In a remarkable display of skill and early training payoff, the Philippines’ youngest Jiu-Jitsu talents, Aleia Aielle Aguilar and Nash Mackenzie Sobritchea, clinched gold at the 2023 Abu Dhabi World Festival Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Six-year-old Aleia Aielle nabbed her gold medal in the Girls Kids 2 White Belt 17 kg. event for 6 to 7-year-olds while eight-year-old Nash earned his gold medal in the Boys Kids 3 White Belt 38 kg. category for 7 to 8-year-olds in the competition held on November 1 at the Mubadala Arena in UAE.
The Philippines' youngest Jiu-Jitsu World Champions dominated their competition at the 2023 Abu Dhabi World Festival Jiu-Jitsu World Championship. Aleia Aielle Aguilar & Nash Sobritchea felled competitors from Brazil, France & UAE. @uaejjf Full story on @GoodNewsPinas_ pic.twitter.com/9m0qBnBIvE
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) November 8, 2023
Aguilar’s victory secured her second consecutive world championship title. Her final match ended swiftly with a submission victory in just 10 seconds over UAE’s Maitha Faraj, following a semifinal win against Brazil’s Gabriella Kulzer.
WATCH Aleia Aielle Aguilar’s winning moves in this video posted by Alvin Aguilar on Instagram:
Nash Mackenzie Sobritchea, at eight, marked a memorable debut in international competitions by earning his first gold in the Boys Kids 3 White Belt 38 kg category. Sobritchea showcased exceptional talent, submitting competitors from the UAE and France.
SEE how Nash Sobritchea dominated his opponents in this video posted on his FB page:
Both prodigies train under DEFTAC Philippines, a testament to the club’s excellence in nurturing world-class athletes. Aguilar, the daughter of Alvin Aguilar—the Father of Philippine Mixed Martial Arts—and Maybelline Masuda, a Jiu-Jitsu world champion, continues to uphold her family’s legacy in martial arts.
Previous Filipino victors at the Abu Dhabi World Festival include Meggie Ochoa and Kimberly Anne Custodio, Annie Ramirez and Gian Dee, all of whom have set the stage for the country’s ongoing success in the sport.
Celebrate the strength and talent of the Philippines’ young champions! Watch Aleia Aielle Aguilar and Nash Mackenzie Sobritchea’s winning moves and share their triumphs to inspire the next generation. Join us in spreading the word and giving these young athletes the recognition they deserve. Share their story, cheer for their journey, and be a part of their growing legacy.
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