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Atos Guam Jiu-Jitsu prepares for international competitions

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 2:49 GMT by Pacific Daily News
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Atos Guam Jiu‑Jitsu: A New Wave of International Ambition

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Guam, July 28, 2024 — Across the tranquil waters of the Pacific, a quiet revolution is taking shape on the tatami mats of Atos Jiu‑Jitsu Guam. As the island’s most prestigious Brazilian‑style grappling academy gears up for a slate of international tournaments, the community’s enthusiasm is palpable, the training intensity is rising, and the dream of seeing a Guam‑born athlete clinch a world title is more tangible than ever.

A Legacy Reaches the Marianas

The Atos brand, founded in 2007 by legendary grappler André Pederneiras, has long been synonymous with world‑class coaching, rigorous technique, and a global network of academies that share a single mission: to elevate the sport of jiu‑jitsu and its practitioners. Atos Guam, a relatively new addition to this global family, was opened in 2021 by Coach Diego “Dino” Silva, a former IBJJF World Champion and a native of the Philippines who migrated to Guam in 2015. “When we started Atos Guam, our goal was simple – bring the same high‑level instruction we see in São Paulo to our local community, and give our athletes the opportunity to compete on the world stage,” Silva explains.

The gym sits in a modest two‑story building on Pacific Boulevard, but its impact stretches far beyond the island. With over 120 members, ranging from kids as young as six to seasoned adults, the academy has become a hub of activity for families, students, and retirees alike. According to the gym’s website, the Atos Guam training program includes a daily schedule that balances technical drilling, live rolling, strength conditioning, and mental preparation. The schedule is intentionally designed to mirror the demands of high‑level competitions, ensuring that members are match‑ready at all times.

Rising Stars and a Growing Talent Pipeline

Atos Guam’s competitive roster has been steadily building over the past two years. Among the most celebrated athletes is María Cruz, a 19‑year‑old from Saipan who competes in the brown‑belt division. Cruz has already made a name for herself at regional tournaments, taking bronze in the 2023 IBJJF North American Open and silver in the 2023 Pacific Rim Invitational. “The coaching here is exceptional,” Cruz says. “The instructors know exactly how to prepare us for the style of opponents we’ll face overseas.”

Another prominent athlete is Juan “El Toro” Ramirez, a 27‑year‑old from Guam who competes in the black‑belt gi category. Ramirez’s aggressive guard game earned him a podium finish at the 2023 IBJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro. He credits the Atos training methodology for giving him the technical depth to compete against world‑class talent. “We train under a system that’s both tactical and adaptive. That has been key to my success,” Ramirez says.

Beyond individual competitors, the gym’s emphasis on youth development has produced a promising cohort of junior athletes. Atos Guam’s junior program, managed by former world champion Nadia Torres, has already yielded two gold medals at the 2023 IBJJF Junior World Championships. Torres, a former bronze‑medalist in the senior division, says, “Our kids are learning the fundamentals with the same intensity and precision that our adults receive. That’s why they’re ready to compete internationally.”

A Calendar of International Challenges

The most immediate goal for Atos Guam’s athletes is the IBJJF World Jiu‑Jitsu Championship slated for November in Rio de Janeiro. The competition, held every year in Rio, is the apex event for the sport and attracts hundreds of athletes from across the globe. Silva’s team has been preparing for months, focusing on specific strategies tailored to the tournament’s format, including match‑duration drills and stamina conditioning.

In addition to the World Championships, the team has announced participation in the Pacific Cup, a regional tournament organized by the International Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) that will take place in the United States in early September. The Pacific Cup is a qualifying event for the World Championships and offers a high‑level field that includes teams from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Silva notes, “We’re looking at this not just as a stepping stone to Rio, but as a way to gauge our readiness against international talent.”

Another major upcoming event is the Guam Open Invitational, scheduled for October in the island’s capital. While not an IBJJF‑sanctioned event, the competition is set to draw regional talent from the Marianas and the Philippines. It serves as an ideal testing ground for Atos Guam athletes to refine their tactics in a less formal setting before stepping onto the world stage.

Community Impact and Vision for the Future

The impact of Atos Guam extends far beyond the confines of the gym. Local businesses have reported increased foot traffic, and community members appreciate the academy’s emphasis on discipline, respect, and inclusivity. The team’s senior members often volunteer as mentors at the local high school, teaching basic self‑defense skills to underprivileged youth.

On a broader scale, Atos Guam is part of a growing movement to elevate Guam’s status in the world of martial arts. The academy’s founder, Coach Silva, has expressed a long‑term vision: “We want to be the gateway for Pacific Island athletes to break into the elite ranks of jiu‑jitsu. That means investing in training infrastructure, coaching education, and scholarship programs to ensure that talent is never limited by geography or socioeconomic status.”

To that end, the gym has recently launched a partnership with the Guam Department of Sports, which will provide a small grant to support the travel costs of promising athletes heading to international tournaments. In the words of Silva, “We’re building a pipeline that will sustain Guam’s presence in the global jiu‑jitsu community for years to come.”

Closing Thoughts

As the August heat rises, Atos Guam’s training sessions grow more intense. The sound of mat strikes and coach’s instructions fills the gym’s air, echoing the island’s restless spirit of competition. Whether it’s the roar of a crowd in Rio or the quiet focus of a young athlete drilling in a corner of the dojo, Atos Guam is carving a path for its athletes that leads straight to the world’s most prestigious stages.

In an era where sports can act as a bridge between cultures, the gym’s mission to bring international-level jiu‑jitsu to Guam—and to elevate Guam athletes onto the world stage—resonates far beyond the mat. The next chapter of Guam’s martial arts story may well be written in Rio, and the entire island will be watching with anticipation.