ONRA:June4th,2008

04 Jun ONRA:June4th,2008

Two faces familiar to Guam are involved with some pretty huge developments in the Mixed Martial Arts industry. EnsonInoue made it to the Hollywood big screen with his featured role in RedBelt and Richard Chou’s involvement with RumbleWorldEntertainment  helped secure MMA’s debut into

A major television network with EliteXtremeCombat broadcast on CBS this past weekend.

Really Wanted to commend our guys from Guam competing inThe2008BJJWorldChampionships.

Its been months of training under the guidance of Instructors Mike Fowler and Stephen Roberto. 14representatives of TeamPurebred/LloydIrvin Guam have been in preparation for the event with work-thru inhouse tournaments as well as the CopadeMarianas this past February. 

Guam is on deck right now with the BrazilianJiuJitsu World Championhsips only two days away in Long Beach California.For a lot of fans, their only exposure to BJJ is what they’ve seen in the UFC or in other mixed martial arts events. True, there is some awesome technique in the cage and ring;  but really new time spectators would be blown away with some of the things they will see on the mat. Especially at the world level. It’s a great thing that our neighbors, our friends and members of family in Guam are making all the sacrifices to compete at this level.

In Brazilian Jiujitsu We secured a World Championship last year and we can do it again this year. The path to glory is not an easy road. Our guys have to prepare for the competition. Cutting weight, taking time off work, spending time away from other personal endeavors, time and sacrifice. Not to mentionBody aches from hours spent on the mat and the gym. Flights to LA don’t come  cheap, neither is room and board, and transportation , while in theSunshine State.

With all the preparation coming from most of the competitors on the same level of sacrifice, its getting more and more difficult to guarantee victory. Put simply,Winning and losing is in the nature of competition. Remember that we are a strong and resilient people and a loss or 2 or even 20 is something that can never keep us down.

Of course, for  themost part, athletes are there to compete, and our people compete to win.You win some lose some but if we cant come back with amedal, don’t let that make us come back empty-handed. Have faith in the power of positive thinking and we all believe in the skills of our representatives.Our guys have proven in tournaments overseas that we have come a far way and are adamantly moving forward in this sport.

So many people have done so much for the history of our sport. And for the people who are competing in this event or for any off island event for that matter, win or lose you’re doing good things for our islands

.

Really, You’re giving both our ancestors and descendants good things to be proud of. Weve become a world class identity and are well on our way to becoming world class performers.

For Guam, in combatives, there are bigger mechanics in play than the pursuit of victory among competitors in sport, there is also the pursuit of success among spectators in the positive labeling of our islands.

 Its something that were definitely not doing alone, it’s a legacy that’s built on the efforts of our fighterathletes, the contributions of their sponsors, and the aliiances forged with a growing family established in the pursuit of success in sport and the pursuit of success in skill and understanding in martial art.

It goes without saying that the fusion of athletics and martial art are doing magnificent things for our people. And we can see that our people are  doing the same for that fusion in return.. Passing this intention to our neighbors and our children is a healthy initiative so that when our representatives return from abroad with or without medals, they can feel the embrace of an island that respects their hard work and appreciates their very real sacrifices.

 Good Luck for Guam in TheBJJWorldChampionships.