“IN THIS dojo, CHAMPIONS are made on a daily basis.” Printed in bold lettering, this is what hangs from the wall of the Ateneo Judo team’s training grounds, words that head coach Ali Sulit has proven to be irrefutable not once, but twice. And this year the Judokas eye their third straight championship in the men’s UAAP judo tournament.

Haijme
Defending their title as undisputed champions, Ateneo hosted “Hajime!” last May 16, a Judo tournament where schools from all over the Philippines participated.
The tournament included seven weight classes where two representatives from each school competed in each weight division. For Team Ateneo, only 14 were chosen to compete out of 30.
Fighting admirably, the Blue Judokas earned six gold, four silvers, and one bronze medal while the women’s team took home one gold, two silvers and a bronze.
Special awards included Cholo Vicencio, earning the Fastest Ippon recognition in the men’s white belt division, while team captain, Jhonel Faelnar won the same award for the men’s colored belt division. As for the women’s team, Margherita Baluyut took home the glory for Fastest Ippon in the women’s white belt division.
Overall, the results were much expected by Sulit. The team got a taste of the competition, and placed them in the proper winning mindset.
“This tournament served as a tool for us to see where we stand as individuals and as a team,” said senior middle weight Judoka captain Alejandro Umali. “We did well but we cannot sit on our laurels. Hajime was a testing ground for the team’s skills.”
But if there was one thing this tournament did for the Judokas, it was to instill confidence in their already impenetrable spirits.

The man behind the success
Coach Ali has made it clear: the pressure is on, and everyone is “out for their heads” as he so eloquently puts it. They are in possession of what every other Judo team in the Philippines fantasize of having, the undisputed title of Champions.
Coach Ali whose name has become synonymous with Ateneo Judo has been coaching for well over a decade, and sees no point slowing down. In turn, the Ateneo coach is determined to have his athletes feel, act and react in the same way he has throughout his impressive career.
Over the summer, the Judokas saw a sharp increase in their strength and conditioning regime, “We’re going back to the basics, Caveman training’.” Coach Ali said.
Umali said, “The training program is nothing my teammates and I have ever done before. But we need this training to make sure that we are fully prepared on UAAP Day.”
Perspiration, dehydration, cramps, nothing will stop these athletes from doing what it takes to improve their game, and if this is their attitude in training, it begs the question what more during a real match.
To say they work hard is an understatement; to say that they are determined is even more of an underestimation.
The Judokas know exactly what is on the line, and no words can express the level of heart, passion and brilliance coach Ali has imposed on his athletes. Every day, the bar is raised.

Three-peat?
Entering the 2010-2011 school year, the Judokas look poised and ready to do serious business in the gym, training and on the mat. Although other universities such as the University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines and their biggest threat De La Salle University are hot on their heels, the Judokas await nothing more than the challenge that these schools intend to bring.
The outlook is very bright for this year’s Judo team. As Coach Ali says, “In Judo, the truth comes out,” and such will be the test of character for the Judokas as they defend a championship and seek a third straight.
With hardly any loses of from last year’s graduating batch, and a multitude of incoming talent from the Ateneo High School Judo team, it will be utterly difficult for their opponents to comprehend that the two time defending champions are even stronger.