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Hafa Adai,

It seems that Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts  are everywhere these days… If were not watching it on the UFC or youtube, then the frequency of events here on Guam stays busy enough to keep those offline and off the grid entertained and hopefully, at some point, educated about the evolution of martial skill. The fast-accelerated refining  of technique and  the exponential advance of physical conditioning combined brilliantly with a Jedi’s worth of martial strategy is arguably breeding the greatest hand to hand fighters in the history of mankind.

Not too long ago, in some ways for a whole lot of people, martial arts competition was in many ways sensitive territory. Martial arts in massive seemed to be centered around self-defense and fighting skill was mostly used only when absolutely needed.  Today, it seems that there’s a major mixed martial arts event every weekend, there are millions of videos on the internet, there are more martial arts publications to count, and online fight sport forums are populated by the millions who have an opinion and an interest for who might be the world’s greatest fighter.

In prior thinking, the more time spent in martial arts seemingly certified better skill and this gave us the confidence that more time well spent will guarantee skill above others and would keep us that much safer from any single assailant. What we have discovered in the UFCs Octagon is that experience doesn’t always lead to victory. And with all the training manuals so wide-open—it doesn’t take nearly as long to be a tough guy. How did we feel when John Jones, barely five years, into the sport made short work of lifetime martial artist Lyoto Machida, How did we feel when the great Jiujitsu legend Marcelo Garcia lost to referee stoppage in his first(MMA bout against a seasoned yet no-name competitor? And further rewinding how did we feel when the fancy kicks and fancy punches once adorned in martial arts fell fast victim to very basic jiujitsu which looked at the time like primitive and unrefined violence. Who ever thought that wrapping your legs around another man could be so fight-threatening?

In the past 15years we have been uprooted in what we might have thought to be the best in martial arts. Thankfully what was uprooted was not left discarded and now all the arts are sprouting and sharing seeds in the much bigger flower pot that is regarded today as Mixed Martial Arts competiton.

Its safe to say that weve graduated beyond the question of which art is best, though we might be confident in our personal answers—what MMA has taught us is an appreciation for them all. We can  see the logic in different discipline cross-over training.  We recognize there are no secrets to what it takes to become a successful competitor. And we know that where theres a will there is most certainly a way as some type of self-improvement…ooops. training is more accessible than ever before.

So with everything above  in mind, What type of citizen will Guam’s venture through Sport fighting  provide in the next 20 years? What kind of competitive martial arts environment does Guam surround itself with today? Is it more competitive? Or is it more martial arts? Though both definitely can develop great characters of the spirit—in such a large population of students and teachers in our current training atmosphere will we see more of the the wisdom and skill of Mr.Miyagi or will our be breathing the mettle of Conan the Barbarian.  Depending on which way you look at it—both are good things.

With our hands as deep and  our eyes as wide as they are into the industry—our people are in better position than ever to steer the growing interest in fight sport towards servicing the community with the Spirit of Perseverance so we can best activate the very real  Strength  and Honor from the blood sweat and tears from the efforts of our islands competitors…on and off the Podium, inside and outside of the limelight.

It seems today that Guam is not overly consumed with which fighter is best. We are seasoned enough in the sport and lifestyle, we are blessed with good leaders, and we are gifted with great alliances abroad. Todays fight sport is escorting our athletes to their physical peaks. Seeing this up-front and knowing this inside, From every seat in a full-capacity event–Its important that we try to move consciously to set the environment not just for great fighters but also for responsible citizens. Not  just with the interests of keeping our communities safe and our people honorable but also by sharpening the minds of those in training to best recognize martial arts done responsibly, can be a ridiculously powerful  vehicle  to pave their roads ahead  for  (hopefully)  well-deserved persevering , productive, and extremely exciting  lives.

Thanks for dropping by.

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sinceeversince. Just dropping a not too far back photo taken from the walls of theGroundFu training center in Yona. circa 2007.  Lots of good times in this place and a whole lot of Mixed Martial Arts talent for sure.  For those that are in the know- athousand words at the very least.

TheFokai: FistofFury award is a salute given to individials/organizations commited and in action towards the goodwill and honorable service of martial arts and its positivie contributions to the people–

it was awarded to TrenchTec Saipan and its positive steering of the worldwide growing sport of MixedMartialArts competition.

TrenchTech/PurebredSaipan was unfortunately set afire by an arsonist two weeks ago. The cage was burned, the mat was burned, and all teh equpimpent was left destroyed. But something the fire couldnt destroy was the will of its members.

Fighting fire with Fire…TrenchTech Saipan will rise again.  The fire of Saipan martial arts is truly UNstoppable.Best of Luck and Here to support for the Ressurection…

kids division
26-38
elijah castro
zion delacruz
kaekala leon guerrero
40-45
caleb laserna
ethan sablan
rai peredo
50-58
colin ada
william ludwig
jordan lujan
63-69
lance galarpi
darren cruz
colin santiago
71-79
miria peredo
jesse manglona
javon borja
80-86
justin untalan
ayden duenas
stevie shimizu
87-100
mason manglona
scott goulet
devin patawaran
115 up
brian roberto
dj cruz
duke appleton
juvenile
64-76
kawai flores
adriano cruz
byron cabaccang
78-88
eddie muna
ethan flores
kenneth ledesma
90-97
cory quitugua
cj quitugua
bryana cabaccang
105-113
jeric tabunar
kyle taitingfong
johnny garcia
114-124
jude garcia
napu taimanglo
jonah carbullido
134-147
jayronne gandaoli
ambroshio shimizu
cory mendiola
151-161
norberto rosario
billy larrison
ethan cruz
180-190
brandon ogo
matthew pojas
alex sablan
200+
davin matanane
shane baluran
MEN’S BLUE BELT
130under
john untalan
gerard perez
eric alcantara
131-145
david harris
kevin cruz
kevin diaz
146-160
chris thomas
trevin jones
chris unpingco
j161-175
ryan bustamante
skyyler taitano
drew palomo
176-190
noah villanueva
larron gandaoli
chad ada
191-205
john moser
ruben rivas
johnny aguon
205+
ryan schilling
james lee
rayjo san nicholas

Mixed Martial Arts is driven by passion. The fans are so passionate they levitate. Fighters are so passionate they got locked in a cage, to fight. Some of the greatest events in the history of the sport happened because of a rare breed of fan – very, very rich people. Lorenzo Fertitta took BJJ from John Lewis, and eventually bought the UFC. Shaik Thahnoon took BJJ in graduatge school, and ended up founding the ADCC world submission wrestling championship, and 10% of the UFC.

The Calvo family is the Guamian equivalent, and a decade ago when a young member fo the family, one again, took BJJ, the family decided to get into the MMA business.

From the first show in 2003, Pacific Xtreme Combat(or PXC) airs its 27th and largest show October 29th at the University of Guam Field House.

After huge rating success with its first two Philippine cards, Pacific Xtreme Combat will return to its home base of Guam with the blockbuster event PXC 27 which will feature a stacked card and two title fights.

“PXC 27 is the culmination of all of our company’s hard work through the years. It will serve as a premier showcase for our company by providing the best quality match-ups. PXC 27 will feature two championship fights; a 145-pound tussle between Baby Joe Taimanglo (Guam’s most recognized fighter) and Harris Sarmiento the current PXC 155 pound champ, plus Justin Cruz will be defending his bantamweight title against the young and impressive Trevin Jones,” says PXC Matchmaker Eli Monge.

In addition to the two title fights the card will showcase a who’s who of the best fighters from the Pacific Rim region.

“We are really laying it all out there for the people of Guam,” says Eli, “The caliber of the fighters on this card is incredible. We have Ferrid Kheder who has defeated some UFC veterans in the past, going against Korean Top Team member and UFC hopeful Lim Hyun Gyu. We also have J.J. Ambrose, who is an alumnus of The Ultimate Fighter, and is coming back to take on a strong international opponent.

The Pacific Rim is one of the hottest places in the world for mixed martial arts and PXC is leading the way, growing the sport in that region. In June PXC expanded its long time successful Guam promotion by signing a major television deal with TV 5 in Manila. The first two shows were huge ratings successes and opened eyes as to the potential of the sport in the Philippines. PXC will not let success or rapid expansion detract from its original mission, which is to bring high quality mixed martial arts events to and support the sports growth on the island of Guam.

The GuamGrapplingOrganizationPresents…!”

for more details go to www.spike22.com

I have been asked several times the meaning of “Ouss”, so for those who are still in the grey in regards to the word’s meaning I got the following definition from Urban Dictionary –

OUSS – Noun (OW-SSSSS): The rushing exhale of air from the lungs formed into a specific and semi-uniform word while exerting oneself. Similar to a Japanese Kiai. Ouss was made popular in a system of martial arts known as Kuntao Jiu-Jitsu.

It is also used when greeting or leaving a Superior in a KJJ dojo. It serves as a sign of respect and conveys one’s intentions to give all that they have (in effort and attention).

Further emphasis can also be given with an additional syllable. “Ouss-Ahhh”. Not to be mistake for the softer and gentler “Oo-sah” done in meditation.
(While being struck) “Ousss”

(While delivering a strike) “”Ousss”

(As a greeting or goodbye) “Ouss”

I hope this clears things up for everyone. God bless and take care. See you all on the mat today. If the Judo guys are on the mat be prepared to train boxing and kickboxing in the table tennis area ok. Catch you all there

Registrations is being accepted til the 21st for The Art Of War 6- No Gi Submission Grappling Challenge this coming Saturday, April 23rd

TheMarianas Open date has been reset to June 25th.

After sitting in a discussion with some competitors of our grappling community, it was inspiring to discuss how far Jiujitsu in Guam has grown.

We had been conversing over ideas of who would make a great superfight or exhibition bout in the next Marianas Open and had come to so many feasible ideas

that held water. Keeping in mind that the success of Grappling and MixedMartialArts has been based significantly on its entertainment value—it’s quite impressive to see that our community has developed enough skill to impress and in some way, educate an extremely supportive and growingly critical audience.

Primarily a superfight should be something that would draw interest from not just our grappling community but also from the attending spectators. For the sake of evolution, it should illustrate skill and strategy. For the sake of the audience, It should be entertaining and avoiding any mismatches, it should make competitive sense.

Regarding Marianas Grappling, What we are blessed to  have here is not just the skills from our athletes to entertain but an overall intention from our promoters to educate. This is a way of thinking that has progressively graduated options in Submission grappling and Jiujitsu from offering a way of fighting to paving a way of sport and for some—even encouraging a way of life.

In the past, it may have seemed that Jiujitsu was billed locally as a superior way of total fighting, connecting itself to occasional open challenges. Although that mentality might still exist for some, it really has evolved  into different things.

Once in part defining itself as THE authority in no holds bared fighting, Jiujitsu has since come to be just one of many parts of the highly-evolved Mixed Martial Arts competiton.

Now that local MMA competition and Jiujitsu have taken flight into their own separate destinations—it seems that Saipan is following to suit with the Art-Of-War seeing higher numbers in competitors as well as other assets unfolding in the on-going sophistication of their combat sports environment. It has become a healthy by-product and one of the greatest testaments to Jiujitsu’s positive direction in the Mariana Islands

Does all the recent discussion mean that grappling is the King of local combat sports? Not necessarily. Tae Kwon Do, Kyokushin Karate, Boxing, and Wrestling all have their achievements that deserve reseect and credit too.But we cannot ignore the honorable measures, in such a relatively short scope of time, that have been taken to escort the Grappling industry and athletic grappling identity towards the horizons our young and old aim for in industry and athletics today.

It’s only April and in 2011 alone we have landmark and successful performances such as Team Purebred/lloydIrvin Jiujitsu’s 1stplace team finish at this years Pan Youth Jiujitsu tournament, we have seen several articles of Mike Carbullido’s victory in the PanAms,  we have seen Guam-originated company Shoyoroll’s climb to become one of the world’s top Jiujitsu Kimono manufacturers, and heard of Universal Alliances victories in the Philippines and AbuDhabi.

Abu Dhabi– Are you serious?What’s amazing is that yes, we are.

Efforts are evolving, horizons are expanding, and our Guam flag continues to fly high—inside and above our competitive efforts.

Not too long ago on Guam, it was an elite occasion to intersect with a BrazilianJiuJitsu bluebelt.  Now we have a battalion of blue belts pushing for a company of purple belts motivating a small platoon of brown belts under the leadership of a squad of blackbelts with efforts coming from a collected and collective brigade of proud Guamanians and Chamorus–setting multiple targets for self-improvement and island glorification.

Among other things and in other words…for Strength and Honor.

Much respect.

Thanks for dropping by.

An artsylook into the Spike22Academywith Renato”Charuto”Verrissimo!