J4F: Ric for the people that aren’t familiar with what you do can you please tell us a little bit about yourself.

RB: “My full name is Ricardo D. Blas Jr. I am 25 years old. I was born October 19, 1986. I am from the Village of Tamuning but I now reside in Mangilao. I have been doing the sport/art of Judo since I was 5
years old. I am now a 4th degree IJF (International Judo Federation) black belt. I love Guam and our island culture. I take pride in the people that we are and the great potential we all have to be at the
top! I love being an ambassador for Guam in the world arenas. It has always been my life’s goal to compete in the Olympic Games because my father and cousins before me have done so in the past. It kind of runs in the family. Since I have already accomplished that and more, my biggest goal is to win an Olympic Medal. We will just have to wait and see how I play the cards I am dealt. I enjoy lifting weights! I think it’s our personal responsibility to defy the impossible. To show the world that there are no limits! That we have unlimited potential. The heavier the better! I read more than most people would think. I am very social I am always out and about. I like meeting everyone and anyone from old friends to making new ones! I think it’s very important that in life each of us must do as much as we can to ensure we affect those around us. That we are in some way a part of their lives as much as they are a part of ours.”

J4F:  You’re competing or competed in a recent tournament in Samoa, Korea and New Zealand. Can you tell us what tournaments these are or where and how you did?

RB:  “I was in Japan training for a couple of weeks before the OJU World Cup in Samoa. I took the route from Guam to Korea, Korea to New Zealand, New Zealand to Samoa. On the last leg of the trip Air New Zealand lost my bags and I wasn’t able to train before competition. Also since I didn't have my bags I wasn’t allowed to compete and I was eventually forced to forfeit. Air New Zealand managed to get my bags delivered to me literally 5 min after my forced loss. It was a great disappointment and a very sad day for me. The OJU World Cup in Samoa is an Olympic Qualifying event. Missing this made a huge dent in obtaining qualifying points leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. I have 4 more big chances to gain points and start my way up the list so we will see how the ball rolls.”

J4F: Ric from what I understand you are most notorious for your background in your Judo. When did you start training and why?

RB: “I started learning and practicing when I was 5 years old. My dad is a 1988 Olympian and he as well as his brothers have been the reigning champions in the South Pacific and Oceania since they were 15. Judo has always run in my family. There are 4 Olympians in our family my dad, my cousin Derrick Anderson, my cousin Mariano Aquino, and myself. In the beginning I was forced to do Judo. I hated it! All I wanted to do was play and well I was a kid so not much else mattered to me and Judo was hard work especially back in those days when my dad was teaching us. There were no excuses and no breaks. I eventually grew to love it though. Especially at first, because it helped my gain a foothold in making friends coming into middle school and high school. I never used to be as social as I am now. I was probably the shyest person anyone would have met. I was a very passive kid. So since then I paid more
attention in class and started to want to develop my skills on the mat. This made my dad happy so he started sending me to training camps in Japan and Hawaii which helped me become stronger every year. I started competing internationally when I was 13. Winning medals in Japan and eventually going to high school in Southern Japan just for judo. After spending a year and a half in Japan it changed my Judo
career forever. I was winning world level competitions and winning is very addicting!”

J4F: What’s next for you Ric, what can your fans and fellow islanders expect to see from you in the future?

 RB: “The future is never set in stone. Anything can happen but what I hope to do is Qualify for London and get a second shot at an Olympic Medal. I have tournaments in Korea, Japan, and China coming up this December. Then there are the tournaments in Australia, Hong Kong, and possibly New Zealand (Taking Korean Airlines this time!!!). I will have a very busy schedule with training in between which will be back and forth between Guam and Japan.”

J4F: What do you have to say to people who look up to you as a role model or who want to compete at your level of competitiveness?

RB: “What I would like to say to my fellow islanders and supporters is thank you for having faith in me and showing me all the love and support over the years. It has been a journey and an adventure! My
life has been a very special and unique one because of the great prideI take in knowing the island has my back. Always do good without reason, be humble and kind, Speak with actions and not words, And live
your life sparing no expense. Treat others with respect and humility. For those who would like to compete at my level I suggest you start NOW! Take a step out of the box. The competitive level in the world is always evolving and growing and won’t wait for anyone. Do hard work and find motivation in everything you see. Fear and Anxiety are natural! Use it to fuel the fire you need to surpass your limits. Your mind is the first thing you need to train before your body can reach its full potential. Your mind places your limits your body is an ever modifying machine. When you can manage to train and sync the two you can do anything!”

J4F: Ric my blog is about what we love to do 4Fun. Obviously, you’re down with your judo but aside from that what does Ric like to do to have fun?

RB: Everything and anything that has to do with people! I read a lot of fantasy novels! Terry Good kind, J.K. Rowling, Jack Whyte, Christopher Paolini, R.A. Salvatore and many more great Authors! Anything really that escapes the reality of life. Sometimes you just need a break. I also love Music. I play Guitar. I love Karaoke! Beach days are always great and of course it’s Guam so you’d be lying if you said you didn’t like BBQ! Just good times with good friends on Guam!”

J4F: Par I ask everyone this same question. We all know that there is so much talent back home and in the Marianas what do you think needs to be done in order for those talents to be exposed to the mainstream here in the mainland?

RB: “Well to be exposed to the mainstream we have to appeal to the masses. We have to break records and make noise. We need to show them our potential and what it can do. We need to fix our attitude and work ethic starting with the youth and working our way up. We need to stop netting for small fish and take the boat out! Catch us a Shark! We need to concentrate in the training and development of individual sports first before we can work anywhere as a team. Once we can fix the individual athletes mentality and ability only then can we get team sports to come together as one. In the end we act as one, One mind, one heart, one Guam. When the world sees the unity of a small island like ours it will inspire and instill awe in the masses.”

J4F: Finally Ric, do you have any final words to the people out there on the internet or back home?

RB: “Thank you for the opportunity and taking interest in what I do and why I do it! I just want to say I LOVE YOU GUAM! I will do my best to make you all proud! Take pride in what you do and only ever do your best! –“

Ricardo D. Blas Jr.
President
Guam National Athletes Commission

I can tell you all from personal experience that this man has a very big heart and is one of the most modest people I have ever met. Thank you very much for taking time out to hang with us here at Just4Fun Ric. I will you luck and success in all you do Ric, I'm sure an individual with your talent will one day make it to the Olympics and when you do not only will the people of Guahan will stand behind you but so will the Just4Fun familia!

Sh-shoot!!

"Tyrtl"