The six-man Saipan Submissions Competition Team brought their “A” game in their debut as they collected a bunch of hardware—two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals—in the 2024 Marianas Pro Korea Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Tournament last June 16 in Seoul, South Korea.

After a successful stint by CNMI martial artists in the Copa De Marianas last February in Guam, a team under the newly formed Saipan Submissions Competition Team full sent their team of six martial artists—Jacob Yamagishi, Masaki Kitami, Javin Okawa, Jesus Attao, David Cruz, and Joaquin Salas—to solidify the CNMI as formidable opponents in the sport and collect more medals in the sport.

For Yamagishi, he handed the team a gold and silver. He bagged the gold in the featherweight No-Gi white belt competition. Silver went to Korea’s Sungwon Kim, while bronze was shared between China’s Ziqiang Song and CNMI’s Javin Okawa.

Yamagishi’s silver medal was won in the white belt No-Gi open weight division. Gold went to Guam’s Jacob Klein, while Okawa hauled in the bronze with Kim.

The other medal for Okawa was a silver finish in the white belt Gi featherweight division. The gold medal was won by Korea’s Teawon Moon, while bronze was a tie between Korea’s Hyeonseong Seo and Jaebum Lee.

The other gold medal was grappled in by Kitami in the white belt Gi roosterweight division. Silver was Korea’s Yungeon Kim and bronze was also Korea’s Changghyun Kim.

For Attao, he contributed one silver and one bronze medal. In the blue belt Gi medium-heavyweight division, he finished with a silver medal. Gold went to Korea’s Jeongsu Kim, while bronze went to Korea’s Hyunjin Baek and Se Jin Park.

In the No-Gi blue belt heavyweight division, Attao settled for bronze. Guam’s Joseph Haganey took the top prize of gold, while Kier Agda of Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam bagged silver.

Yamagishi said he and the team have been training hard on a daily basis after the Copa De Marianas last February. They put together the six-man team and were coached under black belt Bryan Deleon Guerrero, who helped them train and prepare despite being based in California.

Yamagishi said, “We all trained hard and consistently with one another in my garage, without our coach physically present. Despite him not being able to make it to Korea, the boys and I still stuck to the game plan and guided one another to secure two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals for the Saipan Submissions Team and for the CNMI.”

He added, “Seeing all the boys’ hard work pay off was definitely something I’ll always remember. Being proud is definitely an understatement. Now it’s back to training hard in the garage until coach Bryan is back in town and the Saipan Submissions gym opens.”

The 24-year-old said that the Saipan Submissions Competition Team plans to stay active in the tournament scene. They will be back to represent CNMI in the grand finale, the Marianas Open International Championship that will be held in Guam on Oct. 12.

This grand finale will feature athletes from Guam, the CNMI, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S.

The 2024 Marianas Pro Series began with the Copa De Marianas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi/No-Gi Tournament last February; then the Marianas Pro Japan last March; the Marianas Pro Philippines last April; then the recently concluded Marianas Pro Korea; and the finale—Marianas Open International Championship in Guam.

The six-man Saipan Submissions Competition Team brought their ‘A’ game in their debut as they collected a bunch of hardware—two gold, three silver, and three bronze medals in the 2024 Marianas Pro Korea Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Tournament last June 16 in Seoul, South Korea.

After a successful stint by CNMI martial artists in the Copa De Marianas last February in Guam, a team under the newly formed Saipan Submissions Competition Team full sent their team of six martial artists—Jacob Yamagishi, Masaki Kitami, Javin Okawa, Jesus Attao, David Cruz, and Joaquin Salas to solidify CNMI as formidable opponents in the sport and collect more medals in the sport.

For Yamagishi, he handed the team a gold and silver. He bagged the gold in the featherweight No-Gi white belt competition. Silver went to Korea’s Sungwon Kim, while bronze was shared between China’s Ziqiang Song and CNMI’s Javin Okawa.

Yamagishi’s silver medal was won in the white belt No-Gi open weight division. Gold went to Guam’s Jacob Klein, while Okawa hauled in the bronze with Kim.

The other medal for Okawa was a silver finish in the white belt Gi featherweight division. The gold medal was won by Korea’s Teawon Moon, while bronze was a tie between Korea’s Hyeonseong Seo and Jaebum Lee.

The other gold medal was grappled in by Kitami in the white belt Gi roosterweight division. Silver was Korea’s Yungeon Kim and bronze was also Korea’s Changghyun Kim.

For Attao, he contributed one silver and one bronze medal. In the blue belt Gi medium-heavyweight division, he finished with a silver medal. Gold went to Korea’s Jeongsu Kim, while bronze went to Korea’s Hyunjin Baek and Se Jin Park.

In the No-Gi blue belt heavyweight division, Attao settled for bronze. Guam’s Joseph Haganey took the top prize of gold, while Kier Agda of Purebred Jiu Jitsu Guam bagged silver.

Yamagishi said he and the team have been training hard on a daily basis after the Copa De Marianas last February. They put together the six man team and were coached under black belt Bryan Deleon Guerrero, who helped them train and prepare despite being based in California.

Yamagishi said, “We all trained hard and consistently with one another in my garage, without our coach physically present. Despite him not being able to make it to Korea, the boys and I still stuck to the game plan and guided one another to secure 2 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals for the Saipan Submissions Team and for CNMI.”

He added, “Seeing all the boys’ hard work pay off was definitely something I’ll always remember. Being proud is definitely an understatement. Now it’s back to training hard in the garage until coach Bryan is back in town and the Saipan Submissions gym opens.”

The 24-year-old said that the Saipan Submissions Competition Team plans to stay active in the tournament scene. They will be back to represent CNMI in the grand finale, the Marianas Open International Championship that will be held in Guam on October 12.

This grand finale will feature athletes from Guam, CNMI, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S.

The 2024 Marianas Pro Series began with the Copa De Marianas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi/No-Gi Tournament last February; then the Marianas Pro Japan last March; the Marianas Pro Philippines last April; then the recently concluded Marianas Pro Korea; and the finale—Marianas Open International Championship in Guam.