Why did you start BJJ?
I originally started wrestling in high school, and later picked up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from 2012–2014 as another sport to add to my background. After that, I took roughly a 10-year break from the sport. When I came back and found GUMA in 2023, I wanted to see if I still had what it took after being away for so long. What started as a challenge to myself quickly turned into something much bigger. Under Sensei Jon “SuperSaiyan” Tuck, I found my love for the sport again and realized that I still had so much more to learn and accomplish.
What do you enjoy most about competing?
For me, competition is simple: you either win or you learn. Once I step onto the mat, I push myself to give nothing less than my absolute best and perform to the best of my abilities. I enjoy the challenge of testing everything I've worked on in training and seeing how I respond when I'm pushed outside of my comfort zone. Win or lose, I always walk away with something I can learn from and use to become better.
What motivates you to keep training?
What motivates me most is being surrounded by such an amazing team that I now consider family. We all grow together, push each other, and experience the highs and lows of this journey together. I see how much everyone continues to grow, and honestly, I don't want to get left behind. That keeps me showing up, putting in the work, and continuing to improve.
Who has influenced your BJJ journey the most?
Without a doubt, my biggest influence has been our Sensei, Jon Cruz Tuck. He has helped me believe in myself more than I ever have. Through the good and the bad, he continues to push me, challenge me, and remind me of what I'm capable of. He has always believed that I can become a world champion, sometimes even when I didn't believe it myself. I'm grateful for his guidance, his belief in me, and everything he has helped me become both on and off the mat.
What does representing our competition team mean to you?
Representing GUMA has always been an honor. Through the rough roads and the paved ones, this journey has never been easy, but it has always been worth it. Every time I step onto the mat, I carry the GUMA patch on my back with pride. I fight not only for myself, but for the people who have trained beside me, supported me, and helped me along the way. This journey is far from over, and I'm looking forward to continuing to fight my heart out while remembering where I come from and who I represent.
What does representing Guam mean to you?
Our island may be small, but we come with some of the biggest spirits and even bigger hearts. Every time I compete, I carry Guam with me. I want the people I compete against to know that Guam is here, that we belong on the world stage, and that we are serious competitors in this sport. I'm proud to represent our island, and every time I step onto the mat, I want to leave everything out there and make Guam proud.
What are your competition goals for the next 12 months?
Now that I've moved up to the purple belt, my goal is to compete as much as I can, continue challenging myself against high-level competition, and keep writing new chapters in my BJJ story. I want to continue growing, learning, and testing myself at every opportunity. There is still a lot I want to accomplish, and I'm excited to see where this next chapter takes me.
What is your ultimate goal in BJJ?
My ultimate goal is simple: never give up. I want to continue growing as a competitor, as a teammate, and as a leader within our GUMA family. Of course, becoming a world champion is a goal I continue to chase, but I also want my journey to be bigger than medals and titles. I want to share the love, knowledge, and lessons I've gained through this sport with the generations that come after me. If I can help someone else fall in love with BJJ, believe in themselves, and never quit, then I know this journey was worth it. The goal is to keep growing, keep giving back, and never stop writing the story.
