DESPITE funding concerns, nine Dabawenyos carried themselves with determination and courage to fulfill their dreams and brought home 23 medals from the international Jiu Jitsu Open 2023 in Cebu City.
On March 4 to 5, 2023, nine of out 12 athletes from Davao City beat their opponents from other cities in the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Guam, and Brazil among other countries.
The Dojo 82 Davao Team has won eight golds, five silvers, and 10 bronze medals for the city.
The head coach of the Davao team, Jett Intencion, who is also among the athletes, won three medals – one gold medal in the purple belt Masters 1 Gi Featherweight, one silver in Masters 1 Nogi Absolute, and one bronze medal under the Masters 1 Nogi Featherweight category.
Another athlete who won three medals was Francis de Guzman (purple belt) – one gold medal in Masters 3 Gi Absolute, one silver medal in Masters 2 Gi Lightweight, and one bronze in Master 1 Nogi Lightweight.
In the purple belt Masters 2 Gi Middleweight category, Jonathan Narisma brought home the gold medal, as well as three other medals under the Masters 3 Gi Middleweight (silver), Masters 3 Gi Absolute (bronze), and Masters 3 Nogi Middleweight (bronze).
While Adonis Vidanes won one gold under the purple belt Adult Nogi Featherweight, two silver medals – Adult Gi Light Featherweight and Adult Gi Absolute, and one bronze medal under Adult Nogi Absolute category.
Aside from them, Hero Manguray also won two gold medals under the blue belt category in Adult Nogi Middleweight, and Adult Nogi Absolute.
Meanwhile, Kyle Gaite won two bronze medals under the blue belt category with Adult Gi Featherweight and Adult Gi Absolute.
Niko Manguray, won a bronze medal under the blue belt category in Adult Nogi Featherweight.
Karen Robiso, won two golds under the white belt category in Masters 2 Female Gi Heavyweight and Masters 2 Female Gi Openweight. She also got a bronze medal for the Adult Female Gi Heavyweight category.
Francis Gaite also won a bronze medal under the white belt category in Adult Nogi Featherweight.
Intencion said that it was not easy to fight without enough funding, having to shell out money from their savings while a part of it was donated by their gym owner.
“We need at least P10,000 each to compete, especially pag-Manila (if in Manila). Luckily, ‘yong gym owner namin tumutulong naman, lalo na sa uniform, or kung magkano kaya niyang itulong sa amin (our gym owner shell out money to support us especially for our uniform or any amount he can help),” he said.
He added that there are also members of their team who are willing to pay for their own expenses since they are excited to compete.
However, he felt sad to see that there are still athletes who don’t have the capacity to join.
“Marami kaming competitor or students na magaling like very talented, unfortunately, wala silang budget kasi kahit magtulong-tulong pa kami, mahirap pa rin kasi kami mismo rin nagshe-shell out (We have a lot of talented students or competitors but unfortunately they don’t have enough budget to compete despite trying to help them. We also need to shell out funds for ourselves),” he said.
He said if only the government support sports like jiu jitsu and athletes, it will encourage them to play better and bring them opportunities to compete.
Aside from the financial help, Intencion said there are also kind-hearted individuals who have been there to guide and support them in kind, like their sports nutritionist and dietitian, Richard Belen, who has played a big role in their team achieving success.