Queens of jiu-jitsu

A FEW nights ago, I had the pleasure and privilege of talking with newly-minted jiu-jitsu world champions Kimberly Anne in the 45-kg class and Meggie Ochoa in the 48-kg category.

My learning and takeaway from conversing with them was that they remained grounded and centered despite being the best in the world at what they do.

For Kim, a Herculean focus and concentration despite getting Covid, the delta variant at that, with about a month to go before the competition.

For Meggie, it wss repeating as world champion despite a different set of circumstances and challenges.

They both wear their faith on their sleeves before, during and after they compete.

Meggie is not only a two-time world champion but also a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and a twotime Asian champion.

Ochoa’s dominant run all the way to the world title was characterized by the fact that she did not give up a single point to any of her opponents.

Custodio, on the other hand, was weary of her Thai opponent. She won her match that could’ve gone either way, eking out a 6-4 decision to earn bragging rights being the

best 45-kg jiujitsu practitioner on the planet.

Both Meggie and Kim are very much aware of the pressure and the bullseye on their back which is part and parcel of being the best in the world.

They both welcome the pressure and my sense is they embrace and accept all of it.

Both have said they’ll be back to defend their titles. For Kim, winning back to back will be a challenge she will most likely look forward to.

For Meggie, winning a third straight world championship in her weight class, you’ve got to put her right up there among the best women grapplers ever in her weight division.

Jiujitsu is one of the sports where us Filipinos can excel because it neither requires height nor length. There’s no advantage in strength because there are weight classes.

Speaking of queens of jiujitsu, 5-year0-old Aleia Aguilar became the country’s youngest world youth jiujitsu champion.