28 Aug 13N/144E:CarlsonGracieBJJGuamChapter
They were in the final match of the blue belt absolute division for Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Sixth Annual Best of the West Championships last Saturday in Anaheim, Calif., and Carbullido was freeing himself of doubt and reservation.
“I wanted to leave it all on the line,” he said via telephone from San Diego. And he did, winning the match to add to the gold medal he won in the 173-pound weight class of the blue belt division. Another Guam fighter, Miguel Ayuyu, also won a gold medal at the event.
Final match
When the referee signaled the start of the absolute-division match, Carbullido knew it was time to prove why he was one of the last two standing. After trading unsuccessful attempts at securing a takedown, Carbullido said neither competitor was able to gain an advantage.
Time expired with the score tied at zero, and the match went into overtime. In the extra period, the first person to score wins, so Carbullido knew he had to strike first. “There can only be one person on top,” he told himself as the battle waged on.
In spite of fatigue setting in from three previous matches, Carbullido forged through one overtime and then two and then three. Now in triple overtime with time ticking away, Carbullido said his opponent jumped guard and pulled him to the mat. That was when Carbullido said he saw a split-second opening and passed guard.
With that pass, Carbullido pulled out a one-point, triple-overtime victory. It could not have been written any better. “To win the absolute division was an incredible feeling,” he said.
Ayuyu tops class
Competing alongside Carbullido was his friend and training partner, Ayuyu, who took home a gold medal in the 154-pound weight class of the blue belt division.
Earlier this year Carbullido and Ayuyu, 2009 graduates of George Washington High School, packed their belongings and boarded a plane bound for the U.S. mainland with aspirations to further their careers in jiu-jitsu.
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Five years ago, the two jiu-jitsu players walked into the Carlson Gracie Jr. Academy in Maite with no idea the sport would take them this far. Assistant head coach Byron Evaristo attributes their success to a positive attitude and a thirst for knowledge. “They never quit,” he said.
That attitude and thirst are what brought them to San Diego as the two now train under Rodrigo Medeiros and Clark Gracie. Despite the change in instructors, Carbullido and Ayuyu give all the credit to their former instructors, Gabe Baker and Evaristo, for providing a solid foundation. “That’s the reason I am where I am now,” Ayuyu said.
Staying true to their never-say-die attitude, Carbullido and Ayuyu are already preparing for another tournament in September. “I want to compete until the doctors say I can’t,” Ayuyu said.
Carbullido also said he wants to continue learning and competing as often as he can to reach his ultimate goal, earning a black belt. In the meantime, he said he is happy being a student. “I love walking into the gym and knowing I am going to learn something,” he said.
One goal
As for their future in jiu-jitsu, Ayuyu has one goal in mind. “I want to open up a gym on Guam with Mike,” he said.
Carbullido also has plans to teach someday. “I love teaching. I love giving back what I’ve learned,” he said.
The two are also very thankful for the support they have received. Ayuyu mentioned his family, Baker, Shoyoroll and Fokai.
Carbullido thanked his mother Pilar Carbullido, his sister, Brian and Lani Gogo, Rob and Andrea Rivera, Apparatus jiu-jitsu and Shoyoroll. He said he is thankful for his teammates and instructors at his new gym for welcoming him and treating him like family. Carbullido said he also appreciates the support from the Carlson Gracie Jr. Academy and from John Calvo and the Guahan Top Team.