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From freelancer to Asian jiu-jitsu champ: Gliza Jacinto's dedication pays off

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Levi Joshua Verora Jr.

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Jiu-jitsu fighter Gliza Marasigan-Jacinto celebrates her win. Handout" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/07/12/20230712-jiu-jitsu.jpg"/><figcaption>Jiu-jitsu fighter Gliza Marasigan-Jacinto celebrates her win. Handout</figcaption></figure></div>Filipina jiu-jitsu athlete Gliza Marasigan-Jacinto had the weekend of a lifetime when she won the gold medal in the 48.5-kilogram division of the Master 1 Purple Belt Division of the IBJJF Asian Open Championships 2023 in Nagoya, Japan Sunday.In the championship match, Jacinto bested Hong Kong&#x27;s Ting Hoi Yin on points, showcasing her skills to finish first among several more experienced competitors.In the process, the Alabang, Muntinlupa City native overcame the unenviable task of training twice a day for several weeks -- all while managing her marketing and branding design business.Prior to the milestone, being in organized competitions is a reality that never crossed Jacinto&#x27;s mind; she had been used to practicing different martial arts just to maintain a healthy living while focusing on her profession.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/10/23/change-in-technique-led-to-seag-gold-for-kaila-napolis">SEAG: Napolis says change in technique led to jiu-jitsu gold</a></li></ul>&quot;Wala talaga akong sport,&quot; Jacinto told ABS-CBN Sports. &quot;When I started working, I started doing Muay Thai. I&#x27;ve been doing it for five or six years, but I didn&#x27;t want to compete, kasi natatakot ako. There&#x27;s always that fear na combat sport ito, and puwede kang masaktan.&quot;A fan of MMA competitions like the UFC, Jacinto tried jiu-jitsu a few years ago to immerse herself in the martial art even more.&quot;I wanted to learn how to do armbars, ganyan, and eventually, I fell in love with jiu-jitsu. It’s something that would empower you. In my gym, I’m the smallest, but I can handle myself, and that’s a fun thing to have,&quot; Jacinto said.The rush she felt from BJJ eventually became a fitting reflection of who she is. From there, she developed an affinity for the sport and found a home.&quot;It&#x27;s just something na feeling mo ang lakas mo, and ang saya. It’s a stress-reliever in a way, and at the same time, it’s like a game of chess,&quot; she expounded.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/06/23/ramirez-submits-vietnamese-foe-to-capture-jiu-jutsu-gold">SEA Games: Ramirez submits Vietnamese foe to capture jiu-jutsu gold</a></li></ul>&quot;Hindi lang siya brute force, it’s something na you use your mind and that’s something I like. Gusto ko ‘yung you find your way around certain situations, like if you’re stuck, there is a way out.&quot;Still, the thought of competing was a summit Jacinto had hesitations climbing at first. But determined to set aside her fears, Jacinto eventually underwent one of the most grueling stretches of her life -- all while juggling other responsibilities.&quot;I felt, I didn&#x27;t stop improving so naisip ko, why not try out for the Philippine team, why not try competing abroad? Just to keep improving,&quot; Jacinto recalled.&quot;If you lose, you lose. If you win, that&#x27;s a testament to how much you dedicated yourself to the game.&quot;Jacinto started to compete in small-scale local events in 2022, before the opportunity to compete in Japan arose.&quot;I would face my fears. I would train with the elite girls in the country. Kahit alam kong mahihirapan ako, I have to face it, kasi at the end of the day, kung ano &#x27;yung haharapin mo [sa Japan], puwedeng mas mahirap, mas madali, pero at least, pagdating mo roon, wala na, just go for it.&quot;Part of Jacinto&#x27;s regimen in preparation for the Asian Open Championships was to train twice a day all-week long. As for her clients, the AB Communication graduate made sure to explain her situation to each one to find the ideal compromise.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/29/23/mma-why-joshua-pacio-took-the-jump-to-lions-nation">MMA: Why Joshua Pacio took the jump to Lions Nation</a></li></ul>&quot;It’s a real challenge to balance it but it helps that I work from home and I schedule shoots, meetings, brainstorming [sessions] during my training window hours. Training in jiu-jitsu also helps with my creativity and I’ve surprisingly come up with campaigns while rolling,&quot; she admitted.&quot;If I don’t have the time, I’ll try to make time. Wake up earlier if I have to, work more efficiently and faster if needed.&quot;In putting determination in everything she did throughout, the national jiu-jitsu team member found a way to overcome hardships and succeed.&quot;Competing drives me to keep elevating myself in all aspects -- not just in the sport. It provides me with a strong sense of discipline to face whatever hardships life brings,&quot; she said.Jacinto said it was the trait she has been applying in all other aspects in life that would be the defining quality in her stint in Japan.&quot;&quot;It&#x27;s just the experience, dedication, and discipline altogether that I learned, beyond the drills. It&#x27;s more of the mental toughness of gaano mo siya ka-gusto. Gustong-gusto ko siyang gawin in a sense na ayokong ma-feel na parang may kulang,&quot; she said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/29/23/mma-young-sangiao-to-battle-hard-hitting-mongolian">MMA: Young Sangiao to battle hard-hitting Mongolian in August</a></li></ul>Now 34, Jacinto is looking forward to conquering even more summits and writing more pages to the sports side of her life.&quot;I think my major advantage was how dedicated I was, [and] how much I wanted it for myself. It’s not just I want to fight or beat you, it’s me, and I want to win,&quot; she said.&quot;Hindi ako nag-gi-give up. Sobrang palaban [ako]. Through whatever happens, sa work, sa sports, sa life, sige laban. Kaya ‘yan. Makakahanap na ng way para makaalis sa problema. You can always find a bright light to make your day or situation better.&quot;<div>RELATED VIDEO</div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bIB9bT9FlDY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Filipina jiu-jitsu athlete Gliza Marasigan-Jacinto bested Hong Kong's Ting Hoi Yin to win gold in Nagoya, Japan.