DEFTAC – Southeast Asia’s pioneering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts elite group – celebrated its three decades of excellence in the sport at the Hilton by recently honoring those who have become champions in the world and Asian tournaments, as well the very people behind the organization and the contributors.

Make no mistake, jiujitsu is gaining headway as one of the most popular sports in the world today.

A personality known for his patronage of the Jiujitsu in Guam will attest to this.

“With the sport growing, going bigger, jiujitsu has just formulated into a world-renowned sport and the thing about it is that Guam is also growing out of the sport’s popularity in the Philippines,” declared Steve Shimizu, President of Marianas Open International and sports tourism in Guam.

Shimizu even went to as far as citing what he described as the growing popularity of this Japanese combat sport in the Philippines.

“Most importantly, (jujitsu) it has grown on popularity among Filipinos as well as the Guamanians who love to compete here,” the Guam visitor said.

Shimizu also issued kind words for the Filipino jiujitsu athletes whom he considers as one of the toughest.

“One of the awesome things about the Philippines is its athletes who are very well tact, very renowned, and I competed alongside with them in Japan, in Philippines and I tell you they are tough, and the reason why we're here,” Shimizu narrated.

Shimizu, in an utter show of love for the sport and admiration of the Filipino jujitsu athletes, had come to town to grace a jiujitsu Marianas Pro Manila tournament in Alabang, which came to a close on Sunday, April 6.

He also lauded the tournament organized by Asian Sport Jiu-Jitsu Federation (ASJJF) led by its Manila president Alvin Lee, and Edison Kagohara, the ASJJF Overall President of Asia.

“Our partners here, Alvin Lee, put up a great event. He (Lee) has some great experiences, and all of us too,” said Shimizu, who expressed optimism on opening the door and bridge the gap between the Filipino and Guam jiujitsu competitors.

Shimizu is hoping more Filipino athletes would compete in the Marianas Pro Taiwan from April 26 to 27, and Marianas Open International on October 18 in Guam for the grand finale where a prize pool of $50,000 will be at stake.

BIG TIME prospect Carl Jammes Martin will finally get an opportunity for the first time to showcase his fighting skills in the world’s boxing Mecca — Las Vegas — as he will be fighting Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin on March 22 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

PROMISING Carl Jammes Martin is set for another ring comeback to determine his title chances next year as he clashes against Mexican brawler Ruben Tostado Garcia in a non-title super bantamweight match on November 30 in Tijuana, Mexico.

WRESTLING Association president Alvin Aguilar expressed confidence that more Filipino world jiu-jitsu titleholders will come from DEFTAC in years to come after producing five new elite world champions in the just-concluded 2024 World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

ALEIA AIELLE AGUILAR overcame heavier foes on Friday to become a three-time jiu-jitsu world champion in the 2024 World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.