Connect with us

Jiu-Jitsu

YAMASTA: CROSSING THE NATION AS BJJ CHAMPION

Young Caitlin Yamasta strikes BJJ gold!

By Patrick Lujan

Caitlin Yamasta holds up her second Pan Kids gold medal in as many years. (courtesy photo)

Chalk it up for another Guam talent on the jiu-jitsu mats.

Twelve-year-old Caitlin Yamasta traveled from her new home in Florida to win a kids super fight in Oklahoma before taking a red eye flight to Los Angeles to win her second straight Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships gold medal. She won gold in 2017 in a lower weight class.

“I felt fresh and confident in myself that I can do it,” Caitlin told GSPN about her orange belt success despite the long flights. “My coaches and family gave me all the energy.”

Originally from Dededo, Caitlin moved to the states with her parents David and Alma in 2013 and now reside in Gulf Breeze, Florida. It was shortly after settling there that young Caitlin started her journey in the martial art that has taken so many Guam athletes to the peak of the sport.

The young Yamasta has been training for four years at Gulf Breeze Checkmat under Janilson Bie & Gilson Nunes and says she trains seven days a week because she loves “learning new techniques every day, self confidence and self discipline. It teaches you a lot… really.”

As for her early successes on the mats, the young jiu-jitsu practitioner said, “You just have to believe and have faith in yourself, really that’s what got me here. Training hard every day and dedication. That’s really all you need.”

Female young star Paydence Manibusan out of Las Vegas won gold as well.

PUREBRED MEDALS

Other Guam athletes competed at the prestigious Pan Kids event in L.A. including a few from Guam camps Purebred and Figo.

Young Ayden Benavente out of Purebred took bronze while teammates Francesca Ada-Lizama and Ely Pocaigue took silver in their divisions.

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

October

November 2024

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

1st

Events for November

2nd

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Events for November

2nd

No Events
Events for November

4th

Events for November

5th

Events for November

6th

Events for November

7th

Events for November

8th

Events for November

9th

10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Events for November

10th

Events for November

11th

Events for November

12th

Events for November

13th

Events for November

14th

Events for November

15th

Events for November

16th

17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Events for November

16th

No Events
Events for November

18th

Events for November

19th

Events for November

20th

Events for November

21st

Events for November

22nd

Events for November

23rd

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Events for November

23rd

No Events
Events for November

25th

Events for November

26th

Events for November

27th

Events for November

27th

No Events
Events for November

29th

Events for November

30th

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

COMING SOON …

Lots of 2nd Quarter Sports

Guam vs. Japan men’s basketball November 24

QUICK HITS

Guam Blooded: Southern California high school volleyball coach Gerald Aquiningoc Alvarez has led his Long Beach Poly High School Girls team to the CIG southern section championship.
Alvarez has been coaching in Southern Cal for 16 years, winning CIF championships four times.
Born and raised in Cali, his roots are in Santa Rita-Sumay, and his uncles are popular baseball players Pat and Dale Alvarez.
——————————————————

The Fall PONY Bronco youth baseball league 12U came to an end with the Rangers going 7-0, defeating the Buckaroos 13-3 in the championship game.

More in Jiu-Jitsu