Why did you start BJJ?
I started BJJ as a way to work out and stay healthy. I was just a hobbyist and never thought I would compete.
Adult White Belt Competitor
Travis John Salas
White Belt
Yigo, GuamTraining for 8 months
Travis John Salas is a white belt from Yigo, Guam. He stepped onto the mats eight months ago looking for a way to work out and stay healthy — a hobbyist who never imagined he would end up competing.
With two competitions already behind him and medals from the Guam Marianas / Dumau Open and the SJJIF World Championships, Travis is proving that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to more than you expected. He trains with the support of his wife and family, and his ultimate goal is to keep doing Jiu Jitsu for life alongside them.
- Guam Marianas / Dumau Open — Bronze in Gi
- SJJIF World Championships 2026 — Bronze, Gold
Athlete interview
In Travis’s words
What do you enjoy most about competing?
I'm still trying to figure that out — I only have two competitions under my belt. But I compete to step out of my comfort zone, and mostly to show my kids that it can be done even if it's something you've never done before.
What motivates you to keep training?
Knowing that I've barely scratched the surface of BJJ. I'm anxious but also patiently waiting to see how far I can take this at 39.
Who has influenced your BJJ journey the most?
My older brother, who is currently a blue belt, plus Sensei, who pushes me to places I never thought were possible, and my gym brothers who can take it just as much as they can give it.
What does representing our competition team mean to you?
It comes naturally to me. We are family, and I'll go to war with and for my team — no questions asked.
What does representing Guam mean to you?
Any chance I get to represent Guam in anything is an honor.
What are your competition goals for the next 12 months?
To compete as much as possible and get as much of our team to join in and create their own journey. My ultimate competition goal is to get my wife and kids to start competing.
What is your ultimate goal in BJJ?
To do this for the rest of my life alongside my wife, kids, and brothers, and to become a professor in the art.
Training & competition
