MARIANAS PRO TO ROLL IN MANILA APRIL 5-6

PRESS RELEASE – The Marianas Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship returns to action April 5–6, 2025, in Manila,  Philippines, gathering elite grapplers from across the region for two days of top-tier competition. The tournament  will feature Gi divisions on Day 1 and No-Gi divisions on Day 2. Most importantly, the event will serve as a  qualifier for the prestigious Marianas International to be held later this year on Guam. 

This year’s Marianas Pro Manila is on track to make history. With entries nearing 1,000 competitors, it is set to  become the largest Jiu-Jitsu tournament ever held in the Philippines. This milestone is especially significant  considering that the Marianas Pro is a Guam-based tournament, homegrown in the Marianas, and now supported  by international hubs such as the Philippines, Japan, and beyond. It’s a bold statement of how far the sport has  come—and how influential Guam has been in pushing that growth forward. 

Registration filled quickly—a reflection of the event’s prestige and the hunger among athletes to earn a place at  the Marianas International, where a $50,000 cash prize pool awaits. 

Over 1,000 athletes—including nearly 100 from Guam—will take part in the event, continuing the cross-border  camaraderie that’s become a signature of the Marianas Open series. Following successful events in Tokyo and  Nagoya earlier this year, the Manila stop is part of a larger push to connect and elevate the Jiu-Jitsu community  throughout the Asia-Pacific. 

Champions from the Manila event will qualify for the Marianas International—Guam’s premier Jiu-Jitsu  showcase and one of Asia’s most respected stages for elite talent. Now entering its second decade, the Marianas  Open continues to serve as a powerful platform for athletes looking to test themselves at the highest level. 

This international expansion also reflects a strategic effort to grow Guam’s sports tourism sector. With athletes  now regularly traveling from Japan, Korea, Brazil, the Philippines, and Taiwan to compete, Guam is positioning  itself as a regional epicenter for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2026, the Marianas Pro circuit is expected to reach even  more cities across Asia, welcoming a new wave of competitors and spectators to the island. 

Steve Shimizu, President of the Marianas Open, shared his thoughts on the tournament’s continued success: 

“Expanding the Marianas Pro to cities like Manila allows us to build meaningful relationships throughout the  region while offering athletes a pathway to compete at the highest level in Guam. The Marianas Open is about  more than just competition—it’s about opportunity, connection, and elevating the sport for the benefit of  everyone involved. Guam is ready to welcome the world.”