Anthony Torres, center, is the new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu NoGi instructor of Trench Tech.
TRENCH Tech has a new Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu NoGi instructor — Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony C. Torres.
Torres is “a great addition to Trench Tech’s strong list of instructors as he is a black belt in BJJ and has been training for over 18 years,” Trench Tech owner and BBJ instructor Cuki Alvarez said.
“First of all, it’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of what Professor Cuki is doing here,” Torres said. “He is a great instructor and pioneer of the sport here in the Northern Marianas. On top of my demanding and busy schedule, I chose to be an instructor at Trench Tech because I wanted to give back to our people and share my knowledge to help build our MMA and Jiu-Jitsu community here in our islands.”
He said being an instructor will help him maintain his mental and physical fitness while building relationships with his students, and further developing his leadership skills and communication abilities as a public servant.
“Ultimately, it provides me with a well-rounded and fulfilling lifestyle that nurtures both my professional and personal growth not just as a leader, but as a human being committed to a lifetime of self-improvement,” he said.
Torres began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey in his late teens in Honolulu, Hawaii. There, he earned his blue belt under Relson Gracie. He soon made his way to purple belt under Egan Inoue and Baret Yoshida at Grappling Unlimited Hawaii. It was at Grappling Unlimited where he developed his striking and MMA wrestling skills.
“At that time, I competed in professional MMA and numerous BJJ tournaments while continuing my career in federal law enforcement,” Torres said.
He said he was fortunate to train with numerous UFC veterans such as Max Halloway, Brad Tavares, Dan Ige, Maki Pitolo, Dustin Kimura, Eddie Yagin, Cabbage, Falaniko Vitale, Brandon Wolff, Steve Byrnes, Scott Junk among other great fighters.
Torres is the first Chamorro to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championships. “It was a great experience and going through all of that helped shape me into the person I am today,” said Torres, who is also a Superbrawl, Shooto, Icon Sport, X-1 World Events and PXC veteran.
As an instructor, he said his “vision and goal is to impart and instill a sense of balance between their physical training and mental well-being to include encouraging them to focus on continuous improvement in their skills, technique, and overall performance, while emphasizing the importance of dedication and hard work. I will teach them the value of grit, resilience and mental toughness in facing challenges both inside and outside of competition while enhancing their emotional intelligence by helping them develop a strong growth-mindset to overcome setbacks and stay focused on the goal. I will also teach them the importance of respect and humility and encourage them to compete with honor, win or lose. I will help them set clear, achievable goals both in their MMA or BJJ career and personal life, and teach them the value of teamwork and the sense of community by encouraging them to support and uplift their peers.”
Torres added, “By focusing on these goals and visions, I believe we can develop these young practitioners not only as skilled athletes, but also as well-rounded individuals ready to face the challenges of their sport and life with confidence and determination. Ultimately, I want to help create and mold future great leaders of our Commonwealth.”
With Torres’ as its new instructor, Trench Tech will host a NoGi grappling class every Monday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., and every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $50 a month or $10 a day for drop ins.
“Anthony Torres brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Trench Tech with his experience in training with some of the best fighter athletes in the world as well as numerous high profile black belts in Hawaii and Arizona while he lived there,” Cuki Alvarez said. “This is a huge plus for Trench Tech, and his knowledge is a great way for our academy to diversify our training and allow students to broaden their skill set working with different black belt instructors.”
Trench Tech’s other black belt instructor is Clinton Dela Cruz.
For more information about Trench Tech’s Gi and NoGi classes as well as its boxing and kickboxing classes, call Cuki Alvarez at (670)783-4662.
