12 Feb Copa de Marianas 2026
If you walked into the UOG Calvo Field House on January 31, 2026, it didn’t feel like “just” a tournament. It felt like a giant island family party… with a lot of arm bars. 😄
This year’s Copa de Marianas 2026 was a huge success. Many adult and kid jiu-jitsu athletes stepped onto the mats, while supporters packed the stands—parents, aunties, uncles, cousins, neighbors—all yelling, clapping, and sometimes pacing back and forth like they were the ones about to compete.
A Big Stage for a Small Island
The tournament was held at the Calvo Field House, the big gym at the University of Guam. On that day, the floor was covered with six full jiu-jitsu mats, all going at the same time. Matches were recorded and shared so people around the world could watch the action from Guam.
Athletes didn’t just come from the Marianas. Some competitors traveled from Japan and other countries in Asia to test themselves here, including well-known fighters like Hobson Tanno, Ayaka Kimura from Japan, and multiple time world champion DJ Jackson who now resides on Guam teaching at Mt Carmel School Guam.
So even though we’re a small island, this event had a big, international feel.
Kids, Adults, and Masters All Shined
One of the coolest things about Copa de Marianas is that everyone gets a turn:
- Kids divisions – Little warriors, some still missing front teeth, fighting with huge heart.
- Adult divisions – White belts to black belts, going hard but still showing respect.
- Masters divisions – Moms, dads, and older competitors proving that you’re never too old to roll.
Some teams had amazing performances.
And that’s the cool part: it wasn’t just about one superstar. It was about whole teams—full of cousins, classmates, co-workers—earning points together.
Tickets to Nagoya: The Road Continues
For many athletes, this tournament wasn’t the finish line. It was the starting gate.
Top finishers in each division earned the right to compete at Marianas Pro Nagoya 2026 in Japan. The organizers announced that the top 3 in every division at Copa de Marianas 2026 would earn spots to the Nagoya event and be recognized as among the best in their bracket.
So for a lot of kids, this wasn’t “just another local tournament.” It was their first step onto an international jiu-jitsu path.
Family Vibes and Friendly Fights
Ask anyone who was there:
You’d see a kid fighting their heart out on the mat—trying to escape a choke or finish a sweep. The moment the referee says “stop,” the kids shake hands, hug, or bump fists. Then, ten minutes later? They’re sharing snacks, laughing, and playing together in the bleachers.
That’s the magic of jiu-jitsu in the Marianas:
- We fight hard.
- We treat each other with respect.
- We go back to being friends and family when it’s done.
Parents cheer win or lose. Coaches remind their students to bow, shake hands, and say “thank you” to the refs. That kind of sportsmanship is why our jiu-jitsu community keeps growing stronger every year.
A Tournament That Feels Like a Fiesta
Walking around Copa de Marianas 2026, you’d see:
- Teams in matching rash guards and t-shirts
- Brothers and sisters both competing
- Grandparents in the stands, proudly holding cameras and phones
- Coaches shouting instructions like, “Breathe! Relax! You’re okay!”
- Vendors and staff working hard to keep the event running smooth
The whole thing feels less like a cold, serious sports event and more like a big island fiesta where everyone happens to be really good at takedowns.
The organizers behind Marianas Open and the Marianas Sports Jiu-Jitsu Federation have been building this scene for years, hosting events like Copa de Marianas, Marianas Open, and Marianas Pro stops across Asia.
Because of that steady work, kids today grow up thinking it’s totally normal to train jiu-jitsu and compete on big stages.
Why This Matters for the Marianas
For a athletes from Guam, Saipan, Tinian, or Rota, Copa de Marianas 2026 sends a strong, simple message:
- You belong on big mats.
- You belong in big arenas.
- You belong in big dreams.
Jiu-jitsu isn’t just about winning medals. It teaches:
- Confidence – You learn to face someone one-on-one and stay calm.
- Respect – You learn to honor your opponent, your coach, and yourself.
- Hard Work – You find out that showing up to practice again and again pays off.
When you look around that packed gym and see almost a thousand athletes and supporters, you can feel it:
This sport is helping shape stronger kids, stronger families, and a stronger Marianas.
See You on the Mats
Copa de Marianas 2026 may be over, but the story isn’t.
Some kids will hang their medals on their bedroom walls.
Some will start training even harder for Nagoya.
Some might have lost all their matches—but found their love for jiu-jitsu anyway.
And somewhere in the crowd, a little boy or girl watched their first-ever match and thought:
“Next year… I want to be out there.”
When that happens, you realize:
This isn’t just a tournament.
This is our island growing, smiling, and rolling together.
BIBA JIU-JITSU. BIBA MARIANAS. BIBA GUÅHAN.