I'M HERE BUT NOT HERE

This is the longest I've been away from Asia since moving in 2006 and training has been sparse this time around cause of work. So while my body may be off the mats, my mind has kept strong with vids and plenty of daydreaming, haha. I was fortunate enough to check out the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials in Santa Cruz, CA this past week. Thanks to friends at Kaijin MMA, I got to sit mat-side and take a ton of pics which I'm sifting through now. The gold medalist to each division will go to Abu Dhabi for the finals later this year, all expenses paid. White & blue-belts are combined while purple, brown & black-belts are combined. There were some definite upsets but overall a fantastically smooth tournament lead by Claudio Franca who is also responsible for the US Open. Besides the matches, it was exciting to see a number of faces that I recognized from the blogs and DVDs, making some new friends here and there. 

I'm still a couple of weeks out before returning to Asia but am doing what I can to keep in touch with everyone. Be sure to check out the calendar and let me know if there's any missing events. 

Once I get my photos in order I will be writing a post on all the spots I've trained at over the past month+ here in the US. 

-Luke

2010 CALENDAR

JANUARY

(27) Dave Menne seminar (TH)

*info: HERE  

(30) Kyle Kingsbury seminar (TH)

*info: HERE 

FEBRUARY

(7) PRO Fighting 3- "Destiny vs. Demons"

*info: HERE  

(13) Nicolas Gregoriades Seminar (TH)  

*info: BANGKOK BJJ 

(27-28) Nakamura K Taro Seminar (CH)
*info: HERE 

MARCH 

(6-7) 2010 Philippine Gi & No Gi Nationals
*info: to be confirmed

(21) World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup (JP)

*info: JJFJ.ORG 

(21) Japan Open (JP)

*info: JJFJ.ORG 

(26) Juliano Prado seminar (TH)

*host: Tiger Muay Thai  

(27) Nevertap Asia Tournament (TH)

*host: Tiger Muay Thai 

MAY

(8) Marianas Open (Guam)

*info: groundzerotumon@hotmail.com  

(15-16) 2010 Pan Asian BJJ & No-Gi International
*info: HERE

(22) Naksu Tournament (TH)

*info: TBA

SEPTEMBER
(11-12) Asian Open (JP)
*info: TBA

NOVEMBER 

(20) Indonesian Submission Championships

TMT: KYLE KINGSBURY SEMINAR

2010 PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL NO-GI OPEN: RESULTS

Team Results

G-Team Guam / Carlson Gracie
S-Atos VPF
B-Team Fabricio 

Basic - Galo

G-Gabriel Grecia - Grecia Fight Club
S-Aladin Galicia - Reamico Jiu Jitsu
B-Albert De Guzman - Sprawl/Fabricio
B-Joseph Barcelonia - Reamico Jiu Jitsu

Basic - Pluma

G-Michael Vergel - Atos VPF
S-Christian Quismundo - New Breed
B-Cameron Masnayon - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Pinggoy Danguilan - Atos VPF

Basic - Pena

G-Joward Agao - Strike 'n Shoot
S-Kevin Cruz - Carlson Gracie
B-Ulysses Fajilan - Team Fabricio
B-Thomas Anton Napoleon Gumiran - Atos vPF

Basic - Leve

G-Christian De la Cruz - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Dennis Castro - Atos VPF
B-Nico Pinga - Team Fabricio
B-Carl Sabeniano - Hybrid Yawyan

Basic - Medio

G-Gael Dur - Team Fabricio Taiwan
S-Angelo Lazarito - Sprawl/Fabricio
B-Jerry Legaspi - Hybrid Yawyan
B-Armand Cendana - Team Fabricio

Basic - Meio Pesado

G-Jeremiah San Nicolas - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Carlos Griffith - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-skyyler Taitano - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Alan Oblena - New Breed

Basic - Pesado

G-Chris Huckabee - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Bryan Dy - Team Fabricio
B-Anthony Lim - Team Fabricio

Basic - Super Pesado

G-Brian Lim - Team Fabricio
S-Jek Ferrer - Atos VPF
B-Kendrick Tan - Team Fabricio

Basic - Absoluta

G-Carlos Griffith - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Gael Dur - Team Fabricio Taiwan
B-Jeremiah San Nicolas - Carlson Graie Guam
B-Chris Caangay - Strike 'n Shoot

Intermediate - Pena

G-Erwin Tagle - Atos VPF
S-Bert Sunico - Atos VPF
B-JR Santos - Atos VPF
B-Gregori Grecia - Grecia Fight Club

Intermediate - Leve

G-John Meno - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Mario Cunanan - Atos VPF
B-Miguel Ayuyu - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Benjo Penzon - Atos VPF

Intermediate - Medio

G-Mike Carbullido - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Karlo Sevilla - Sprawl/Fabricio
B-Jed Baluyot - Atos VPF
B-Clifton Nededog - Carlson Gracie Guam

Intermediate - Pesado

G-Allan Drueco - Team Fabricio
S-Jonathan Greek - Kauai Kimonos
B-Mark Ng - Team Fabricio

Intermediate - Absoluta

G-Mike Carbullido - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Mark Ng - Team Fabricio
B-Kyle Kapunan - Gracie Barra
B-Francis Uy - Atos VPF

Advanced - Leve

G-Carlo Pena - Atos VPF
S-JR Santos - Atos VPF
B-Allen Chong - Checkmat Malaysia / Bjj Borneo

Advanced - Pesado

G-Jon Tuck - GTT Guam
S-Ali Sulit - Atos VPF
B-Karlo Sevilla - Sprawl/Fabricio
B-Ole Baguio Laursen - Legacy Gym

Advanced - Absoluta

G-Jon Tuck - GTT Guam
S-Carlo Pena - Atos VPF
B-JR Santos - Atos VPF
B-Ole Baguio Laursen - Legacy Gym

Juniors' Division - Light Weight

G-JR Santos - Atos VPF
S-Colin Bringas - Legionnaires
B-Kieran Harris - Team Fabricio

Juniors' Division - Middle Weight

G-Mike Carbullido - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Aldo Vergel De Dios - Atos VPF
B-Michael Shaw - Team Fabricio
B-Max Becker

Juniors' Division - Pesado

G-Kyle Kapunan - Gracie Barra
S-Jeremiah San Nicolas - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Carlo Jason Kho

Women's Division - Absoluta

G-Brigit Bringas - Legionnaires Gym
S-Angie Bartholomew - Checkmat Malaysia / Bjj Borneo 
B-Christina Velez - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Emily Lipata - Reamico Jiu Jitsu

2010 PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL BJJ OPEN: RESULTS

Team Results

G-Atos VPF
S-Team Guam / Carlson Gracie
B-Team Fabricio

White Belt - Galo

G-Gian Dee - Atos VPF
S-Tariq Saleh - Atos VPF
B-Aladin Galicia - Reamico Jiu Jitsu

White Belt - Pluma

G-Pinggoy Danguilan - Atos VPF
S-Kevin Cruz - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Tonton Uy - Atos VPF
B-Justin Sumulong - Atos VPF

White Belt - Pena

G-Carlos Tiongson - Atos VPF
S-Christian De la Cruz - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Ricky Poblador - Atos VPF
B-Geoff De Rivera - Team Fabricio

White Belt - Leve

G-Rey Joson - New Breed
S-Michael Chong - Checkmat Malaysia / Bjj Borneo
B-Aldo Vergel De Dios - Atos VPF
B-Ryan Ang - New Breed

White Belt - Medio

G-Ole Baguio Laursen - Legacy Gym
S-Jeremiah San Nicolas - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Tristan Seisa - Team Fabricio
B-Henson Gosiaco - Atos VPF

White Belt - Meio Pesado

G-Skyyler Taitano - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Carlos Griffith - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Chris Huckabee - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-allen Oblena - New Breed

White Belt - Pesado

G-Anthony Lim - Team Fabricio
S-Sam Santiago - Gracie Barra
B-Anjo Gumila - Atos VPF

White Belt - Super Pesado

G-Jek Ferrer - Atos VPF
S-Brian Lim - Team Fabricio
B-Matt Jao - Atos VPF
B-Kendrick Tan - Team Fabricio

White Belt - Absoluta

G-Ole Baguio Laursen - Legacy Gym
S-Carlos Tiongson - Atos VPF
B-Gian Dee - Atos VPF
B-Charles Hewitt - Evolve/Renzo Gracie

Blue Belt - Pena

G-JR Santos - Atos VPF
S-Miguel Ayuyu - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-John Meno - Carlson Gracie Guam
B-Bert Sunico - Atos VPF

Blue Belt - Leve

G-Mike Carbullido - Carlson Gracie Guam
S-Macky Siazon - Atos VPF
B-Gully Go - Atos VPF
B-Francis Uy - Atos VPF

Blue Belt - Medio

G-Jon Tuck - GTT Guam
S-Jed Baluyot - Atos VPF
B-Neil Fereira - Team Fabricio
B-Joseph Nicdao - Gracie Barra Australia

Blue Belt - Meio Pesado

G-Jonathan Greek - Kauai Kimonos
S-Christian Luna - Gracie Barra

Blue Belt - Absoluta

G-Andrew Laxa - Gracie Barra
S-Jonathan Greek - Kauai Kimonos
B-Gully Go - Atos VPF
B-Nestor Ponce - Atos VPF

Purple Belt - Leve

G-Wictor Dahistrom - Legacy Gym
S-Carlo Pena - Atos VPF

Purple Belt - Pesado

G-Froilan Sarenas - Atos VPF
S-Ali Sulit - Atos VPF

Purple Belt - Absoluta

G-Ali sulit - Atos VPF
S-Froilan Sarenas - Atos VPF
B-Wictor Dahistrom - Legacy Gym
B-Gabe Baker - Carlson Gracie Guam

Masters' Division

G-Gully Go - Atos VPF
S-Michael Javier - Team Fabricio
B-Paul Rosales - Team Fabricio

Women's Division - Leve

G-Kathy Duque - Atos VPF
S-Macaca - Atos VPF
B-Caroline Anthony - Checkmat Malaysia / Bjj Borneo
B-Valerian Alfante - Checkmat Malaysia / Bjj Borneo

Women's Division - Pesado

G-Natasha Rodriguez - Atos VPF
S-Mitch Lagdameo - Atos VPF

Women's Division - Absoluta

G-May Masuda
S-Mitch Lagdameo - Atos VPF
B-Angie Bartholomew - Checkmat Malaysia / Bjj Borneo
B-Cat De Leon - Atos VPF

Kids' Division -30kg

G-Tommy - Team Fabricio
S-Joseph Ting - Team Fabricio

Kids' Division 30.1 - 35kg

G-Liam Aguilar - Gracie Barra
S-Nicholas Ceriola - Team Fabricio
B-Chase Cluk - Team Fabricio
B-Antonio Ceriola - Team Fabricio

Kids' Division - 35.1 - 40kg

G-Anthony Obligacion - Gracie Barra
S-Justin Ceriola - Team Fabricio
B-Danner Yarcia -  Team Fabricio
B-Drazen Yarcia - Team Fabricio

Kids' Division - 40.1 - 54kg

G-Carlo De Thomas - Team Fabricio
S-Jermaine Lipata - Reamico JJ
B-Drexel Yarcia -  team Fabricio
B-Hunter Cluk

Kids' Division - Over 54.1 kg

G-Jake Batuhan - Gracie Barra
S-Navi Medalla - Gracie Barra
B-Chance Cheung - Team Fabricio
B-Joseph Barcena - Team Fabricio

ESPN STAR SPORTS: OPEN INVITATION TO 'MARTIAL COMBAT MMA' SERIES

ESPN STAR Sports Event Management group is extending a rare open invite to talented fighters interested in competing in the globally televised Martial Combat MMA series.   Select fight cards have been reserved by ESPN STAR Sports and  will be filled on a selection basis from submitted fighters.

Martial Combat is the largest and most prestigious MMA competition in Asia and is the only MMA event to be broadcast to 310 million viewers and 24 Asian countries by ESPN STAR Sports. 

If you are interested, please submit the following information:

DEADLINE for submission: February 14^th, 2010.

1.       Full name

2.       MMA record

3.       Profile pictures

4.       Video links of past fights if possible

CONTACT: Ivan Ho, e-mail: ivan.ho@espnstar.com

----------------------------------------------------------------- 
ESPN STAR Sports and Resorts World Sentosa Form 3-Year Exclusive Partnership with the launch of the MARTIAL COMBAT – Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship

5 October 2009, Singapore: Asia’s top sports content provider, ESPN STAR Sports (ESS), today announced a 3-year exclusive partnership with Resorts World Sentosa to create, stage and broadcast a range of world-class sporting events in Singapore, kicking off with the launch of the inaugural MARTIAL COMBAT – Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship in 2010.

The MARTIAL COMBAT will feature a grand total of twelve events comprising 60 action-packed fights featuring some of the most popular and celebrated Asian fighters and many ranked fighters from around the world. It will receive an unprecedented amount of television coverage from ESS in excess of 60 hours, making it the largest MMA broadcast in Asia.  The first leg of events, scheduled on 12-13 May 2010, promises to be a star-studded event showcasing non-stop action, inside a ring, from some of the biggest fighters in the region and from around the world. This will be the first-ever MMA event till date to receive television coverage in 24 different countries in Asia, extensive online support through www.espnstar.com and mobile initiatives through mobileESPN. 

Manu Sawhney, Managing Director, ESPN STAR Sports, said, “We are very pleased to join hands with Resorts World Sentosa to kick start a great sports entertainment initiative which we believe has a lot of potential in becoming a signature sporting event in Asia. I am confident that with our event management expertise coupled with the strength of our television networks and digital platforms, sports fans at the resort and across the region can look forward to a highly engaging and entertaining experience”.

Miss Andrea Teo, Vice President of Entertainment for Resorts World Sentosa said: "We believe that through the MARTIAL COMBAT – Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship, this professional sport will scale new heights and groom talented fighters into household names. Having a mega tourism destination like Resorts World Sentosa as a venue, will definitely lend buzz to the fights.’’

As Singapore’s only island-integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa is set to woo tourists with its collection of attractions and hotel offerings. There will also be world-class entertainment to engage visitors, ranging from musical and theatrical to sporting events. The MARTIAL COMBAT – Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship will be held at the resort’s Compass Ballroom. The wide array of event facilities and the professional expertise available at the resort are valuable assets in being able to produce high-quality and attention-grabbing events.

This partnership brings together the strengths of ESPN STAR Sports Event Management as Asia’s #1 sports event organizer and the brand new venue and facilities of Resorts World Sentosa.  Resorts World Sentosa is scheduled to open in early 2010 and is owned by Genting Singapore.  The S$6.59-billion venture will include South-east Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest marine life park, six hotels, a casino, and a host of retail, dining and entertainment options. ESS’s Events Management has managed and promoted more than 1,000 high-profile sporting events around Asia, such as the KIA X Games Asia, KL World 5s, 9 Ball Tour, the FEI Endurance Race, the Standard Chartered FIH Men’s Junior World Cup & Aviva Ironman 2009.

MMA is already one of the world’s fastest growing sports and has dominated the North American pay-per-view scene as the most watched sport since 2006.  Its unique combination of a full contact combat sport which also allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, leads to a mass appeal amongst different types of martial arts.  In addition to MARTIAL COMBAT – Asia’s Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Fight Championship, ESS will broadcast a select number of programming from other MMA events from around the world in 2010.

MORE NEWS FROM TMT

FREE: DAVE MENNE SEMINAR (01.27.2010) @ TIGER MUAY THAI

TECHNIQUE W/ ELVIS SINOSIC

7x UFC veteran Elvis Sinosic held a MMA Seminar at Tiger Muay Thai & MMA Training Camp, Phuket, Thailand on January 16, 2010. Elvis Sinosic shows a variety of drills to guests, showing that you can work your fighting game everyday while not at the gym with simple movements.

PICS FROM LAST WEEKEND: MANILA

Hi, here are the links to the facebook photo albums for the event. Thanks to Jonna Baquillas for taking the pics!

GI
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=629608930#/album.php?aid=140649&id=598729215
NOGI
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=629608930#/album.php?aid=141165&id=598729215

Jonathan Greek
KauaiKimonos.com

WILL BE MISSING FOR A BIT

This week is crazy busy and probably won't be able to post anything substantial until the end of the week at best. Hope everyone had a great tournament weekend in Manila. Will def post the results when I get them.

-Luke

SG PRO INTERVIEW

I was recently asked to participate in an interview with SG Pro and thought I'd share the link. -Luke

http://www.sg-pro.com/2010/01/16/sg-pro-interviews-luke-chaya-founder-of-bjj-asia/

PACIFIC RIM ORGANIZED FIGHTING: 02.07.2010

Event: PRO Fighting 3- "Destiny vs. Demons"
Start Time: Sunday, February 7 at 6:00pm
End Time: Sunday, February 7 at 9:30pm
Where: Luxy Nightlife Complex: Zhong-Xiao E. Rd Sect. 4 #205 5th Floor

TRAVELING & TRAINING AS A NEW PURPLE-BELT

I start 2010 as a newly promoted purple-belt which to me is a fantastic way to start the new year. I know it's not a gift but something that was earned but when traveling and visiting academies abroad, I definitely walk in more alert to what lies ahead. I know being a visitor or 'new guy' is no cake-walk and people will definitely push you when it comes time to roll. It's all part of the game and I always find this part the most exciting. For one, I get to see what aspects of my game work well since people aren't familiar with me and I see what doesn't. While I may be the 'heavy guy' at home, I'm one of many when training in the US, haha. So I take note of the guys that notice of me when I walk onto the mat for warm-ups and then take a guess at who'll ask me to roll first.

While this trip hasn't been as training heavy as I would have hoped, I definitely feel confident about what I can impose when it comes time to roll. Not to say that I've been killing everyone but it's nice to see that I can hang or take the opportunity to play my game. Everyone has been really cool and 2010 looks to present new challenges for sure.

I'm not big on 'new year resolutions' but with the promotion it's by coincidence that am looking to change things up. I've spent the better part of 2009 teaching the morning sessions at Bangkok BJJ which has helped me tremendously in strengthening my fundamentals. It's time for me to put in some serious time as a student and refine what I know and put it into action. I realize now it's as much what I do on the mat as what I do off of it. So ultimately I continue in my pursuit of being a better and healthier person. I ain't perfect but I am working on it.

I hope everyone out there is doing well and have had enough time to recover from the holidays. Catching up with a number of friends, they all happen to be doing detoxes in reaction to the eating/partying of the last month or so. I think it's a touch extreme but I like the energy.

Also, just wanted to wish everyone who's competing this weekend in Manila at the 2010 Philippine Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi and No Gi International the best of luck.

-Luke

TIGER MUAY THAI: SEMINARS

A lot of things cooking up at TMT so be on the look out for a ton of seminars and events this 2010.  

 

 

TEAM EVOLVE @ UFC

Team Evolve wins at UFC again!

 

Rafael dos Anjos, an official member of the Evolve Fight Team, fought against Kyle Bradley in a 155lbs match at UFC Fight Night 20 today and won decisively by points with a dizzying display of firepower.  Showing an arsenal of skills, Dos Anjos used his newly inherited Sityodtong Muay Thai skills to beat Bradley in the stand up department and utilized his Gordo BJJ Black Belt techniques to dominate the ground game.

  

Dos Anjos trained at both Evolve Singapore and Evolve Brazil for this fight.  He trained under the legendary Sityodtong Team here in Singapore with Nuengpichit Sityodtong, Yoddecha Sityodtong, Chatri Sityodtong, Yodrit Sityodtong, and Daorung Sityodtong.  For his BJJ, he trained with Rafael "Gordinho" Correa and Roberto "Gordo" Correa. 

LEGEND FC: PICS & RESULTS

Check out the results below and the cools pics of the event from the KLNBJJ BLOG.

Dramatic Finale for Legends Mixed Martial Arts

Hong Kong Debut


Monday, January 11 – In a dramatic finale to an action-packed Legend professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Hong Kong debut, the final, white-knuckle bout of the evening was declared a draw.


Adrian Pang of Australia (29) and Korea’s Nam Yui-Chul (28) proved so evenly matched that the judges declared their bout a majority draw, despite it going the full three rounds, with the pair locked in intense battle throughout.


Despite the disappointment of not taking the win, Pang was upbeat: “I thought the fight was good. He hit me in the eye early and after that it swelled, so it was harder for me to judge the distance. I was slower to get started. Nam is tough and very strong. It was a great experience to fight in Hong Kong.”


In the other headline event of the nine-bout event card, two-time China National Sanda Champion Zhao Zilong (23) triumphed over former Heavyweight MMA Champion of the Philippines Vicente Pajaro (33) in the first round after a TKO (technical knockout) after two minutes.


Zhao, who recently appeared in the movie ‘Xanda’, was thrilled to have won in the SAR: “It feels really good to compete here in Hong Kong, the land so famous for kung fu. MMA competition is still in its early stages in China, and I hope I can build the path, to help bring Chinese fighters into international competition.”


He was also full of praise for the Hong Kong crowd: “The atmosphere was really great. This is my first time to feel the support and hear the applause. Thank you to all the Hong Kong supporters!”


Prior to the two headline events, Korean Bae Myung-Ho (23) beat Japan’s Yoshimoto Watanabe (24) with a triangle choke with one second remaining of the second round. The clash between Mongolia’s Dorjderem Munkhbayasgalan (30) and Dylan Andrews (30) of New Zealand was declared no-contest due to an un-intentional foul by the Mongolian.

Image attached: Zhao Zilong (left)

January 11, 2010


Issued on behalf of Legend by PR Plus Limited. For further information please contact Melanie Ho (melanie@prplus.com.hk) or Marco Tsang (marco@prplus.com.hk)

PLEASE KEEP ME UPDATED ON YOUR ACADEMY/CLUB

Hi All,

    I regularly get e-mails from folks looking for places to train or visit affiliate schools here in Southeast Asia and to my dismay, some of you no longer exist. Either your site/blog is no longer available or has been inactive for some time.

    Please, keep me posted so that I can help get those interested connected to the right people.

Thanks,

Luke

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hope everyone is doing well and recovering from the holidays with the good food and drink. Just got to the second half of my trip outside of Asia and am getting the itch to train. Haven't had a chance to upload the photos I've taken but I promised to do a full account of where I've been these past couple of weeks (training-wise). Nothing prolific but all good places that hopefully some of you guys/gals can visit when traveling in the US.

Keep the news coming in. This weekend we have a few cool events like:

GARTH TAYLOR SEMINAR @ BANGKOK BJJ (JAN 9)

LEGEND FC @ HONG KONG (JAN 11)