Onra:OCtober20th,2011

Hafa Adai,

Congratulations goes to Spike 22’s BabyJoeTaimangalo for his bronze medal finish in the 70kg no gi division of the 2011 FILA Senior Grappling World Championships in Serbia.
Further congratulations also goes to Purebred/Lloyd Irvin Jiujitsu’s Aileen Wong for becoming the Tokyo International Open jiujitsu tournament’s -53.5kg & Absolute Blue Belt Champion!

The GUAM OPEN MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT is still looking for more competitors for their two-day event with a SPARRING & FORMS COMPETITION on Saturday, November 5 at 12:00pm – and a Jiujitsu tournament on November 6 at 9:30am. Details and registration available via guahankenpo@yahoo.com.

The135lb. & 145.lb championship titles will be at stake as a stacked fight card is in the works as Guam MMA returns to the UOG Fieldhouse in PXC27 on October 29th.

Considering recent headlines, both local and international, it’s amazing to see how Mixed Martial arts has weaved its way into the community.

For something that had been in the past regarded in many ways as taboo—Professional full-contact fighting has emerged valiantly from the underground to the fast lane with multiple intersections and merges between athletics, industry, and lifestyle.

From the Gracie Family’s primary intentions to identify the superior single martial art to million-dollar contracts more often being finalized with today’s most marketed MMA athletes. From the long adventures and lure of training with the mystical old man in the mountains to the tens of thousands of free online instructionals for highly-refined and battle-proven techniques, strategies, and conditioning.

The sophistication of “Mixed Martial Arts” as we now call it, not only offers skill at our fingertips, it also offers options of career building opportunities within its industry and sport for its large number of fans who have gravitated towards it

The myth and mystery of secret technique has largely been replaced simply by hard work and well-rehearsed fight strategy that has evolved our world’s best today arguably into the greatest empty-handed fighting machines in the long line and history of warriors and martial artists. The undefeatable have been defeated, the irresistible force has been resisted, and the immovable object has been moved.

Though, in many ways, the old mystique of martial arts might have lost some pulse—still nothing takes away from today’s not-so-silent martial artist’s ability to affect their environment positively.

Did you hear about Frankie Edgar being called in not once but twice as a motivational speaker for the New York Yankees? Or have we read about Enson Inoue’s many and still-ongoing expeditions to service victims of Japan’s March 11 Tsunami? When considering how many countless other fighter athletes have recycled any clout given to them through MMA sport and industry into volunteer work and community service– It’s uplifting to hear that the greatest of our fighting champions have been able to put aside heavy hands and take light-hearts to plug MMA as a positive variable in a much larger equation than “who is the best fighter in the world?”

Next weekend at the University of Guam Fieldhouse we will be coming into the 27th edition of PXC, along side the other 20or so shows they might have produced—on Guam there has been multiple editions of SuperBrawl, Jungle Rules, Fury, Spike22FightNight and GeranHaga. Between the headlines of how many thousands showed up for the events, how exciting the fights were, the fastest knockout, or best submission—what other conversations have we given—how many conversations are we giving–the general public to speak of?

We really gotta give credit to those of our athletes for their extra efforts to show their support for our island not just in carrying a Guam flag in the ring or getting Guam mentioned on tv. We should give credit to those who have chosen to conduct themselves outside the cage and away from the camera– with class and respect; to those who have been excellent representatives of our sport; to those who have given us hours of things to talk about regarding MMA’s positive identity in the islands

Furthermore, We should feel thankful that local MMA has provided the atmosphere for a positive transformation motivated by our island’s fan base that places sportsmanship above victory, and appreciates struggle over slaughter.

Close to almost 100 accumulated live events down the road and it makes a guy curious of what might be the mind or way of thinking for Guam’s collective MMA purpose.
As they say everything happens for areason—what is the ultimate reason that MMA came to Guam and why has it been embraced for so long and by so many?
With a product, movement, and lifestyle so electric–surely there must be some grand reason of MMAs girth and longevity in the Marianas.

For whatever reason that might be. We are bound to find that answer in the gratitude for a fan base as committed as our athletes, for sponsors that recognize its appeal, and for an industry as hard-working as our sport.
Good Luck to all our fighters at PXC27. Looking forward to another night of struggle, honor, and glory at the University of Guam Fieldhouse.

Thanks for dropping by.