"Wellzzz"
Joel “Wellzzz” Ymballa is a blue belt from Dededo, Guam. What started as a mission to lose weight and get healthier turned into a passion that reshaped how he sees himself — on and off the mats.
Three years into his Jiu Jitsu journey, Joel has already tested himself at the Marianas Open, Copa de Marianas, Marianas Pro Manila, and the SJJIF World Jiu Jitsu Championship. He credits the grind, his training partners, and Sensei Jon Tuck for keeping him focused and pushing forward.
I started Jiu Jitsu originally to lose weight and better my health. I ended up falling in love with the sport and looking into it more than that. It eases my mind and helps me focus — especially training with friends. You just feel free within yourself. This sport makes you become another version of yourself that you think you didn’t have in you, and it makes you work hard, putting in a lot of overtime to be the best.
I like going against challenges because it betters you, win or lose. It makes you want to up your game more and lets you see where your skillset stands.
My professor, my training partners, and just the grind.
Professor Jon Tuck. I wouldn’t be where I am now in this sport today if it weren’t for him.
It means a lot because it shows what our professor drives into us with all the knowledge and high-level techniques he knows. I enjoy going to war with my brothers and sisters on the mats. We’re not just average.
It gives us the opportunity to showcase our skills on the mats to everyone we go against, everywhere we go, and to represent our home island.
Just to be the best I can be and the best version of myself. Chase some medals and wins.
To keep absorbing every technique that’ll benefit me to be the best I can be in this sport and keep the flame on.
