The journey of excellence continues for ORIGINS JIUJITSU, the Nuvali-based dojo representing the City of Sta. Rosa, as it proudly celebrates its athletes’ remarkable performance in the JiuJitsu competition at Batang Pinoy 2024, the premier nationwide sports competition for young athletes aged 17 and below.
Photo: ORIGINS JIUJITSU
Competing against 18 cities, the City of Sta. Rosa fielded a formidable team of 10 JiuJitsu students from ORIGINS JIUJITSU, who showcased their dedication and skill on the mats. They have been doing JiuJitsu for six months to two years, going against opponents who have been training for four to seven years, some of who have even represented the Philippines in international competitions. Their hard-earned efforts culminated in an impressive haul of six medals, marking a monumental achievement for the City of Sta. Rosa, ORIGINS JIUJITSU, and the emerging sport of JiuJitsu in the Philippines—this is the first time Batang Pinoy includes JiuJitsu as an official sport.
This achievement is a testament to the dedication and resilience of these young athletes, who committed to intensive training amid their busy school schedule leading up to the competition. Under the guidance of their expert coaches, they honed their techniques, developed their endurance, and strengthened their mental focus to deliver peak performances on the mat.
“Batang Pinoy is the highest youth competition in the country. The results of our ORIGINS athletes competing against the best young talents from across the country prove that ORIGINS programs and athletes have top caliber training,” shared Professor TJ Sulit, co-founder and head coach at ORIGINS JIUJITSU.
Inspired by the young athletes’ hard work and commitment, their families, teammates, kind donors, and the ORIGINS community came together to provide emotional encouragement and the assistance and resources needed to make each athlete’s Batang Pinoy journey possible. This made the children’s Batang Pinoy stint even more meaningful.
Photo: ORIGINS JIUJITSU
A parent happily shared, “The kids wanted this. They were all doubting themselves and their skills but Professor TJ inspired them in the team huddle the day before the competition when he said, ‘However you got here, you are here now, so you give it your 100 percent, you give it your best! Trust yourself and your training. There is no such thing as WIN or LOSE. We are not medal chasers. It’s only WIN and LEARN for us.’”
Some children also shared their stories:
“I’ve been joining other competitions before. It’s hard to win a medal because so many kids are in my category. My brothers are always winning golds and I’m always going home with bronze. Professor TJ’s words kept playing in my head, ‘You are here now, give it your 100 percent!’ And that’s exactly what I did,” Ronin Bautista, Gold medalist, shared.
“I fought a girl whom I fought in the last competition. I lost then by the referee’s decision and felt bad. My dad told me, ‘Next time don’t leave it up to the referee, you go and win it!’ So this time, I won! I learned from my mistakes and applied it in this competition. I don’t like the feeling of losing. I’ve lost many matches, and it doesn’t feel good. That’s why I train more, so I can get better,” Silver medalist Izzy Sulit reflected.
“I got injured in my second match and won in my third match. I thought having an injury would stop me from competing, but it pushed me to my limits and I won my third fight. I never realized I could push myself this hard. This experience was also very humbling seeing the situation of the other athletes who didn’t have the comforts we had. Thank you to everyone who supported us and allowed us to experience this,” said Bronze medalist awardee, Olivia Lino.
As full-time students, these young athletes juggle school work and extracurricular activities like music recitals, art exhibits, family gatherings, and playdates. Despite their busy schedules, they remained committed to their JiuJitsu training, following a disciplined routine to pursue the sport they love. Their journey shows that with hard work and the right mindset, young athletes can achieve excellence while still enjoying the vibrant experiences of youth—they inspire others to dream big and take on challenges with courage and dedication.
“Batang Pinoy was an unexpected gist for our teen who was going through turbulent times. It gave her purpose and drive. She showed up excited to train every single day. Even when she didn’t do as well as she had hoped, no tears were shed. There was only joy and happiness as she had the best time with her teammates. Hearing her laugh again was equivalent to a million gold medals,” shared Alexine, mother of one of the athletes.
JiuJitsu has played a vital role in the growth of these young athletes, helping them bloom into confident, self-assured individuals. Through this martial art, they have gained not only physical strength, but also boosted self-esteem and mental resilience. JiuJitsu is an emerging sport that offers something for everyone—regardless of age, gender, or body type. It builds confidence, discipline, and resilience while fostering a sense of community. As a sport and martial art, JiuJitsu teaches invaluable life skills such as problem-solving, patience, and perseverance.
“At ORIGINS, our focus is on teaching sport. Self-defense is a by-product because of the nature of the sport. What we learn on the mats are life lessons that will lead to skills and habits for future success, be it in sports, business, career, family, friendships, and relationships,” added Professor Sulit.
Recognized as the “National Sports Development Program for Children,” Batang Pinoy is a platform to inspire excellence, discipline, and camaraderie among the nation’s youth.
ORIGINS JIUJITSU Batang Pinoy Athletes:
