Onra:August4th,2011

Hafa Adai,

A few weeks back, the Guam Grappling Organization sent out notice to our island’s top Mixed Martial Arts and Jiujitsu Academies to put their best feet forward to recommend their best male and female athletes to represent Guam in the _2011FILA World Championshipsfor 48 slots to be filled in different weight divisions in the Gi. No-gi,Pankration, and Combat Grappling categories.

From the academies that attended to take draws for suggesting competitors that took place on July25,2011 @ The Outrigger Hotel, The GGO is currently looking at 15preliminary names selected from the Universal Alliance, Countershot, UnderworldXtreme, and the Spike22Academy to represent Guam for the September 28^thtil October 1^st event in Belgrade Serbia.

After reviewing these results, Its easy (and almost natural) to wonder where the other academies are. Wheres Purebred? Wheres Carlson Gracie, Wheres Gracie Barra,?Wheres The Guahan Warriors? These guys have been around for a long time and they have shown on many occasions that not only are they focused on a common flag well-worth representing; they are.proven all to be forces worth reckoning.

After speaking with Melchor Manibusan, president of the GGO— it was at first disappointing to hear that only 4teams showed up to the draw from the 8 that were promptly invited. However, it later became enlightening to learn that the lack of attendance was because that the other academies were already busy at the same time frame with progressive efforts and tournaments overseas.

Over the years that have passed, the unified force that used to define Guam’s best competitive fighting chance has since expanded into a number of training facilities scattered north, south, east, and west.

Once so obviously divided and focused on determining our island’s best—(though some of us find it difficult to get along) we are seeing more cases of cross-training between former rivals and we are clapping our hands as our island’s premiere fighting forces have evolved significantly towards  multiple targets set on locations all over the globe.

Its pretty exciting to think about just how much ground weve covered over the years in the past . And its even more exciting to think about the places our youth will venture in the decades in the future.

In the universe of  Guam competitive martial arts, Whether we understand it or not, as fans, fighters, promoters, and sponsors–we are all playing a part of a trail blazing generation. For the most part we have walked respectfully through the doors opened from the generation for us and have done a lot to service the generation after us.

This generation took (among other things)a once secret art (Jiujitsu) to fuel (among other things)a once barbaric event(MMA) to reinvigorate(among other things) a collegiate sport (wrestling), to nurture ambition, and (among other things) to raise oor flag and present us respectfully and honorably to a world with eyes wide open.

If and When properly cultivated—the sky is the limit for what the following generations will offer in the years to come. So it’s cool that we’re becoming professionals atshowing them the road forward and it’s great that we’re at impressive levels with teaching them how to fight. But for everything we can show them and for all the doors we might open for them, hopefully that before entering these doors—they are more than happy  to leave their shoes and ego at the front.

Thanks for dropping by.