Onra:March24th,2012

Hafa Adai,

It’s massive news in the International Mixed Martial Arts World as it has been formally announced that the UFC has purchased Strikeforce, it’s main competitor in world,MMA events.  John Jones surprises the world that with only 3years of mixed martial arts training, he has become the UFC light heavyweight champion of the world, and with UFCs purchase of Strikeforce—we now have the opportunities to watch the best vs. the best in the sport of ultimate athletic competition.

Former Guam resident and representative of GroundFu, Herman Terrado will be  facing AJ Mathews in MMA competition on April 9^th in Strikeforce at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.

The promoters of the6th edition Saipan’s All-Island No-Gi Grappling/SubmissionChallenge (THE ART OF WAR)  is inviting Guam grapplers to compete on Saturday, April 23rd at the Trench Tech Gym in Saipan.

The date for Guam’s all-island submission grappling and jiujitsu competition has also been set as TheMarianasOpen will be holding its next event on Saturday May14th at ThePhoenixCenter

Closely associated with the Spike22Academy, the GuamGrapplingFederation will be placing itself under the umbrella of the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation. In preparation for submission grappling rumored to be featured in the 2016Olympics, The Spike 22Academy is now hosting Guam National Wrestling practices to gear local athletes for submission grappling under FILA rules. To also help expand the sport and possibilities of  Olympic grappling in the region, the Spike 22Academy will also be hosting representatives from 6  countries for  an international Referees Clinic for grappling under FILA rules this May.

So let’s get this straight—

We’re gaining  momentum and notoriety in International Brazilian Jiujitsu competitions. We’re consistently producing successful Jiujitsu and grappling events and athletes locally. And again we are extending our efforts to develop the sports of Grappling, Jiujitsu, and Mixed Martial Arts regionally.

It is amazing how from a very small island- we have been able to become not just as talented competitively and as benefeicial athletically, but how we’ve also become as instrumental internationally, as we have been to date.

Often times we have heard of the analysis of certain ways of Guam to be like the ways of “crabs in a bucket”. This means that we are accused of stepping on top of others to for personal success and/or that we tend to hate or discourage the achievements of others. Maybe here at times this can be partially true but for our fighting arts and competitive combat sports atmosphere–it doesn’t seem to be that way.

Of course it’s not all harps, rainbows, and best friends in our collected grappling and mixed martial arts community—but somehow, someway, we’ve collectively been able to leverage off events and lessons of the past, work with the talent and intelligence of the present, to aim for better opportunities for our athletes and island in the future.

If we were to give, yet another, toast to that—then we should give a standing ovation for our continuing efforts to provide opportunities for others outside of our immediate circles, outside even of our island.

It’s a good guess that most people don’t enter martial arts or fight training necessarily in hopes of helping others. But it’s been an awesome understanding to see that for whatever reason, for our island’s best and for our island’s better—in Guam’s Martial Arts by product, it sure seems to be turning out that way.

Among other things:The best of our athletes are pursuing bigger trophies, the leaders in our industry are expanding for larger audiences, as Guam’s once underground movement is now merging with Olympic ventures. Many of our students have grown into teachers as the old have discovered the importance of leading the young. And almost as certain as the clock ticks—the world continues to hear and call our name.

Encore!Thanks for dropping by.