AS far as 2021 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships bronze medalist Kaila Napolis is concerned, the sky is the limit for Philippine jiu-jitsu.

And with the sports world slowly getting back to its feet after almost two years of lockdowns due to the pandemic, there will be more opportunities for jiu-jitsu athletes to train hard and compete in international competitions.

Napolis, who brought home a bronze medal in the -52kg women’s adult event at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi last week, and head coach Alit Sulit believe the time is right for jiu-jitsu athletes to take the limelight in the international competitions again.

“The opportunitiies are there. We just have to continue to work hard, train hard and take advantage when we get the chance,” said Napolis during the 128th “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) last Nov. 18.

The experience of competing against the world’s best in Abu Dhabi and bringing home a bronze medal is really memorable. Sobrang nakakakaba at takagang mixed emotions,” added Napolis, the only medalist in the seven-player Flipino delegation that also included Luigi Ladera, Marc Lim, Carlo Pena, Annie Ramirez, Jolly Co and Meggie Ochoa.

“Sa World Championship, una kong nakalaban yung hometown bet from UAE Tapos Kazakhstan pero natalo ako doon sa pangalawa kong match. And then for the bronze medal, you have to fight against Kazakhstan again at nanalo ako doon. Medyo malungkot lang kasi konti na lang yung kailangan para manalo, pero yung referee, mali yung nakikita. Pero at least tumapos ng bronze,” explained Napolis during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Napolis and Sulit both expressed confidence that Filipinos can really excel in this popular Japanese martial arts sports given the proper training and exposure.

“Actually, we, in the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines under Choy Cojuangco, have achieved so much in so little time despite very minimal resources,” claimed Sulit.

“That’s one of the things that I’m very happy and proud of our organization. We have our bubble training last August, and definitely we will conduct more in preparation for many upcoming competitions this 2022. Based on our experiences last August, we will make adjustments and improvements in the days to come,” added Sulit.

“It is in my opinion na mas lalakas pa ang national team kung mabuo namin ang complete roster. Right now, we have many strong athletes but we haven’t completed all the weight divisions that are alloted to us to complete the national team. We actually need two people per weight division, so we will focus on that. Madaming old faces sa team, but there also new faces comng in after the trials.”

Asked about the differences of online and face-to-face competitions, both Napolis and Sulit admitted the big adjustments that they needed to make.

“Sa mga contact sports like jiu-jitsu and judo, mahirap talaga kapag online. Dapat talaga face-to-face,” said Sulit.

“Sa online, you really have to focus on what you see on the screen even in coaching. There’s so many windows of the athletes you have to monitor. Kailangan tutok talaga. You need to have the entire coaching staff to do that and it can be really meticulous just to focus on the development of each individual athlete.”

Added Napolis: “For me, yung jiu-jitsu hindi po siya kaya talaga ng online. Kapag nag-online training nga kami sa national team, puro strength and conditioning lang talaga lagi with our partners, Segovia Strength. Personally, more on the research of the techniques ang na-adapt namin sa online. Yun magre-research kami onlAne and then will try to practice it and adapt it into our own techniques.

And while jiu-jitsu is not yet an Olympic sport like judo, Sulit expressed hope that the sport will soon be considered in the Olympic calendar.

“Jiu-Jitsu is still on its way to becoming an Olympic sport. Right now, the similar sport closest to jiu-jitsu is judo which is already an Olympic sport,” said Sulit.

“”We hope to be in the Olympics, too someday.” With reports from Gab Ferreras