The 2015 IBJJF Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championship is set for February 15 at the famed Walter Pyramid of Cal State Long Beach in Long Beach, CA. This is one of the largest tournaments for the youngens and teens to test their skills and come home champion.

Representatives of the largest teams in the world will be in attendance: Art of Jiu-Jitsu, Brasa Caio Terra, Bruno Bastos Association, Gracie Barra, Checkmat, Atos, Nova Uniao, Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam, Team Lloyd Irvin and more.

In fact, kids travel from all over the world to compete in this event. You’ll find the athlete list has competitors from Mexico, Guam, Canada, Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, and more.

For kids, the experience of competition is great for learning what one needs to work, the same benefit for adults. But also for kids, it’s a way to find camaraderie in the community and learn how to overcome adversity, deal with pressure, experience adrenaline and of course enhance their Jiu-Jitsu.

Sign up now until Feb. 6 at www.ibjjf.org.

Check out this video of Flavio Almeida discussing why kids should train Jiu-Jitsu:

End of year celebration. Photo: Personal archive

GMA member Stephen Roberto of Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam is leading his team to be better every single day.

Over the years they have formed and adapted and evolved to become one of the best teams in Asia, as proven by their individual and team results at the IBJJF Asian Open in Tokyo, Japan every year.

As part of the end of year celebration, as is custom in a lot of the academies, there were belt promotions.

Three new black belts. Photo: Personal archive

Perhaps most significant were the promotions to black belt–all three. The students promoted were Rob Gutierrez, Mark Pangilinan and Joe McDonald.

Stephen says, “They are great defenders of Jiu-Jitsu and long time practitioners. Well deserved and long overdue. They’ve been training for over 12 years together. A super proud moment.”

Purebred Jiu-Jtsu Guam receives honorary certificate. Photo: Robert Balajadia

GMA member Stephen Roberto is the owner and head instructor at Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam. Having opened the academy in 1996, Stephen’s leadership has led his students to many medals and titles as well as enriched lives because of Jiu-Jitsu.

After taking home 22 medals at the 2014 IBJJF Asian Open, Stephen received an honorary certificate from the Government of Guam for his accomplishment and what he has done for Guam in the past 18 years.

If that wasn’t enough, the team was honored with the title of “Best Gym in Guam” as chosen by Pika Magazine.

Learn more at www.purebredbjjguam.net

Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam competitors and supporters. Photo: Personal archive

GMA Purebred Jiu Jitsu represented Guam with 25 medals from a team of 27 athletes at the 2014 Asian Open over the weekend.
They also earned the overall female first place team title.

Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam has garnered team titles for 5 consecutive installments of the Asian Open Jiu Jitsu Championship. Leader Stephen Roberto says, “Thank you to all the our coaches, students, family, sponsors and friends for their support. It was an incredible display of teamwork!”

In 2008 the team took home third place overall adult and second place novice. In 2010 they improved to the second place overall as a team. By 2012 they placed first in the novice category once again and a year later claimed the same category but in second place.

You can find complete results here: http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000304/en-US/Results.pdf

Left to right front row Rebecca Tomada, Tracy Matanane, Brogan Walker, Dina Salverian
Back row Prof. Stephen Roberto. Photo: Personal archive

The Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam Team. Photo: Personal Archive

On August 23, GMA Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam won their 14th consecutive Copa De Marianas adult and kids team championship trophies.

This is the longest win streak in Guam sports history. The event was blessed to have Professor Jared Weiner of GMA BJJ United from Philadelphia, PA as a guest official. The following Monday he conducted a seminar at our academy for kids and adults.

“Its a great thing to have Jiu-Jitsu connect people from all over the world. Big thanks to Jared for sharing,” says Stephen Roberto.

Learn more about GMA Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam and their accomplishments at www.purebredbjjguam.net

The kids at the tournament. Photo: Personal Archive

The Jared Weiner seminar. Photo: Personal Archive

Stephen’s seminar in Japan. Photo: Personal Archive

Stephen Roberto is the lead instructor of GMA Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam. Recently he had the experience of teaching high-level black belts in Japan and train with the students at his seminar.

Check out what he had to say about his time in Japan:

“Today was a a special day in my Jiu-Jitsu career. I was invited by the head coaches, Sensei Nishizawa and 2x world champion Sugai Hitoshi of Tokai University to conduct a seminar on ground techniques. I was so honored and humbled by this. The rivalry between judo and Jiu-Jitsu has been ongoing. To be invited by the powerhouse university in Japan to share technique is an incredible opportunity. I shared my turtle guard attacks and guard passing systems to a grateful and eager squad who I later found out are their “A” team. Two hours of technique followed by one hour of intense sparring. They were impressed by my teaching and even more impressed as I held my own with high level black belts and then to find out that I’m 39 years old! I was invited back at the end of training and look forward to helping bridge the gap between BJJ and judo. And it’s not every day were I get to teach a room full of black belts!”

More information about Stephen Roberto and GMA Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam can be found at www.purebredbjjguam.net