YMCA Judo Club

Friday!
One last roll and throw before the weekend 🥋

Congratulations, Josh Iverson!

We are Proud of you, Ava!

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲. 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥. 🥉
Meet 𝐀𝐯𝐚 𝐀𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐑. 𝐀𝐡-𝐚, a Grade 11 ABM student who showed true STIer spirit at the 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 in 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 on 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓! 🙌

Despite facing 𝟏𝟔 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 in the -𝟓𝟐𝐤𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲, Ava fought with determination and brought home the 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥!

“𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡’𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣.”

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐀𝐯𝐚! You’ve made your 𝐒𝐓𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨 family proud! 💚
Keep breaking limits and inspiring others to fight for their dreams! 🌟

Judoka Multiverse 🥋

Big thanks to

Ferdinand Cudao, Mia Appay, Han Nam, J**s Palaci, Jonalitte Lictag, Shirley Cudao, Daisy Santiago, Reindzy Scott

for all your support! Congrats for being top fans on a streak 🔥!

Let’s gooooo 🔥🥋

🥋 Build strength, discipline, and confidence with the YMCA Judo Club! 💪
Perfect for kids, teens, and adults who want to train hard and grow stronger.

🗓 Schedule: MWF | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
💰 Monthly Membership: ₱600

👨‍🏫 Coach: Ferdinand L. Cudao
📞 For inquiries, call (074) 309 4635 or send us a message!

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗜𝗢𝗡

BAGUIO CITY -- Most athletes remember the moment they discovered their sport with vivid clarity—an open house, a school fair and a televised game.

For 18-year-old Yñgo T. Ramos, however, it all began with a childhood crush and a white lie.

“I was in third grade when a girl I liked invited me to try judo with her over the summer,” Yñgo recalled with laughter. “But when I showed up at the gym, the coaches said they didn’t know anyone by that name. She wasn’t even training there.”

What could have been an embarrassing misunderstanding turned into the start of a life-defining journey. “I decided to stay and try it anyway,” he said.

That moment of spontaneity opened the door to more than just a sport but more importantly led to a lifelong passion, personal growth, and national-level victories.

Now a varsity player and proud representative of Baguio City, Yñgo trains under the wings of the YMCA and Kaitagi Judo Clubs.

His weekly schedule is a demanding cycle of judo sessions, conditioning drills, school responsibilities, and sparse moments of rest. Each day a testament to his commitment to discipline and balance.

Yñgo’s story is not merely about medals and mat time but also about transformation.

“Back then, I joined judo for self-defense because I was often bullied. But it ended up giving me more than just protection. It taught me discipline, humility, and resilience,” he disclosed.

“It also comes with a sense of responsibility… I’m carrying my city’s name with me, and that drives me to give my best in every match,” he stressed.

A major turning point came in 2024 when Yñgo won his first gold medal at the Batang Pinoy that wasn’t just a victory but a defining moment that revealed how much he had grown,and how much further he could still go.

“That win made me realize how far I’d come. It wasn’t just about winning. It was every bruise, every early morning, and every time I chose to show up even when it was hard,” he admitted.

He holds onto a personal mantra that keeps him grounded: “There’s always a rainbow after the rain,” he says—a phrase he lives by during both challenges and triumphs.

“Mental preparation is just as important as physical training. Before a big event, I start by visualizing success.” Doing that, he explained, “helps me set a clear goal in my mind and builds my confidence.”

Despite his achievements, Yñgo doesn’t see himself pursuing judo professionally but hopes to give back possibly as a coach or mentor. “Even if I’m not competing at the highest level anymore, I want to help younger athletes grow. I want them to feel the same sense of belonging and opportunity that judo gave me.”

Behind every match and milestone are the mentors who shaped his path—coaches from Baguio: W***y Diño, Ferdinand Cudao, Ma’am Sharon Diño, Francine Rillera, and Ma’am Rhow Salinas. “They’ve helped shape me not just as an athlete, but also as a person.” And, above all, his parents, his “biggest role models” whose unwavering support became his foundation.

To aspiring athletes, Yñgo offers simple but powerful advice: “Don’t be afraid to take the first step… That one moment of courage could lead to something incredible. Just like it did for me.”

Just like the great hockey player Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” So go out there and take the shot! It’s always better to try than to never do anything.”

From an innocent crush to becoming a city’s pride, Yñgo Ramos’s journey is proof that the best stories often start with unexpected beginnings and that sometimes the wrong gym can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.-Roline Cabantoc/Baguio PIO intern/gabykeith

𝗝𝗨𝗔𝗡’𝘀 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗧 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗢𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰

There's always joy in sports.

Thus, declared Juan Gael Alberto, a 16-year old Senior High School student-athlete from the University of Baguio Science High School, in a recent online interview. A Jiu-jitsu athlete in Batang Pinoy 2024, he won the gold medal.

"I felt relieved because the competition was already done," he said just after the event where he faced fierce competition from other Jiu-jitsu players and added that he felt relieved and satisfied since the activity wrapped up and he can rest with ease for the rest of the year.

Juan’s journey to Jiu-jitsu started with her mother's friend's recommendation of the sport and saw this opportunity to try out the sport which motivated him to stay fit and clear his mind.

In his first Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition, he didn't expect to win because he was simply doing it for "fun".

This competition, however, has become one of Juan’s most memorable moments and immersed him in Jiu-jitsu even more.

Beyond diligently training three times a week, he particularly loves to spar and roll around with his friends and teammates and also finds joy in something that others find rigorous and tiring.

This is one of the main reasons that further encouraged him to continue participating in Jiu-jitsu.

Since no athlete is exempted from hardship, Juan experienced his most difficult challenge when he lost for the first time in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The pressure of the competition shook him but this didn't stop him from winning his next match and gave him the opportunity to stand proud on the podium where he particularly felt grateful for his coach and team for helping and advising him during training and competitions.

Juan is looking forward to compete once again in the upcoming Batang Pinoy 2025 in General Santos City. He is excited because he knows, just like the past competitions he participated in, it will be fun.

He encourages the youth who want to try Jiu-jitsu to simply enjoy the sport, not be stressed over competitions and training, and just focus on joyful moments..- Aira Guinsayan/PIO Baguio intern/gabykeith