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By Patrick Lujan

Gerson Taitingfong Atoigue receives his BJJ blackbelt from Professor Arthur Ruff in Arizona. (courtesy photo)
Gerson Atoigue reached the pinnacle of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world as a new blackbelt was wrapped around his waist by Professor Arthur Ruff Sunday in Mesa, Arizona.
The former Yona resident culminated eight years of BJJ training into this moment with a lot of emotion during the promotion.
“It’s like all your hard work and dedication you put in all balled up,” Atoigue said. “It’s such a rush.”
The 23-year-old grew up in Yona and went to M.U. Lujan Elementary and Inarajan Middle School before moving to Arizona with his parents Joe and Lou Atoigue. He’d only play basketball on Guam before moving to the states.
While in high school, Atoigue’s cousin Curtis Tenorio introduced him to BJJ and he hasn’t turned away from the sport since.
He moved up the ranked quickly and eventually won the 2011 Arizona State Championships lightweight brown belt division against none other than UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.
“It felt real good (to beat him),” Atoigue remembers. “I fought him twice before and he beat me both times. When I beat him the last time, I felt real good. You win so much more in defeat than when you win.”
He went on to win his division in the 2011 American Nationals later that year.
Guam Pride

Guam’s Robert Maloney was there to congratulation fellow Chamorro Gerson Atoigue on his blackbelt promotion. (courtesy photo)
Atoigue says that where ever he goes, he tries to represent Guam well.
“Every tournament I go to, I always try to make sure the know where I’m from and that I’m proud to be from a small island.”
Usually on weekends, he would train with young Guam phenom Robert Maloney who lives an hour away in Arizona.
“He’s a great ambassador for the sport. He has all the tools to be a great champion.”
The last time Atoigue was on island was for his grandfather’s funeral in 2007. He said he remembers how welcoming the local BJJ community was when he was back home for a short while, specifically Gabe Baker, Mike Carbullido, Stephen Roberto and Terrance Aflague. He said Aflague is his favorite black belt in the world because when he met Aflague, “he made me feel at ease. Guys like him make the people from Guam that much better.”
NOTES: Atoigue trains seven days a week, about 2.5 hours a night…his 10-year-old step son Damian is a two-time Pan Am champion…he said it would be ‘a dream’ to come home and compete on Guam.
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GPS Sports Calendar
February 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for January
1st
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
2nd
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
3rd
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
4th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Events for February
6th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
7th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
8th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
9th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
10th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
TRITONS BASEBALL INVITATIONAL FINALS
Events for February
11th
Events for February
13th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
14th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
15th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
16th
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
Events for February
17th
ISA TRACK & FIELD MEET
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
Events for February
18th
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2K/5K
World Athletics Cross Country Championships
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
Events for February
19th
SPRINT TRIATHLON, PACIFIC GAMES QUALIFIER
MONSTER ENERGY MOTOCROSS ROUND 2
Events for February
20th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
21st
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
22nd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL
Events for February
23rd
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
Events for February
24th
ISA GIRLS SOCCER
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for February
24th
Events for February
25th
Events for February
27th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA GIRLS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for February
28th
IIAAG BEACH VOLLEYBALL FINALS
ISA BASEBALL LEAGUE SEMIFINALS
IIAAG TENNIS LEAGUE
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS

MMA/Boxing
JONES TO FACE FORMER UFC CHAMPION

Baseball
GECKOS SWING BIG IN SEASON OPENER

Running/Track
GECKOS, SHARKS BUILDING TRACK CONFIDENCE

Baseball
FRIARS EDGE ROYALS IN PITCHER’S DUEL

Baseball
FRIARS EDGE ROYALS IN PITCHER’S DUEL

Basketball
FRIARS TAKE DOWN PANTHERS 74-68
