Connect with us

GSPN

BJJ KIDS GETTING FREE RIDE

[sixcol_five_last]

By Patrick Lujan

Marcos Oliveira lifts Jon Tuck in victory at UFC Macao last November. Oliveira has worked to get the country of Abu Dhabi to pay for five BJJ kids to participate in the world cup for kids. (courtesy photo)

Marcos Oliveira lifts Jon Tuck in victory at UFC Macao last November. Oliveira has worked to get the country of Abu Dhabi to pay for five BJJ kids to participate in the world cup for kids. (courtesy photo)

Five of Guam’s best young practitioners of  jiu-jitsu will get a chance of a lifetime this April when the Shiekh of Abu Dhabi will pay for their participation in the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Cup for Kids on April 10th.

That’s right. An all-expense paid experience to compete in a world event.

The five players are:

Billy Gene Larrison (16) Vida BJJ

Jonah Whitt (16) Gracie Barra

Jonah Carbullido (16) Purebred

Eddie Muna (15) Carlson Gracie, Jr.

Ray Jon Umadhay (15) Purebred

Coach John Calvo

The mastermind behind this exciting project is Brazilian Marcos Oliveira, who is no stranger to Guam. Oliveira first came to Guam in 2007 and is best known as the most instrumental BJJ coach of local star Jon Tuck. He was seen lifting Tuck on his shoulders after the big win at UFC Macao last November.

Guam has always been on his mind and now he’s worked hard to have Guam’s young players represent the island at the world stage – for free!

“I work in Abu Dhabi teaching jiu-jitsu,” Oliveira said while on island presenting this opportunity to the island’s top BJJ camps. “I was able to have the organizers of this event to sponsor five kids and one coach from Guam to compete. It will be Team Guam, no camp logos or anything, just Guam.”

Oliveira, a 2009 BJJ black belt world champion, was instrumental in the success of Tuck’s path to the Abu Dhabi blue belt world championship in 2010.

Oliveira has won numerous BJJ black belt titles and hopes one of Guam's young players will do the same. (courtesy photo)

Oliveira has won numerous BJJ black belt titles and hopes one of Guam’s young players will do the same. (courtesy photo)

“There’s so many good jiu-jitsu players here on Guam,” said Oliveira, who is also a black belt in judo since 1995. “This island has so much heart. I just want to help the young kids gain more experience and what a better way than the world championships. I’m sure one of these kids will follow in the footsteps of Jon Tuck and become a world champion at whatever belt level.”

Oliveira left the selection up to the head coaches of each camp from ages 10-17. Those selected will start training together soon in preparation for the April competition.

[fbshare url=” http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/bjj-kids-getting-free-ride/” type=”button”] [fblike url=” http://www.gspnlive.com/gspn/bjj-kids-getting-free-ride/” style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[/sixcol_five_last][useful_banner_manager_banner_rotation banners=53, 38 interval=8 width=120 height=600 orderby=rand]

 

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

August

September 2023

October
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for August

1st

Events for September

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for September

3rd

Events for September

3rd

No Events
Events for September

5th

Events for September

6th

Events for September

7th

Events for September

8th

Events for September

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for September

9th

No Events
Events for September

11th

Events for September

12th

Events for September

13th

Events for September

14th

Events for September

15th

Events for September

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for September

17th

Events for September

18th

Events for September

19th

Events for September

19th

No Events
Events for September

21st

Events for September

22nd

Events for September

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for September

23rd

No Events
Events for September

25th

Events for September

26th

Events for September

27th

Events for September

28th

Events for September

29th

Events for September

30th

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

COMING SOON …

  • High School Football starts Sept. 29
  • Brawl 3: Oct 13
  • Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29

 

QUICK HITS

The Figo Islanders 40s women’s softball team took gold in the Senior Softball World Championship in Las Vegas. Figo came out of the loser’s bracket and beat the Arizona Belles 17-3 in the AA division championship game Sunday afternoon.
Other Guam teams that played in the 40s tournament were: Team SOTTA (women’s) and Bud Light Guam, Friars 671 and Sindalun Guahan (men’s).
Sindalu finished a respectable 4th out of 24 AAA division teams.
——————————————————-
In Guam’s first time competing in the FIBA Asia Cup, we draw China, Japan, and Mongolia in Group C. Competition begins in 2024. Guam also moves up the FIBA world rankings to #76.

More in GSPN