ONRAJanuary1,2009

Hafa Adai,

 INCOMING:

Preba Hao 14^th  is on January3rd and Jesse “SpiderMan” Tatiano makes his debut in Profesional Shooto in  Japan on January19^th against 56kg WorldShooto Champion Shinichi Kojima.

TrenchWarz in Saipan has already announced their event schedule for the year starting with Rites of Passage6:Conviction on January 26^th.

And the Next Marianas Open has set its date at the Phoenix Center for February 21^st. Meanwhile, whispers abound for another Marianas UFC hopeful in the next series of TheUltimateFighter…

 2008 was another exciting year for Marianas MMA, with headline stories that marked another eventful year for  Guam Combat Sports.

 InReview:

The tremendous growth in local and professional combat sports has stimulated a makeover in the Guam Boxing and Wrestling .Patrick Ayuyu gets his big break to represent the United States in K-1Max:World155lb tournament.

Guam BrazilianJiujitsu  representative, pioneer, and advocate Stephen Roberto earns Guam’s first locally promoted BJJBlack Belt

while Purebred Co-instructor and new Guam resident Mike Fowler films and releases “Hafa Adai”his Jiujitsu Instructional and Guam Promotional DVD.

  In other exciting headlines, Guam continues to stride forward in Military combatives.

 

Maria Dunn for womens freestyle wrestling and Ric Blas Jr.for Mens Judo carry our island flag into competition in the Olympics.  

Joe “Hybrid”Duarte makes national TV on The UltimateFighter. WorldMMA Powerhouse organization

EliteXC goes under but not before giving former Guam resident, RichardChou,  a learning opportunity to help make broadcasting records in international MMA.  PXCStayed busy with 2PXCs and several PXC Lives and PrebaHaos pulling off another successful year for local liveMMA. While in Saipan receives another title event in Guerilla Warfare,

TheFightingHandsFoundation  stayed busy with events for TheArtOfWar, RitesfPassage, and the big show TrenchWarz.

 Spike22Ahletics moves from the backyard to a new and impressive facility in Tumon.

 

 Mike Sanchez leads Guam youth grappling with a bronze medal finish at this years World BJJ Championships in California, as well gold medal finishes in the in the Philippines and Japan. Team Purebred/LloydIrvinJiujitsu gains massive momentum for Guam BJJ with its stellar performance and an overall podium finish in the Asian Open JiujitsuChampionships.

 A Collective account of separate efforts of the past have cast a light onto Guam that is turning industry heads in the region towards our island. Aside from pre-existings connections to world MMA organizations, other  ventures abroad from Guam-based fighters and MMA advocates in 2008 have widened the door for pending opportunities into major world fighting organizations like WEC and Professional Shooto. And now we have evolved into a point where  not only is our island being solicited from regionally as

a resource for competitors, but also for a resource of quality training, good vibrations,  and industry intelligence—packaged in a tropical paradise.

However, This industry is far-from-perfect nor does it pretend to be perfect. Its hopeful that in studying to improve ourselves athletically and prfessionally, we realize that the support of these island has given this sport visibility. And with visibility comes influence and with influence there should come responsibility. So As committed as we are towards making a name for ourselves internationally, hopefully (entering 2009) we give equal focus towards cultivating, not just perpetrating, a good name for our industry locally.

. So As we say goodbye to another progressive year for Guam Combatives, hopefully, in honoring opportunity with preparation, the achievements of 2008(as remarkable as they are) will proudly serve as the stepping stones for even greater things in 2009.

  StrengthAndHonor. HappyNewYear.