‘Kike’ Guerrero and his path of persistence to reach the Jiu Jitsu elite

For Enrique Guerrero, his last name is more than a personal identifier. It is something that defines him both in sport and in life. ‘Kike’ is a warrior on the mat during Jiu Jitsu fights, something he also demonstrates through his effort and persistence to move forward and make a name for himself in the sport.

He always prepares himself to the limit of his abilities so he can endure the battles on the mat. This allows him to remain competitive until the very end of each fight.

“I have developed a lot of cardio to withstand the fight, to always take the initiative, move forward and keep attacking. I put a lot of heart into it,” he says from Guayaquil in an interview with Revista Identidad. This allows him to apply his strategies against his opponents and seek the submission, a term used in Jiu Jitsu to describe the moment when an opponent gives up.

Enrique, a 28-year-old from Guayaquil, is among Ecuador’s leading Jiu Jitsu athletes, a discipline developed in Brazil. His name stands out alongside Roberto Jiménez and Johny Tama, other Ecuadorians who have excelled in the sport.

He has always loved sports. As a child, he admired football players and tennis players, but Jiu Jitsu captivated him when he was 16. It is a discipline that requires tremendous effort, persistence and concentration. It is a martial art with a self-defense system that can even allow a smaller athlete to defeat a larger opponent. The goal is to control and submit the opponent through holds, without striking. Joint locks can also be applied.

Champion at the AJP Tour in Peru

‘Kike’ knows all of this well, and it has helped him reach the elite level. His latest achievement proves it. On July 26, he raised Ecuador’s flag to the top by taking first place at the AJP Tour Peru Jiu Jitsu Championship. Competitors from Brazil and the host country finished behind him.

The victory also earned him 1,000 points in the sport’s world ranking, giving him a stronger chance of qualifying for the World Championship to be held in Abu Dhabi in November of this year. He has already competed in three previous editions and hopes to make history this time.

His victory in Peru received little coverage compared with competitions in sports such as football. ‘Kike’ is used to that. In a country where football is the most prominent sport, he has managed to stand out in Jiu Jitsu.

At the beginning, when he first started competing, his family was his main source of support. They helped finance a sporting career that requires investment in physical preparation, equipment and international travel for competitions. Later, as his successes began to accumulate, he started receiving private sponsorship.

His first international experience came at the Miami Open, just three months after he began competing professionally. He finished in second place. Later, he competed in the United States, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, Spain and Abu Dhabi. Like everyone else, he started with a white belt. Then came blue, purple and black. Persistence was essential throughout that process. “I have always wanted to improve, never to stand still. I am always looking to move forward, and I consider myself very competitive. That is something that has always pushed me to seek new training opportunities and challenges.”

He has shown that persistence since the beginning. His first major achievement came when he finished runner-up at the 2021 Pan American Championship. Later, he became the first Ecuadorian to win a Rio Open in the adult black belt category. Other achievements include two Rio Open titles, in 2023 and 2025.

Training the next generation of talent

Beyond those accomplishments, what drives ‘Kike’ is his passion for the sport and the opportunity to train every day with the goal of becoming the best. He is someone who lives for his sport. In addition to his professional career, he teaches this martial art at his academy, ‘Team Predador Jiu Jitsu’, in Guayaquil, where he shares with emerging talent the lessons that have helped him reach a high level.

Many of those lessons were learned in the United States, a country he traveled to alone after reaching adulthood. There, he met fellow Ecuadorian Johnny Tama, whom he considers his mentor. “I owe him a lot.”

Now, his main goal is to win a world title at black belt level, something no Ecuadorian has achieved. Tama won a world title, but only in the no-gi category.

To pursue that goal, Guerrero follows his routines responsibly. At the same time, he studies digital marketing, but only as a complementary tool to help promote his career.

While preparing for his wedding, as he is currently engaged, he continues to aim for a world title. He believes there is plenty of talent in Ecuador. “There are many young people chasing the dream and sometimes they see it cut short because this is an expensive sport that requires investment in training, travel, nutrition and equipment.” ‘Kike’ wants to show them that persistence can take an athlete all the way to the top.