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.

Respectfully:R.I.P.CalPalacios

In great respect for the late Carl Palacios of Guam Kyokushin Kai.

Often respected as one of Guams most formidable pioneer martial artists,  Mr. Palacios had helped pave the way for responsibility and the road for a good direction in Guam Martial Arts.

May your legacy live on in the  success of your family and the efforts of your students.

Onra:VictorDelaCruz

Local Sports  –   Thursday, May 27, 2004 Dela Cruz will swim to honor late father By Mark-Alexander Pieper Pacific Daily News Masako Watanabe/Pacific Daily News/mwatanabe@guampdn.com His father’s son: Roman Dela Cruz stretches before starting a training swim at Ypao Beach. Dela Cruz is training for the 14th Annual International Cocos Crossing Sunday in Merizo. TO THE POINTRoman Dela Cruz said his father Victor Dela Cruz‘s motto had always been: “Try to do something good for somebody else.” It’s the reason why Roman Dela Cruz will honor his father’s memory by swimming in Sunday’s 14th Annual International Cocos Crossing. Victor Dela Cruz was going to swim in the race to raise money to help build a library for his alma mater, Don Bosco Technical Institute, in the Philippines. To help out, call 472-1008. For more than eight months, Victor Dela Cruz would swim about 10 hours a week, watched over by his sons and a family friend. The 59-year-old was training to swim the 14th Annual International Cocos Crossing as a means to raise money to help build a library for his alma mater, Don Bosco Technical Institute, in the Philippines. But a little more than two weeks ago, when Dela Cruz decided to tackle the 2-mile stretch in Tumon Bay from Ypao Beach Park to the Hotel Nikko Guam for his first saltwater swim, something went terribly wrong. On the morning of May 8, Dela Cruz was supposed to meet his sons, Carlo and Roman, and family friend and lifeguard Chris Benito for a training session. But that morning, Benito had to work and Carlo Dela Cruz, who had watched his father swim for the first 20 minutes, got called to work for an emergency. Roman Dela Cruz arrived at the training ground a few minutes after his brother left and jumped in the water to catch up with his dad but he never did — Victor Dela Cruz had drowned in the water off the Guam Marriott Resort. “He was in really good shape, but for whatever reason, just the way things went, his number was called,” said Roman Dela Cruz, 29, co-founder of Fökai Industries. “So now, basically what I’m doing is, I’ve committed a big part of my life to bringing some kind of closure to my father’s death. So I’m swimming the Cocos (Crossing) not as a race but as an attempt to honor my father and complete his last good deed.” Roman Dela Cruz, a bodyboarder and mixed martial artist, said while he swam the 2.2-mile Cocos Crossing in Merizo two years ago, it’ll be a challenge for him to have only two weeks of training to complete the arduous swim. Benito said it would be dangerous for a swimmer who has trained for only two weeks to attempt a race that takes most swimmers more than an hour to finish. Roman Dela Cruz, however, is an exception because of his high level of physical fitness and familiarity with Guam’s waters, Benito said. With the help of his brothers Carlo and Victor Jr., and Benito, Roman Dela Cruz is confident he will finish after building his endurance the last two weeks by running, biking and even swimming the course that so recently claimed his father’s life. “I try not to focus on the waters that killed my father but more so on that those were the waters that made him so alive,” he said. “Doing the swim, you know I’m glad I’m in water because I think it’d be embarrassing to show all those tears. “I haven’t really said goodbye to my father, and I never will totally say goodbye to my father but my Dad was a very, very good man, and I think for me this is another way to bring honor to the life he lived.”  Email this story Originally published Thursday, May 27, 2004

ONRA:November 5th, 2009

Hafa Adai,

Looks like GuamMixed  Martial Arts has been venturing more frequently through Japan:

Its a late congratulations for SunKooChu–as he became the 20th annual Ken-Ho Open Weight Champion at 75kilos after 2KO victories and one decision win three in a single night in Kyuushuu Japan in October 12th. Jesse” SpiderMan” Taitano was stopped by Mamoru Yamaguchi 4:41 seconds into the First Round of their long-awaited battle in Vale Tudo Japan 2009. Guam makes international news as it was published in www.Sherdog.com that the event Deep Impact will be colalborating with PacificXtreme Combat for special exchange matchups between the respective Guam and Japan title events in early 2010.

In the CNMI:
Saipan promoters continue to invite Guam grapplers to the Art of War 4 at the Ada Gym on November 14th.

Guerilla Warfare:Confrontation will be presenting Saipan’s First Title Championsip with their 3rd event on November 21st at the Saipan World Resort Hotel, Tetsuji Kato returns again to Japan MMA on November 23rd in Professional Shooto at the JCB Hall in TokyoJAPAN.And, though originally set for December 4thTrenchWarz 11:Redemption will be allowing Saipan MMA to refresh itself with the rescheduling of their event til December 18th.

With all this MMA activity it’s always good reason to go back to basics and that weve defintiely got a good one as the world famous Multiple Brazilian Jiujitsu world champions Guilherme and Rafael Mendez Brothers will be arriving on island this weekend for a seminar for Guam BJJ and a one week instructional to further prepare members of the Purebred/Lloyd Irvin Jiujitsu Academy for the end of Novembers TokyoInternational Open Jiujitsu Championships.

The topic of Underground fighting events has been mentioned often in the past and has recently resurfaced. First, let it be said that the rise of MMA did not invent physical confrontation in the islands–street fights have been happening everywhere for a long time.  Second, though it is widely agreed that MMA isnt the sole source of supposed “underground fights”, this industry is largely responsible for attracting our youth to curiosities of the excitements that come with (combat) sports. Third, for those of you who might be organizing or involved with these “underground events”–please reconsider,please tread lightly, because you are playing with fire. If you are truly competition hungry, if you want to learn, if you want to progress, and immaturely speaking : If you think you’re bad” then try to take advantage of the more frequent competitions that are taking place in amateur combat sports, whether it be Tae kwon Do, High School Wrestling, BJJ, etc…

Even if live MMA never arrived int he islands–with the advances in technology/media and the globalization of MMA, our people would have been exposed to the sport that seems to be taking the athletic entertainment world by storm. Though we should be cautious of the fact that the growth of our local industry has our children competition-curious into what can reasonably be considered a dangerous venture, we should also be appreciative of the fact that, in all our accumulated years of first-hand industry, training, and competitive experience–there are knowledgeable and qualifiable elements that can be sourced for guidance, solutions, and hopefully redirection from the energy wasted in youth violence.

Our new and changing days in MMA have seen the tremendous development of our fighters and the international representation of our islands. As our fighter-athletes might try to grow in the sport as competitors, as we might cheer for our favorite fighters and support their fundraisers as fans–we must not forget the responsibilities that we have to the community as citizens.

On so many levels, martial arts can be a very passionate venture and avery powerfultool. Like fire it can either burn or warm. Like water it can either drown or hydrate.

Witht he popluarization of this sport–it is key that at the earliest levels of training, we encourage and enforce the ethic and etiquette of living way before we enforce the ethic and etiquette of training.

In this perspective, we can udnerstand that martial arts is not just about enhancing our skills in fighting, its about enhancing our skills in life.

Keep the Martial Arts in Mixed Martial Arts.

Thanks for dropping by.

RichardChou:StrikeForceMatchmaker

RICH CHOU APPOINTED FIRST STRIKEFORCE MMA MATCHMAKER

NEW YORK (October 3, 2009)–Rich Chou has been hired by STRIKEFORCE to serve as the world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion’s first-ever official matchmaker.  Chou comes to STRIKEFORCE with 10 years of experience in the MMA business.  During his tenure in the sport, he has functioned in the same capacity with two other organizations and worn a number of other hats including that of competitor and referee. 

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to work for a top organization like STRIKEFORCE,” said Chou, who will be responsible for creating matchups between fighters for STRIKEFORCE’s monthly events that air live on SHOWTIME® as well as for the promotion’s live debut on CBS on Saturday, November 7.  Before the acquisition of Chou, STRIKEFORCE had relied on a committee, headed by CEO Scott Coker, to create its matchups. 

“STRIKEFORCE has done some incredible things over the course of the last few years to emerge as one of the world’s premiere MMA promotions.  They have a deep roster of world class talent so it’s going to be very exciting and a lot of fun to be able to put together highly compelling matchups for their events.”

The 30-year-old Chou graduated from Pepperdine University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Business Administration.  During his college years, he began training in the fighting discipline of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

Shortly after commencement, Chou relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii with the intention of becoming a professional mixed martial artist.  He went on to compete in numerous grappling tournaments as well as in one professional MMA fight and referee over 100 MMA bouts in Hawaii.

In 2004, Chou was hired by promoter J.D. Penn, the brother of MMA superstar B.J. Penn, to assist with the growth of J.D’s “Rumble on the Rock” series of MMA events and to spearhead all matchmaking efforts for the promotion.  Chou played a similar role with EliteXC between 2007 and 2008.

Chou will relocate from Honolulu, Hawaii to STRIKEFORCE’s headquarters in San Jose, California to assume his new position. 

STRIKEFORCE in March 2009 signed a multi-year agreement with SHOWTIME to stage live MMA events on the premium cable television network.  Last week, STRIKEFORCE announced that it would make its live, primetime debut on CBS with its “Fedor vs. Rogers” mega-fight that it will co-promote with M-1 Global on Saturday, November 7.

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com < http://www.strikeforce.com/> ) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history.  The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265.  Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.”  In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose.

ONRA:September24th,2009

Hafa Adai,

We’re entering todays column after another weekend of exciting fights. it was encouraging to see Another close-tofull -house event at the UniversityOfGuam Filedhouse as MarianaIsland Fighter athletes

sharpened their competive blades in PXC18:DeadGame2. And on Sunday we were treated to another look at MMA Peak Performance when Vitor Belfort easily decimated former UFC185lb world champion Rich Franklin at UFC103.

Congratulations to the members from the GuamArmyNationalGuard MACP program for their 16th place finish(out of 64teams)  in the US Army Combatives Tournament in Georgia after the competition that ran from September 18th-20th.

Good luck to  MikeFowler of the Purebred/LloydIrvin Jiujitsu Academy as received his invitation to the worlds most prestigious submission grappling event with AbuDhabiCombatChallenge in Barcelona this coming weekend.

Rob Washington of the Spike22Academy will be making Guams debut into Taiwan MMA in PROFighting2 on October 6th.

Hosea Weare is set to face the former deep champion Ryuta Sakurai on October10th.

 ART OF WAR3 POSTPONED
Saipan combat sports reaches out to extend an invitation to Guam grapplers with an event postponed from October 10th to a tentative November 6th for the  3rd Saipan All-Island Submission Grappling Tournament in the ArtOfWar3.

When you gather all the elements of successful local and international events, add int he Spike of our soldiers in offisland competiton representing our flag and pack it all into a single weekend–it often comes naturally to reflect on Guams position and direction in the Competitive Martial arts bigger picture.

Why do we support competitive martial arts as fans and what are we brandishing our fists for as fighters? Do these separate instances really accumulate into something positive and how and why quite often can some of us make it such a big deal?

Well a big deal can mean alot of things when it comes to local combatives. so today were here to give tribute to a pretty big thing going on from one of the bigger names in local combat sports in a pretty big deal event.

Melchor Manibusan will be competing against former Shooto World Champion Tetsuya Kawajiri in Dream 11th in Yokohama Japan on October 6th.
Heres a few words from the man that the Japan promoters have dubbed “Barracuda” on some of his thoughs on facing the modernday Samurai that Japan fight fans have grown to know as “TheCrusher”

1.THough inactive since 2006, how did you land a fight in an event of such proprtion?
Well they emailed me asking me if i would like to fight in DREAM , it was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down . 2 weeks later they asked if I would fight Kawajiri and I said I would love to.
2.As an inactive fighter, what are you doing to prepare for a late noticed fight in one of the worlds biggest events against one of the worlds greatest fighters—in his territory?

Right when i got the 1st. email I changed my diet immediately ! started to eat healthy and training twice a day. as far as preparation I’m doing everything from running,circuit training ,sparring in all aspects of the game . And because its such a huge event and im fighting their up n coming star  I’m doing a lot of mental preparation and  mind drilling mainly to just stay focused and not to let this fight overwhelm me .
3.What tools for victory do you feel you are bringing into this fight? what do you feel to be his biggest tools?

Well I do know that i have more wrestling skills than Kawajiri but however him being bigger and possibly  stronger I’m might have to mix up some boxing , hurt him a little then bring it to the ground . If thats doesn’t turn out I should be ready for what ever … Kawajiri is well rounded but from what I’ve seen his ground n pound seems to be his bread n butter .
4.Off track ,how does it feel to see your fighters competing around the world?I love watching my guys compete on island … but not only is it a great experience to travel and test our skills and ability against the rest of the world . it feels good to see my guys out there putting it on the line with top notch fighters and doing very well against them.

5.From a TinyDotInThePacific–Students in international competitions, AbhDhabiCombatChallenge, Guam, Korea, russia. and Japan in one year, and now Dream in Japan—You think youre bad?
5.NO !! I don’t think I’m bad … I think i”m very lucky to still be competing against the best in the world ! Very fortunate to travel and show case my skills and meet the best there is out there.

6.Words From the Heart for Guam MMA?
To our local fighters , be proud of what and who you represent @ the same time keep the peace we are all one . To the fans and sponsors that support our sport . Thank you very much , the sport is growing and there”s a lot of up n coming talent that is worth getting involved with .
7.Most Imprtantly, How high can you kick?
As high as i have to ! LOL …

So Guam gets another shot at the big show again. In the land of the rising sun-Jesse Taitano came within an arms length distance from Guams first MMA world title shot in Professional Shooto. Patrick “Gori” Ayuyu represented the USA in K-1′s World Max 70kilogram world tournament. and now Melchor Manibusan is on deck for another chance in Guam’s participation for the MMA world stage. Inside and outside of these stellar accomplishments, though we may not always come out on top, its nice to see that event promoters from around the world (in such accomplished events) can recognize Guam and the Marianas as a reliable source for game and quality competitors and in effect–

an asset to World Combat Sports.

Thanks for dropping by.

SupportinGUARNG

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=135135589778

Onra:September10,2009

Hafa Adai,

In case it was forgotten, congratulations to our newly appointed Guam Unarmed Combat Commision. Lots of work ahead. The island hopes for and is trusting in your best service.

In true testimony of their outstanding performance in the Marianas Open, ( with only a team of 5)The Army National Guardsmen returned with their second place overall finish from the Army National Guard Modern Army Combatives Tournament on August 28th. Congratulations toMelvin Manibusan, Vince Cruz, and Josh Cruz returning with the gold and AJ Aguon for bringing back the bronze.

The Guam National Guard will also be sending out a team of 14soldiers to return to Fort Benning in FGeorgia to compete in the 5th Annual All Army Combatives Tournament from September 17th til the 20th.

From last checked, Xavier Reyes is on Deck for Rage In The Cage on September 11^th. in Arizona . PXC18th:DeadGame 2 is on September 19^th in Guam. RobWashington is replacing AJ Aguon in Taiwan for PRO Fighting on October 4^th. TheArt Of War3: Saipan All Island Submission Grappling Tournament is on October 10^th.

Some other powerful things are definitely in play for Guam in industry and competition. Join us next column while we discuss further details including Spike22 ‘s MelchorManibusan and his Dream that just might come true.

Good News–They found a cure for cancer in Chuck Norris tears! Bad news though is that Chuck Norris never cries…

Heard that joke while back and wanted to pass it on and Just to give one pespective of the State of the Art(s) here on Guam.

.Training in World Martial Arts arrived on Guam more than half a century ago and the arts like Karate, Judo, Aikido, and different forms of Kung Fu were made available throughout different parts of the island. Some arts were structured entirely for self defense and some were catered to competiton on and off-island. Though boxing and wrestling are not widely considered martial art, they joined and maybe even preceded judo and karate as Guams first ventures in off island combat sports competition.

Years of training and competition went by and eventually we saw the popularization of”Kung-Fu” movies. Many at this point found an idol in BruceLee (and Bruce Li and never ever forget Chuck Norris–EVER!))jogging suits sold more than ever with the rocketing sales of Nunchaku(Chaku Sticks) and Shuriken(Ninja Stars) following close by.

Guam had always been into boxing, the rise of an icon, Mike Tyson, gave Guam fans another hero.During the time of Kyokushin Karate’s and Kempo’s poplularization and notoriety in Guam as fierce martial arts, Mr. Miyagi and Daniel-san joined Bruce Leroy in showing us all the role of responsibility in fighting; TheHulkster pointed and persevered his way to the top of the WWF;The rising action stars like Jean Claude Van Damme showed us how to kick butt and be buff; Jeff Speakman taught us how to hit a hundred times a second and just when we thought wed seen it all—Boom! The great Steven Segal came around and introduced a whole new way of kicking butt…even with long hair!

We oohed and aaahed and we were convinced that we’d seen the toughest guys on the planet—and then came the UltimateFighting Championships. The martial arts world would never be the same.

The arrival of Brazilian Jiujitsu to Guam introduced a revolution in training and the coming of theSuperBrawl brought us to the front seats of live and up close No Holds Barred Fighting Competition.

Today after Mike Tyson has fallen and Bruce Lee still hasnt returned–Combat sports on Guam is a different and evolved product. Kickboxing has become a wider curiosity, Boxing is still going strong, Tae kwon Do clases are still full. Aikido is still going, and Judo is still focuse on the Olympics and international competition. Just as impressively however are the ventures of local Brazilian Jiujitsu and Submission Grappling, and Mixed Martial Arts Competition.

In the pursuit of the truth of effective martial arts, MMA competiton has successfully breathed added life into amateur and less consequential combat sports competitions, it has created a small industry and has sent our fighters all around the world. Furthermore, not only are our fighter athletes inthese fileds hosting quality local and international events and tournaments, our representatives are bringing back medals and trophies from international competitionand are attracting foreign investments and attention into local ventures.

Really, there is so much detail to be added and interpreted before, in between, and after these lines. Theres a lot of fruit that has fallen from the trees of seeds that our predecessors have planted. And hopefully from this fruit we will find more seeds.

Though Not everybody is shooting to be a world champion, and fame and fortune don’t necessarily define success. However, whenever under the umbrella of local combatives,  with the true interests of making greater things available to our people now and later ;its only healthy that we keep it mind the value of this momentum as we venture forward. when we choose to promote, elect,appoint, compete,support, or entertain– hopefully we also realize that, in the trail of our ventures,  we can in one way or another leave behind the education, inspiration, and cultivation of ourselves and ultimately of this legacy we call the Mariana Islands.

Thanks for dropping by.

RiseToTheOccasion: FokaiIndustriesAndInternationalClothing

in Bali now without a current picture to prove it available. But wantted to keep tings roling for the few and/or the proud that give time to visit this blog–er website. Here int he land of VoodooMagic, and gotta say that its an intimidating place for any company that cares to make its way forward in international clothing. PowerBrands like Quiksilver, Volcom, Rip Curl, and Billabong seem to dominate here but intheir shadows lies heaps of quality and great looking apparel that could either make or break ambitions. Fashion moves like you wouldnt believe here and the constant influx from visitors around the globe in pursuit inthis industry leads its way to quality comparison. But in this light Fokai takes all as constructuve critcism and we find inspiration in theswe international labels not becasue of what they do as indiviual brands; but of what is made available to the consumer. The consumer is ta good part of the gasoline that makes most struggling labels run–and in our case run strong. Fokai is making some moves these days larger than previously anticipated and as an oath to our loyal customer–to the extended family, We will work to bring you the next level in quality, design, and most imprtantly–label integritty.Thank you endlessly for all your support. INthe words of Fokai indays past–ProgressiveThreadsForAggressiveTimes.

ONRA:August13th,2009

Grapplers rise above rivalries

By Roman Dela Cruz • For Pacific Daily News • August 13, 2009

This column is about mixed martial arts, and it will appear on a biweekly basis on Thursdays
Hafa Adai,

•  
  • How many of us know that Marianas mixed martial arts pioneer Tetsuji Kato fought a young Anderson Silva at 170 lbs. (before his career in the Ultimate Fighting Championship) to a third-round decision loss in professional shooto?

Kato! He’s our friend!

It was Guam and Saipan at a tie with five wins each in a very exciting Saipan vs. Guam card at Trench Warz 10: Collision at the Saipan World Resort.

Abroad, former Guam resident in Texas Tessa Simpson won her MMA bout July 25 but suffered her first loss Aug. 4. While Jesse “Spiderman” Taitano, our island’s closest world title contender, fought and lost a third-round decision in the main event of Shooto GIG Saitama 1 in Japan.

Hats are off and the glasses are raised for the coordinators of the Marianas Open with another well-organized event pitting a cast of Guam’s grappling and MMA notables among many in Brazilian jiu jitsu and submission grappling competition. Also at the Phoenix Center, the MACP tournament was finalized to decide who would represent Guam late this September in Georgia.

Witnessing the coaching and competition among the different academies of our island, it was refreshing to be reminded that, despite the gym rivalries that might be stirred up or exaggerated in hearsay and anticipated excitement, our island’s grappling has continued to develop and prosper not only as individual events but also as sharpening tools for international competition as Guam grappling looks to further horizons abroad.

Through a common love of the game the spirit of competition and the pursuit of performance in the grappling arts have made way for sportsmanship and camaraderie to take the front seat over the heat of confrontation.

What is apparent is that once in the shadows of MMA, Guam grappling and BJJ have cast their own light, and their own separate identity into the communities on- and off island. As impressive as it is that our fighters have become names in MMA events overseas, our achievements in the grappling arts further illustrate that the roads of training do not necessarily lead to MMA, nor does the definition of success and accomplishment in combatives need to be defined exclusively in MMA.

As talks of submission grappling as a future Olympic sport become more serious, as MMA spreads across the globe and as our world leaders in the sport take greater steps to bring light into their audience, the intoxication from so many things to applaud can continue to throttle us forward.

Interesting days are definitely ahead. Hopefully all that we’ve accomplished can pave the road to success not just for today but for many tomorrows as something future generations may build on.

To every academy, to all the men, women and children in sacrifice and training, from the tatami to the canvas, from the gi to the gloves, from the four corners of the ring to the eight sides of the cage, for all the hard efforts and for all the ambition, in victory or defeat: God bless.

Thanks for dropping by.

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