as FokaiIndustries.

It is the intention to build a path to the light and perspective that emphasizes giving before taking. and a bridge to the voodoo that makes PlanetFokai go round.

it is offered in confidence that the holder will pass a goodvibe not necessarily always called Fokai. And it is the humble understanding
that theGoodVibe exists even outside of us.

In its true spirit–The golden token does not need a face or label.

Very happy to grow in this light and hope to share the ride with you all along the way.

ForLife.

Revamp:EnsonInoue,108Temples&870Miles

Sometimes getting totally lost is the best way to find yourself and sometimes going into seclusion is the best way to discover that youre really not alone.

In a solo journey on foot of  870miles in , In about his 200th mile, Enson was gracious enough to drop a line after yesterday.  He’s doing great.Having a powerful experience. 14days of hiking 14hours a day.sleeping outdoors and eating fruit of f trees. About a month to go.

but exhausting,proceeding, and cultivating most definitely. Hes praying for us all. And hoping we can do the same for him.

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