Santino Luzuriaga, a talented 16-year-old home-grown Filipino athlete with a blue belt in Jiu-jitsu, made his country proud by winning the Silver medal at this year’s Jiu-jitsu Youth World Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan. Representing Team Philippines, Santino emerged victorious in four matches, securing his place in the gold medal match of the Male, U18, -60kg division against Alinur Kuatuly, a hometown favorite and accomplished Kazakh athlete.
Santino’s impressive performance in the final match, coming incredibly close to victory and losing by only a single advantage point, demonstrates his skill and determination. This event marked his international Jiu-jitsu competition debut, representing the Philippine National Team and Team Atos Jiu-jitsu.
“I’m incredibly grateful to win the Silver medal at this year’s Jiu-jitsu Youth World Championship. This experience taught me that there’s always room for growth, and I’m committed to pushing myself further in training. My goal is to continue competing in upcoming matches and represent the Philippines with pride on the international stage,” Santino shared as he reflected on his achievements and future goals during a post-competition interview.
Having trained in Jiu-jitsu since 2015, Santino prepared for this event by consistently training and participating in multiple daily sessions at Atos Headquarters Philippines while teaching Jiu-jitsu classes. His dedication to the sport is evident not only in his achievements but also in his commitment to sharing his passion with others. Santino will share his enthusiasm for the sport in the upcoming school year by teaching Jiu-jitsu classes at the highly esteemed British School Manila.
His achievement also reflects the growing interest and support for Jiu-jitsu in the Philippines. As more young athletes like Santino continue to excel in the sport, it is expected that the popularity of Jiu-jitsu will increase, leading to further development of local talents and recognition for young Filipino athletes, as well as providing more opportunities for them to compete at the highest level.
The support from organizations like the Atos Jiu-jitsu Association Philippines and dedicated coaches play a crucial role in nurturing talents like Santino, paving the way for a brighter future in sports for the Philippines.
Join us in congratulating Santino Luzuriaga on his achievement at the Jiu-jitsu Youth World Championship. His future in the sport looks incredibly promising, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing more of his successes!