MARIANAS PRO NAGOYA DRAWS OVER 1200

PRESS RELEASE – The Guam Marianas Pro Nagoya concluded this weekend at Aichi Budokan after hosting the largest event in the organization’s history, drawing more than 1,200 athlete entries for a historic international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Japan. 

Athletes from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond gathered in Nagoya to compete, including representatives from Guam, Japan, Hawaii, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, China, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Brazil, the United States, Korea, and several European countries. The strong international field highlighted the continued expansion of the Guam Marianas Pro circuit as one of the fastest-growing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition platforms in the region. 

Competition took place throughout the day across a full schedule of divisions ranging from youth competitors to elite black belt matches. Teams and academies from across Asia and the Pacific delivered high-level performances, showcasing the depth and technical evolution of the sport across the region. 

More than 250 athletes, coaches, and supporters traveled from Guam to

participate in the event, representing the island’s growing jiu-jitsu community while strengthening connections with academies throughout Asia and the Pacific. The event also saw strong participation from teams traveling from Hawaii, further reinforcing the growing competitive bridge between the Pacific islands and Asia through the Guam Marianas Pro circuit. 

Several teams with strong Guam connections placed prominently in the Kids Team standings in both the No-Gi and Gi divisions. In the No-Gi Kids Team rankings, Ryze captured 1st place overall with 328 points, followed by strong finishes from Carbs Jiu-Jitsu (4th place), Heights Academy Guam (5th place), Figo / Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu (6th place), and Alliance Training Center Academy (7th place). 

In the Gi Kids Team rankings, Guam-connected teams continued to perform well, with Ryze placing 5th overall, Carbs Jiu-Jitsu finishing 6th, Heights Academy Guam placing 9th, and Figo / Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu finishing 10th in a highly competitive international field. 

Carbs Jiu-Jitsu also delivered a strong performance across the adult and masters divisions. In the Masters Gi Team standings, Carbs Jiu-Jitsu finished 4th overall, while in the Adult Gi Team standings, Carbs Jiu-Jitsu also placed 4th, narrowly missing the podium in both divisions and nearly bringing home additional team trophies. 

Standout performances by Guam athletes were also a highlight of the tournament. DeAndre Steele of Carbs Jiu-Jitsu captured double gold in the purple belt division, winning both the ultra-heavyweight and open class brackets. Tiana Adamos secured double gold in the women’s division, claiming gold in her weight class and the open weight division. In the black belt ranks, Anthony Cruz earned double gold in the Masters 30 division, winning both his weight class and the open weight division. 

On the youth side, Logan Baisa delivered a dominant performance, winning double gold in his division while finishing all of his matches by submission. Logan is the son of Dannie and Liane Baisa, continuing a strong family presence in the sport. 

Steve Shimizu, President of the Guam Marianas Pro, said the success of the Nagoya tournament reflects the growing international momentum behind the organization’s competition platform. 

“The turnout and participation we saw in Nagoya was truly remarkable,” Shimizu said. “Athletes and teams from across the region came together to compete and support one another. Events like this demonstrate the strength of the Guam Marianas Pro community and the continued growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu throughout the Asia-Pacific.” 

“GVB is proud to support the international martial arts community and congratulates the Guam Marianas Pro organization for a successful turnout,” stated Acting GVB President Frank Arriola. “We look forward to the upcoming events and their contribution to expanding sports tourism for Guam.” 

Organizers expressed their appreciation to the event’s primary sponsor, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB), and noted that the Nagoya tournament continues to strengthen Guam’s visibility in international markets while building relationships with academies throughout Asia and the Pacific. 

The Guam Marianas Pro international tour now continues to Manila, Philippines, where the next event on the circuit is scheduled for the final week of April. 

With record participation and broad international representation, the Guam Marianas Pro Nagoya stands as a major milestone for the organization and a powerful example of the continued growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu across the Asia-Pacific region while helping position Guam as a central hub for the sport in the Pacific.