Dean of jiu-jitsu
FIT as a fiddle.
That’s how 2019 Southeast Asian Games jiu-jitsu gold medalist Dean Michael Roxas described himself less than six months before the biennial regional competition in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“I’m good. I’m in good shape right now and I continue to train hard everyday,” said Roxas during the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom recently.
“I have been an athlete all my life. I tried football, swimming, basketball, track and field and triathlon from childhood up to my college days. And now jiu-jitsu. I have no problem staying fit even during this pandemic,” said Roxas during the weekly forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Unfortunately, Roxas himself admitted the road to Hanoi is as difficult as the battle against the deadly coronavirus.
That’ s because the Vietnam SEA Games organizing committee decided to cut down jiu-jitsu competition from 11 events in Manila in 2019 to only four this year.
One of the events scrapped was the 85 kgs category where Roxas captured the gold medal.
“To be honest, I still don’t know if I’m going or not going. Vietnam, which did not win a gold medal in jiu-jitsu during the Manila edition, scrapped most of the events being the host country,” said Roxas, who won by submission over Benjamin Chia of Singapore in the final held before his adoring fans at the Laus Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampnaga.
“If you remember, there were 11 weight classes In the previous SEA Games. There were seven classes (56 kg, 62 kg, 69 kg, 77 kg, 85 kg, 94 kg and 120 kg.) in the men’s and four ( 45 kg, 49 kg, 55 kg, 62 kg.) in women’s. If I’m not mistaken, there are only four this year and my weight category is not included,” Roxas, a product of Ateneo de Manila, explained.
“As of this moment, it’s only 56 kg (Carlo Pena) and 62 kg (Gian Taylor Dee) for the men and 45 kg (Meggie Ochoa) and 49 kg (Kaila Napolis) for the women. I competed in 85 kg division kaya imposible for me to go down to that weight.
There is hope for Roxas and his fellow jiu-jitsu athletes, however
“Our NSA is doing everything to add more events since we are the defending chanpions with five golds, three silvers and three bronzes. I heard other NSAs from other countries are also making appeal to the host country,” said the 30-year-old pride of Bocaue, Bulacan.
“But it’s all up to Vietnam SEA Games organizers, really. They are the hosts. I’m just hopeful that I will be able to compete again and defend the SEAG title.”
Asked about his plans in case he won’t be able to compete in the SEA Games, Roxas remains optimistic.
“We’re looking forward to another international competition in November. It’s more of a tune-up po para doon sa magco-compete sa SEA Games. The World Championships will be held in Abu Dhabi in November. It’s really, really big competition with more than 40 nations competing,”he said.
“In my weight category alone , normally 40-60 athletes ang kasali. Imagine kung one representative per country, ganyan kadami angkasali. Sa Southeast Asian Games, siguro around 4-6 entries per division.”
“That’s the only thing in the calendar right now. But next year 2022 will be busy for all of us. There’s the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Then the Asian Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games .”
Roxas also expects to undergo bubble training with his jiu- jitsu teammates soon.
“There are discussions when and where our bubble training is going to be. It is mainly focused to help the people who are expected to compete in Vietnam. Right now, we partnered with the strength and conditioning program of a gym. We are preparing our bodies for those bubble trainings that we will go through, actually. That’s the main focus for now since jiu- jitsu is a very intimate and sensitive sport to practice. It’s combat sport that requires close physical close contact unlike other sports. That’s why it has to be done strictly in a bubble.”
Asked about the lessons he learned from being an active athlete, Roxas said sports teaches discipline.
“Being an athlete, I learned the value of discipline. Even as a child, I liked doing certain things like waking up early for practice or sleeping early for recovery,” recalled Roxas, who also tried his hand in sportswriting with Guidon, the official school paper of Ateneo, and Tiebreaker Times.
“When I played football, I would wake up as early as 5 a.m. and be there at the playing field by 6 a.m At first, ayoko gumising ng maaga, but I adjusted. And it made me feel real good the rest of the day.”
Added Roxas: “Then I also tried swimming and enjoyed it for two years to help solve my asthma. I’m still doing swimming as my cross-training program, especially leading up to the SEA Games in San Fernando, Pampanga two years ago. Pagtapos ng swimming, nag-basketball naman ako and played for about 6-7 years. I also did track and field during high school at Ateneo and even represented the school for the UAAP.”
“I also did athletics for the whole of my high school life and two years of college life. Actually, I wanted to represent the country in my specialty — 110 meter hurdles. I was fortunate enough to race against the legends of the country even before they went to represent in the SEA Games and even in the Asian Indoor Games. PATAFA secretary- general Renato Unson also becane my coach since both his sons Jose and Patrick are good friends of mine.”
His shift to jiu–jitsu in 2014 is not surprising however.
“Jiu-jitsu is something that I always wanted to do, especially cince I am an MMA fan. I love combat sports and respect the fighters. I think it’s fun. Although there’s a risk, jiu-jitsu is really safe. Every sport has a risk, but it’s not like magka brain damage ka as a result. So I can say it’s really a safe sport,” who honed his skills with Atos Philippines.
“When I turned to jiu-jitsu in 2014, I know I had to face a lot of adversity on a dialy basis. I know I have to go out of my comfort zone. I know I have to be ready for anything. But being an athlete my wholelife prepared me for the moment and brought out the best in me.:
It’s not all jiu-jitsu for Roxas.
“Four years ago, my father and I bult a small organic farm. Health is always our primary concern. It started small na para sa aming pamilya lang. Then nagtayo na kami ng mas malaking farm and started selling our products in our village. We also started supplying culinary herbs and leafy greens.”
His advise for aspiring jiu-jitsu ahletes?
“Two words: Consistency and humility. Even on your bad days, keep going to the gym and train. Jiu-jitsu requires a lot of time and patience. So keep going.”
(With reports from Gab Ferreras)
