Onra:February12th,2009

Hafa Adai,

 

Before anything else, lets join the Martial Arts world to take  a sincere pause to bid the final farewell to GracieJiujitsu pioneer and one of the greatest Martial Artists of all time, Helio Gracie,  who passed away in January at the tender age of 95 on January 29.

Most of what we now know in professional and competitive WorldJiujitsu and MMA, we owe to this man and his undying pursuit of truth. Thank you for showing the way.

 So far its been a pretty exciting year for Marianas Mixed Martial Arts. Setting things off—in probably Guam’s best performance in international  MMA overseas, Jesse Taitano brings Guam one step closer to an established professional MMAworld championship title as he fought Professional Shootos Undisputed 56kg. Champion, Shoichi Kojima to a decision draw in a non-title semi main event bout in Japan. And new word has arrived for details in the next coming weeks that Guam will be fighting for 2 event championship titles in the Philippines before summer. Guam takes the lead in Marianas MMA in January going 4-0 with victories in a  partial Guam vs. CNMI card in another full-house event at the WorldResort  with Saipan’s RitesOfPassage6: Conviction. The next CopaDeMarianas Jiujitsu and Submission Grappling tournament  is coming up next Saturday on the 21^{st athThephoenixCenter}  . PXCLive will be in service for our brothers and sisters in the military with an interesting theme for their next show on the 28^th. Saipan has set the date and a standing invitation to grapplers from Guam  for their All-Island Submission Grappling tournament, The ArtOfWar3,for March 14^th.

And Guam goes from the hills to the valley hearing that, for reasons unknown, Joe Duarte has announced on the ShoyorollForums that he is no longer scheduled for Guams debut into the UFC big show in March.

 In more less than happy news, Mike Fowler of Team Purebred Lloyd Irvin has given his ,hopefully temporary, adios to the islands returning to Washington DC to push hard for a BJJ BlackBeltWorld Championship title.

 In further disappointment, controversy surrounds the epic rematch in UFC94:Undisputed between a local favorite, BJ Penn and his brutal defeat under the hands of Georges St.Pierre in a scandal that has been now dubbed as Vaseline Gate  details on www.bjpenn.com. Regardless, much respect to St.Pierre for a brilliant game plan and his first class posture as a Mixed Martial Artist  in such an outstanding performance. But what can I say, Ima believer…BJ all the way!

 All these dark moments just discussed brings memories back of a principle in Martial Art known as Ukemi. Im honored to be able to say that, although not for so long,  ive put some quality time on the mat training Aikido and Judo.  Despite all the wonderful things these arts have to offer  I gotta tell you that theres a whole lot of falling down going on. 

 In accumulation, You get thrown thousands of times in the dojo because you want to avoid being thrown even once anywhere else…Interesting. Well, after being on the receiving end of mountains of hip throws, clotheslines, and submission holds in the pursuit of trying to learn how to fight , you come to understand that, among other things, Ukemi is not just the practice of falling its also about not being afraid to fall, and to move forward withthe mindset  of getting back up with dignity.

 And in body, mind, and spirit—coming back for more.

The Spirit of Helio Gracie Lives On. Joe Duarte will continue to fight. Im sure opportunity is waiting for him somewhere.ThePurebred/LloyydIrvin Academy is as always, in 3rd Gear.MikeFowler wil continue tol let the world know of our  islands. And believe that BJ Penn will raise his hand in the Octagon again.

Thanks for dropping by.