TheNewHorizonsOfGuamGrappling:via NealKranz

Exciting opportunities arise: New wrestling styles will be brought into wider spotlight

Welcome to the New World of Wrestling.

For the last few years this slogan has been displayed on the website of FILA, the International Wrestling Federation, as well as just about every piece of correspondence it produces. Now, the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation is proud to follow suit and announce its movement to include the newly recognized wrestling styles of grappling, pankration, submission grappling, beach wrestling and mixed martial arts.

So far FILA, the only organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee to oversee all styles of wrestling, has not moved to have the IOC consider any of these styles for inclusion in the Olympic Games. Still, some people involved see that possibility as the next inevitable step in FILA’s quest to expand and strengthen the stance of wrestling in the world of international sport. So what does this mean for Guam? It means a lot.

Everyone knows that there are a huge number of people practicing these styles at a number of gyms across the island, and rarely a day goes by without some form of media attention being paid to a Guam athlete’s accomplishment on the mat. Logically, the first step to making the most of this wonderful opportunity for the island is to get as many people together that are already involved in these styles and to plan the way forward.

For this purpose, the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federation would like to invite any person who would like to be involved in this exciting new phase of Guam’s participation in international mat competition to a meeting 4 p.m. April 16 at the Guam National Olympic Committee third-floor meeting room in Mongmong-Toto-Maite.

With so much mat knowledge and mat experience on the island, it is truly exciting to think of the possibilities for Guam’s athletes, especially if the people with the knowledge and passion for these styles decide to get involved on the ground floor.

Once this initial planning is done, the next step is to have as many people on Guam become as knowledgeable as possible about the intricacies of the styles being promoted by FILA. To this end, there is a multi-country coaches’ clinic scheduled for this May at the Spike 22 gym in Tamuning.

This clinic will bring together officials and coaches from across the Pacific. It will include as many coaches as possible from Guam who want to learn more about these styles. This is a great opportunity for all people involved in any form of mat sport to get first-hand training in what is sure to be the sporting styles of the future.

And where will it go from there? Well, what comes next remains to be seen. Fans of the Oceania Wrestling Championships will be glad to hear that there are plans to have grappling in next year’s event in Canberra, Australia.

Also, plans are in full swing to have the 2013 Oceania Championships here on Guam and to include grappling in the program, as well as the traditional styles of international wrestling.

Exciting opportunities arise: New wrestling styles will be brought into wider spotlight
These two events alone will bring the new styles of wrestling into a much wider, regional spotlight and will provide a chance for the countries of the Oceania region to see Guam shine. No matter what happens, though, it is extremely exciting to think of the new opportunities Guam’s athletes are being given to do their best and to represent the island.

For more information regarding the April 16 meeting, please call Jerome Fejerang at 483-8917.

Neal Kranz is president of the Guam Amateur Wrestling Federatio