ONRA:February28th,2010

Hafa adai.

Congrats to Team Countershot’s Joshua “The Hedgehog” Alvarez for a victory in Hawaiian mixed martial arts competition in 808 Battlegrounds this past Friday.

The Korean Top Team is running a weeklong MMA training camp at Trench Tech Purebred Saipan; Mariana Islands MMA pioneer Tetsuji Kato is relocating from Saipan to San Diego; Rollapalooza 5 is inviting Guam BJJ athletes to compete in the Philippines on March 13. But on the same day, Guam wrestling will be holding its qualifiers for the Micronesian Games in the freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s divisions; Jesse Taitano is preparing for his return to professional shooto on March 22. All the while, Guam combat sports continue to make headlines in local media.

In yesterday’s paper, we were toured though some of the lows and highs of the realities that, in part, define our island’s mixed martial arts environment. On one hand you have a familiar fighter-athlete who has been going through sincere struggles to advance forward thousands of miles away toward one of the world’s most prestigious and difficult venues of competition. And on the other side of the paper, an MMA representative unfortunately makes headlines by wreaking multiple cases of havoc unsparingly on our island soil.

These articles adequately support statements that exist on both sides of the fence of MMA’s position and role in Guam’s community.

Mixed martial arts definitely didn’t invent violence and it definitely didn’t invent overseas competition; however, our island’s long embrace of such an interesting conversational topic, has placed our figures onto the podiums of public thought and opinion.

Regardless of our extended efforts, it is difficult to thoroughly label MMA as viable sport when such incidents of extreme and unwarranted violence take place by any of our island’s MMA industry celebrities. It makes a viewer question how people might be selected to be at the front door of such opportunity as an athlete when they might fall so short on their duties as citizens.

With all the authority the Guam Unarmed Combat Commission is seeking to gain over a fruitful sport and hard-pursued venture it had little part in building, part of the spotlight for now can be shared with it on how it might offer its resources to help the industry to deal with this type of situation or any other situations of fighter-athlete misconduct on one hand and of assisting local fighters in overseas ventures on the other.

Even if our fighters were the very best at this sport, what service do we provide with positive campaigning, with professional athlete or venture sponsorship solicitation, when the end product we bring to the table serves as a detriment to the bigger picture?

Guam has proven to love mixed martial arts competition. In our small and fast-ricochet community, if we want it to be around for a while and serve the island positively, then we have to make very conscious efforts to be strategic and conscious of how we go about doing it.

Technique knows no prejudice. The skills offered in training can be really dangerous, you know, in the hands of some. You could really instill terror, but we should also remember that these same skills can not only defend against this terror, but the wisdom offered in proper guidance could all-around better prevent it from even starting.

As advocates of MMA, for longevity purposes, we should do our best to convince and not deceive the island of the legitimacy of mixed martial arts development here in the Marianas. At a time where our athletes are more formidable than ever, at a time when the MMA world is calling our name, and at a time when, despite our imperfections, people still believe in us, we need to work diligently to properly channel all the rising talent away from the focus of competitive martial arts as legalized violence and more into that of sport; for a stronger foundation in an athletic and community-serving framework of growth, of responsibility and in all its added strength and, most importantly, its positive influence. Of course, again, easier said than done. But nevertheless important.

Without this effort, we will find more trying roads ahead. And all this development will be missing out dearly on its full and true potential.

Thanks for dropping by.

GuamMMA:TheGoodAndTheBad

Tuck Headed for Abu Dhabi

By Eric Palacios • For Pacific Daily News • February 25, 2010

By Eric Palacios • For Pacific Daily News • February 25, 2010

Growing up, Tuck wasn’t certain what his future held, he said. He had some options, but nothing really stood out. Now 25, Tuck is more focused in life, with his goals, and on where he wants to go. Tuck is now training for one of the biggest competitions of his life — the prestigious Abu Dhabi Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup Championships, which is scheduled for April 15-17. “I will be competing in the 72-kilogram blue belt division,” Tuck said. “I trained out there for six weeks last year, and I’m taking all the knowledge that I gained and I’m training harder every day now.” Tuck worked tirelessly, turned heads and was invited to compete in the world-class event. The best Brazilian jiu-jitsu warriors will be competing in different weight and belt classes, including some of the world’s best mixed martial arts fighters from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. “As a single parent and an only girl child, this is something that I would never dream of,” said Vangie Cruz-Quintanilla, Tuck’s mother. “It’s something that I would never have dreamed of for him, but I’m glad that he found his passion. I always pray for his safety, and the safety of the other fighters because as mothers we never want to see our child get hurt.” MMA, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has been good for Tuck. He’s traveled to different places, built new and lasting friendships in the process and grown because of the experiences. “The comparison of being in the sport when I first started and now, I think, is that I’ve matured as a fighter tremendously,” Tuck said. “In the beginning it was more of a hobby and a way to get a good workout and just have fun with friends. Now, it’s another drive in life for me because of everything that I’ve been through Tuck understands that the sport is dangerous, one where competitors get injured, sometimes seriously. But it’s this perilous nature that drives him, almost coerces him, to be better than he was the day before, and more importantly, better than his next opponent.

Last fight in Saipan

Tuck’s most recent MMA fight was last November at an event in Saipan. He was matched against one of the Philippines’ top mixed martial artists, who also boasted an unblemished professional record. It took all of eight seconds for Tuck to knock out Eduard Folayang. A thundering right cross caught Folayang cleanly and put him out before he even hit the canvas. “My instructor, my coach, ‘Big’ John Calvo, asked me if I wanted to fight him. I was kind of undecided because our team had just split up and we didn’t have training partners or a training facility,” Tuck said. “But we pushed through and I took the fight on three weeks’ notice. Luckily, I was still in shape. I relied on the tools that I already had and just sharpened them.” The victory over Folayang, like the four before it, is a stepping stone, Tuck said, all part of the big scheme of things. “He was a champion in the Philippines and he was the No. 1 fighter there. I believed in my trainer and I believed in myself, and it’s the hardest fight I’ve ever trained for in such a short amount of time. The work ethic we put in shot me up another level in my game as a whole. Honestly, I was excited and nervous because he’s a good fighter, a really tough guy.” “But I was ready to go five rounds if we had to.”

Focused on BJJ

For now, though, Tuck is concentrating on Abu Dhabi and jiu-jitsu, a component of MMA that he admittedly loves the most. “People from all over the world are having trials. Whoever wins the trials, tournament organizers will pay for all expenses. That’s the benefit of winning a trial — you’re treated like a world-class athlete,” Tuck said. “As for me, I’m like a ninja in the system. I’d like to compete in the trials so I wouldn’t have to pay for anything, but I’m taking the invite and paying my way. I’m really paying for the experience.”

CHARGES

Alex James Castro has been charged in the Superior Court of Guam for two separate alleged attacks over a two-week period.

Jan. 24 incident

FokaiIreland:UKPremierBJJChampionships

FokaiInThePhilippines:Rollapalooza5

GoodVibrations@GrasshopperInc

OnlineStoreIsNowOpen!

It actually has been for the past 3weeks! www.fokaistuff.com

Pho’Life:FokaiVietnam

Appreciated:RespectFromTheUnitedStates

‘Achievable timelines’

Monday, 22 February 2010 01:08 by Mar-Vic Cagurangan | Variety News Staff

THE schedule of Marines’ relocation from Okinawa must be adjusted to a “more realistic” timeline, U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia said Friday, citing the barriers that hamper the troop realignment plan including Tokyo’s unclear intention toward a 2006 pact.

The Marines’ transfer to Guam has been programmed to accelerate in 2014, but the Japanese government led by a left-leaning coalition has yet to decide in May whether or not to stick to the agreement the United States made with the previous administration in Tokyo .

“Let’s just be a little more straight up about what is achievable by 2014 and what is not,” Webb told a press conference at the Hilton Resort and Spa on Friday, concluding his weeklong Asia-Pacific tour.

“The difficulty obviously is that we cannot act in a complete way until the government of Japan clarifies where they are on the initial agreement that they negotiated in 1996,” said Webb, who spent two days in Tokyo before coming to Guam and Saipan last week.

“They set their own deadline; they can come forward with their decision but I am hopeful that we can clear the air and move forward so we can realign,” he added.

Besides Tokyo ’s tentative disposition, Webb acknowledged that Guam is not ready to handle the stress of the military buildup that will result in a population explosion. He also noted the growing protests among Okinawans who want their island to be completely free of military bases.

“There is a sense of unease among the civilian populations of Okinawa and Guam,” said the chairman of East Asia and Pacific affairs subcommittee. “We need to have an open discussion about what is achievable in 2014 and what is not.”

Tinian

As for another possible relocation site for the Marines, Webb suggested that the United States maximize the use of Tinian , an option that has been floating since the CNMI government offered it up as an alternative camp for half of the 8,000 troops who will be deployed.

The draft environmental impact statement for the relocation plan identifies Tinian as a training site for the Marines’ war exercises.

Webb said the island must be considered for an expanded use in order to lessen the pressure on Guam .

“We could be doing more in Tinian and not just in terms of firing ranges,” said Webb, a former combat Marine in Vietnam . “As I was examining this years ago, I was of the belief that we could put permanent reconnaissance units in Tinian .”

As for possible land acquisitions on Guam , Webb rejected land grabbing by the military.
“I am very sensitive to the fact that one third of this island is owned by the military and this is a small island,” Webb said. “If there are additional lands to be acquired here, I don’t believe it should be acquired by eminent domain if they are to be acquired at all.”

Webb noted the need for the United States to understand the limitation of space on Guam . “We need to put that to the forefront; we need to make clear that we recognize the need to address the sensitivity of the people here on Guam ,” he said.

More money

Webb also agreed with local officials that the federal government needs to invest more outside the fence.

Under the fiscal year 2010 federal budget, Guam stands to get $734 million for military constructions, but only $50 million has been allocated for the Department of Defense’s civilian spending and $1 million for the Department of Interior’s Guam program budget.

“Everyone on Guam understands that if we expand the size of the U.S. services, all community services are going to be stressed,” Webb said. “I believe the U.S. government should be spending a lot more money in terms of funding the infrastructure here on Guam as it relates to the buildup.”

He wasn’t happy with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s rejection of the Port Authority of Guam’s request for $50 million aid under the American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act.
“I already called on President Obama to find $50 million for the port issue,” Webb said.

At any rate, Webb believes the repositioning of U.S. troops, “if properly done,” would be beneficial to the United States , Japan , Guam and the Northern Marianas .

GeorgeSotiropolousAndUFCAustralia

Fokai would like to wish a sincere good luck to Fury5Veteran and Purebred honorable training partner George Sotiropolous for his ventures in the UFC but luck has had and would  have nothing to do with his success. This man trains and lives as achampion should and we have confidence that he will reap the rewards that every champion does.

Hats off and Hafa Adai George. Cheers and confidence from 13N144E

GoooooodMorningVietnam!

CptF. pays a visit to a country that has never lost a war, the land of the world’s most adventurous driving, and one of the world’s most promising the homes of craftsmanship and opportunity.

photos will follow within the next few days.

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