UST LADY Judoka Annie Ramirez, one of the country’s leading martial artists, has been making waves in the international scene with her multiple appearances in major Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competitions.
The two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) ended the country’s six-year medal drought in jiu-jitsu after snatching the gold in the 60-kilogram (kg) category at the 2014 Asian Beach Games, last November in Thailand.
Ramirez bagged another gold in the Southeast Asian Grappling Challenge last April in the under-65 kg division in Singapore and copped silver in Copa de Hong Kong in the over-58.5 kg category last year.
Ramirez fell short in the quarterfinals of World Jiu-Jitsu Championships as a featherweight and placed eighth out of 44 fighters from all over the world in Long Beach, California last May 28 to 31.
This was Ramirez’ first time in the Worlds, dubbed as the most prestigious Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament in the world.
“Ang laki ng pinagpapasalamat ko kasi nabigyan ako ngchance na makapaglaro dito sa pinakamalaking palaro saBrazilian Jiu Jitsu. Sobrang high level ng mga naglalaro at tingin ko naman hindi tayo nahuhuli sa level ng iba. Mag-training pa ng marami at mas madaming exposure nacompetition na katulad ng ganoong level, makakasabayna tayo sa susunod,” she said.
Before parading the Philippine flag, Ramirez almost gave up on the sport after failing to win a gold medal for almost two years since starting at the young age of 15.
Standing at 5’4”, Ramirez had doubts of pursuing judo since she was not gifted with strength and height.
Luckily, nine-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games judo gold medallist John Baylon took her under his wing and guided her throughout her judo and jiu-jitsu career.
“Gusto ko ‘yung judo pero hindi ako gifted. May mga tao na madali lang sa kanila lahat, nagagawa nila ‘yung mgatechnique nang ganoon kadali. Hindi strong ‘yung katawanko na katulad ng iba kaya dumating din ako sa point na‘Magre-referee na lang ako siguro pagdating ng panahon,’” the 24 year-old fighter said.
Perseverance eventually paid off for Ramirez as she won four UAAP championships with the UST Lady Judokaswhile also dominating the -63 kg division with two UAAP MVP awards after joining the judo national team in 2007.
Ramirez also donned the national colors in the 2008 World Juniors’ Judo Championship in Thailand, the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia and the 2011 Asian Judo Championship in Abu Dhabi. After her colorful stint with the judo national team ended in 2011, Ramirez shifted her focus to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Amid her success, the Physical Education major admitted that more than the awards, the lessons she learned after a decade of being a martial artist, particularly the work ethic and sportsmanship, makes her train and practice again despite the physicality of the sport.
Judo also taught her to be independent as she was practically living in the gym honing her skills and assisting Baylon since she was 16 years old.
“Nakaka-inspire ako ng iba, [especially] ‘yung mganagsisimula. ‘Yun na siguro ‘yung pinakamalakingachievement ko. Gusto ko talagang mangyari is magingsource ako ng inspiration since hindi ako gifted na tao, pinagtiyagaan lang akong turuan at the same time, nagpakahirap din ako,” Ramirez said.
With a promising future ahead, Ramirez remains optimistic that she will have a chance to play in the Olympics, even though jiu-jitsu still is not recognized as an official Olympic sport.
“Gusto ko po pag na-include na ang jiu-jitsu sa Asian Games at Olympics sana mag-represent ako ng flag natin at makapag uwi ng gintong medalya,” Ramirez concluded.
