"The Destroyer"
Desireé “The Destroyer” Vasquez is a 33-year-old blue belt and Jesus believer who works overseas nonstop. She still considers herself a baby in the game, but her dedication has already taken her to competitions across the region and the world.
I trained in boxing as a teen, and that was my first love, but most of my opponents were pretty tall compared to me. Once I saw I could have an advantage on the ground, I decided to try my luck with BJJ. It was fun at the start, but when I came to GUMA, that’s when I finally felt like I was at home with my big bros. Now, with the ladies joining, it’s even better!
Pushing myself out of my comfort zone and seeing how much my efforts reflect at the end with the win.
It’s a way of still having a bond with my father, who passed away in 2013. He was the reason I started fighting in the first place.
It means a lot. Even being an outsider in a way, my results are a reflection of the teamwork that happens behind closed doors when no one is paying attention. The support they give, how seriously our Sensei takes helping us grow, and how he shares all his knowledge with us mean so much.
Little islands have to stick together since I’m Puerto Rican.
Hopefully, I can come back to Guam, keep training, and compete in everything that comes up next year.
Win more gold! But really, I want to work my way toward eventually getting that black belt!
