12 Feb ONRA:February11th,2010
Hafa Adai, Fighter athletes out of the Spike 22 Academy return from Taiwan with 2wins and a loss in Pacific Rim Organized Fighting on February 7th. Good luck to Saipan fighter athletes as Rites of Passage introduces Korea to CNMI MMA competition as they join the force to help Haiti in donating part of their event proceeds to the cause with their event this weekend. Jesse Taitano returns to Japan on March 23rd climb his ranking in Professional Shooto. In the absence and incubation of local ProfessionalMMA competition, , the MFL i s seeing a host of MMA competitors taking action from the cage to the field in local football. In our landmarking days of competitive BJJ and MMA, Guam’s highly evolved collective combat sports community and industry might want to offer its respect for a long time competitive martial arts advocate and Guam’s Brazilian Jiujitsu and Mixed Martial Arts pioneer. From our island’s earliest days of Brazilian Jiujitsu secret training to the internationally respected island Guam has established itself in international BJJ and MMA today, from the drawing board to his role in Guam’s first locally promoted MMA event promotion, as competitor,cornerman and almost everything else in between–Longtime instructor and martial arts advocate -John Calvo has received his Brazilian Jiujitsu black belt under Marcos Oliveira and Carlos Santos fronm EMIRATES TEAM (ABU-DHABI COMBAT CLUB). As our island’s third locally produced BJJ blackbelt ( Dan O’Connor received his black belt training off-island) thatCalvo has been a significant figure as one of the spearhead figures whove laid the foundation for a more sound infrastructure that has provided us with a consistently evolving entity in Martial arts training and industry. Much respect for the local fighter who first showed Guam that our people could win with armbars, chokes, and true technique aganst overseas NoHoldsarred Compettiion(NHB). Reflecting on some of the things Calvo has accomplished in a truly international and very eventful MMA venture–an invitation into the world’s most prestigious AbuDhabi Combat Championships grappling tournament, a sincere inquiry for participation in the at-the-time leader in World MMA entertainment PrideFighting Championships, an opportunity to compete against the at-the-time UFC World Champion Dan Severn–we can say that we had come very far even in our earliest days of the world-expanding MMA industry. What has been very interesting is the growing ambition that has turned into opportunity among Mariana Island fighter-athletes since NHB’ Competition’s debut in Guam almost a decade and a half later. with an island’s sincere respect and admiration for Professional MMA competition, our athletes have not only immersed themselves into the larger mix of world competition. Our islanders have world also established significant roles in the world industry in the likes of Richard Chou as the matchmaker for Strikeforce and local clothing company Shoyoroll gracing the uniforms of world champion athletes in highly broadcasted competition (to name a few). The long-term uphill challenge for a hand raised in victory of competition has respectfully offered, in its process a multi-pillared structure in a true rise of our islands, in and through the BJJ and MMA competition industry. Our imprint abroad illustrates that the efforts of the few in the past are being celebrated by the success of the many today. With the industry pointed in the right direction,(and this always demands attention) imagine what the efforts of the growing number of many can provide. Rooted, Dedicated, and focused–We are capable of massive things. Congratulations Calvo, Good Luck Taitano, Great Job Saipan. And For everyone, at the very least:Respect. Thanks for dropping by