“YOU AIN’T hardcore unless you live hardcore,” says Coach Ali Sulit on the training philosophy he applies to the Blue and Lady Judokas.

Despite the obvious passion for the sport, Coach Ali fondly recalled the unusual way he got into judo. “I ran out of P.E. classes,” he relates. From then on he improved and joined the varsity team.

Since his playing years as a judoka for Ateneo, Coach Ali has always been helping out in coaching the team, especially when their coach took a leave of absence. After his graduation in 1996, he was given the coaching position, and has been the team’s mentor since.

He admits that some people shy away from judo because it has made a reputation for itself as a brutal sport. “When they see judo in action, it is quite fantastic because [they] see people flying around in the air, being thrown and landing really hard.”

But he points out, “The players land on soft mats.”

Although last season proved to be disappointing, Coach Ali shares how excited they are coming into Season 71 of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines. “We’ve been really active, training and joining competitions since the end of last season – including sending the team captains and three others to compete in Thailand last month.”

Optimistic about the team’s chances and evidently brimming with much fervor for the grappling sport, the 12-year mentor of the Judokas continues to actively compete in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He emphasizes the importance of motivating oneself to reach seemingly impossible goals in order to succeed in the sport. “The only way to go [in competition] is to give it everything you’ve got [and] push yourself beyond your limits,” he shares.

“If you always handle things that are well within your reach, then there is no progress. And progress is reaching what seems unattainable at the start.”