Cuki receives Marianas Open Pioneer Award
Trench Tech Purebred Saipan founder Justis “Cuki” Alvarez was awarded the Marianas Open Pioneer Award, recognizing him as the sole recipient from the CNMI and celebrating his contributions to mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the CNMI.
The award, presented at a recent 2024 Marianas Open International Championship Jiu-Jitsu Tournament held in Guam, highlights Alvarez’s efforts in promoting and establishing combat sports in the region.
Reflecting on the early stages of his involvement in MMA and jiu-jitsu, Alvarez recalls the pivotal moment that sparked his journey during the Tinian Fury Fighting Islands Event.
“I was frustrated! Just watching all my fellow CNMI fighters losing and being helpless to assist them,” he shared. Despite having strong stand-up fighting skills, Alvarez noted that both he and the fighters lacked critical ground game skills, which played a significant role in their losses.
Determined to address this gap, Alvarez took action by learning more MMA and jiu-jitsu techniques to train local fighters. “We had great stand-up fighting skills but zero ground skills at the time,” he explained. This realization pushed him to focus on developing submission fighting skills for the island’s athletes.
To bolster the fighters’ training, Alvarez made the strategic decision to hire Kato Tetsuji, a professional MMA fighter from Japan, to live and train with them from 2004 to 2010. “Hiring Kato was the best decision we ever made,” Alvarez said.
At the time, Tetsuji was an up-and-coming fighter, the Shooto Fighting Series Welterweight Champion, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, and a judo black belt.
“He possessed all the techniques we were looking for MMA fights in the cage. His credentials were perfect for what we needed.”
In 2004, when Alvarez began his efforts, MMA and BJJ were “virtually non-existent in the CNMI,” he recalled. Recognizing the need for proper training and competitive platforms, he took it upon himself to pioneer these combat sports in the region. Through events such as Trench Wars, Rites of Passage, and The Art of War, Alvarez gave local fighters the opportunity to compete and refine their skills.
His work didn’t stop there. Alvarez continues to drive the sport forward with more recent events, including Ring of Fire, Cage of Fire, and Mats on Fire, providing aspiring fighters with regular competition and opportunities to showcase their skills.
When asked how he felt about receiving the Marianas Open Pioneer Award, Alvarez said,
“I am truly honored and privileged to have received this award among several other well-deserving and passionate BJJ practitioners from Guam.”
The award reflects not only his achievements but also the growth of MMA and jiu-jitsu in the region—a movement he has led since the early 2000s.
“It shows that people truly do appreciate and respect all the hard work you put into building and growing the sport here in the Northern Marianas,” he said.
For Alvarez, this recognition serves as validation of the dedication and effort he has invested in the sport. “I feel a sense of gratitude, and I am blessed that my hard work is acknowledged and noticed.”
Alvarez hopes that his recognition will inspire future generations of fighters in the CNMI. “I am proud, and I will continue to work diligently in keeping jiu-jitsu and MMA growing in our Marianas for many years to come.”
As Alvarez looks to the future, his impact on the combat sports community in the CNMI continues to thrive. His journey, marked by dedication and a drive to improve the skills of local fighters, has left a lasting legacy that will inspire and shape the next generation of athletes in the region.
Trench Tech pix
