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.
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