Why did you start BJJ?
I started BJJ because I wanted to try something new. I thought it would be fun, and I ended up liking it a lot.
White Belt Competitor
Alexander Mariano
"Alex"
White Belt
Mangilao, GuamTraining for 2 years
Alexander “Alex” Mariano is a white belt from Mangilao, Guam. After starting Jiu Jitsu to try something new, he quickly found a sport, a team, and a challenge that keep him coming back to improve.
- 2025 Marianas International Championship
- 2026 Copa De Marianas
- 2026 Guam Dumau Marianas Open
- SJJF World Championship
Athlete interview
In Alex’s words
What do you enjoy most about competing?
Going against different styles around the world is pretty fun.
What motivates you to keep training?
The thing that motivates me the most is always going to be getting better. There’s always room for improvement, and I have a great Sensei to help me get there.
Who has influenced your BJJ journey the most?
Sensei Tuck definitely influenced my journey a whole lot. Jiu Jitsu was just something I wanted to do during my free time, but Sensei showed me there was a whole lot more to the game.
What does representing our competition team mean to you?
It means a lot. The team is really more like a family, and going out and competing with them is really fun.
What does representing Guam mean to you?
Representing Guam with the team is pretty cool. It makes me proud to show what Guam is about whenever we go out there.
What are your competition goals for the next year?
My competition goal is always going to be the same: going out there to do my best.
What is your ultimate goal in BJJ?
My ultimate goal in BJJ is definitely to get on Sensei’s level.
Training & competition
