The Hustle and Tussle of a World-class Champ

Words by Mdpwn. Alexandra May T. Tarroja and Kristelle Joy G. Erazo

According to scholars, “There is no limit for a person eager to pursue their passion. Being passionate requires dedication, hard work, focus, and the willingness to fail over and over again. It is the most significant motivating force that helps a man withstand adversity with excellence and ardor.”

Most seasoned and exemplary athletes start at a young age when they start gaining interest in different kinds of sports. This interest will then develop into participation and involvement in their respective sport. By starting early training and development, athletes have a much better understanding and execution of basic movements that gradually build into more complex drills and exercises. This was not the case for the world champion, Ms. Kimberly Anne Custodio.

Finishing her bachelor’s degree in 2007 at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo, Custodio could’ve chosen a path entirely different from what she is taking today. She had no idea what her future self would have accomplished with a Bachelor of Science in Cruise Ship Management.

Moreover, years after graduating and finding a stable job, Custodio started to struggle with her unhealthy lifestyle. Her indulgence in food contributed to her increasing weight, which then hindered her daily life. This sparked her interest in starting a completely different way of living.

Setting her eyes on martial arts, she started taking up lessons in boxing and Muay Thai. As someone with little or no experience in martial arts, Custodio took on the challenge, vowing to improve her health and gain needed fitness. Her skills and prowess in the sport were applauded by her coach who later introduced her to the world of jiu-jitsu.

“After my first session in jiu-jitsu, I knew right then and there that it was for me.”

The sport immediately hooked her attention and she became immersed in it. Custodio felt that it was the perfect sport for her to develop. Jiu-Jitsu is mainly defined as a self-defense martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting, and submission holds.

“It is the most effective martial art for women because unlike boxing and Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu helps you dominate and control bigger and stronger opponents using only leverage and proper techniques and it doesn’t require hitting or kicking,” she added.

Equipped with proper training and knowledge of the sport, Custodio continued to pursue her interest at a much more advanced level by participating in various competitions. Custodio’s interest in joining the country’s national team shifted after she won her matches in local competitions.

Custodio knew that advancing on the national training scene would require her undivided attention to the sport. Taking the risk, she quit her stable job and fully engrossed herself in jiu-jitsu. Later on, the training paid off, and she was selected for the Philippine Jiu-jitsu National Team and will soon be sent to her first-ever world championship competition. The journey to her first international stage, however, was completely different from what she expected. It is a universal truth that simply being an athlete already comes with its own set of struggles and asperities, let alone being a national one, in which you can become a subject of scrutiny and senseless discrimination. Despite being a competent, par excellent, and amenable athlete, Custodio was no exception to the struggles that most national athletes face at least halfway through the entirety of their journey.

There is no excuse for the athlete community of this country to struggle in obtaining support as well as funding from the government unless the athlete is a world-renowned competitor and has proven themselves multiple times as a world champion.

On the other hand, Custodio struggled with the financial needs of being an athlete and even self-funded herself to different competitions, both local and international.

Despite that, Custodio competed in her first world jiu-jitsu competition in 2019. Being a rookie on the world stage made her unaware of the dimension, hardships and intensity of the sport, eventually leading to her losing matches in the competition. Furthermore, her self-awareness increased as a result of the defeat, and she continued to advance in the sport by doubling her efforts in training. Custodio did not hesitate to continue her passion, even at home, especially when the pandemic hit the nation and shut down all training centers. Custodio was able to complete and make new techniques in jiu-jitsu because of her perseverance and love for the game. Her unbridled enthusiasm and love for the sport contributed a lot to her positive attitude, discipline, and mindset to give her very best in representing our mother nation. Upon the return of the World Athletics Championships in 2022, Custodio was ready to face the familiar pressure and challenge of being an international athlete and carry the pride and name of our country. She slowly climbed to the top of the league, besting powerful athletes from different nations. Emerging as a contender for the world title, she prepared for the breaking match with another exceptional athlete from Thailand. Custodio successfully bested her opponent, sealing her first-ever world championship title. The title fulfilled her desire of being a national athlete. Years of training and dedication to the sport molded her to become a notable athlete despite the Aegean setbacks that hindered her journey. What started as a hobby to reattain fitness developed into a passion that will inspire many similar athletes in the coming years. Custodio remained true to her goals and love for the sport. Her mindset fueled her drive to become a world champion that she only dreamt of before. Hard work cannot be substituted. Nothing can match the joy and satisfaction of succeeding in a difficult goal. There may be circumstances wherein we will question ourselves, and our paths along with our purpose, but it should not make us totter. With hard work, faith, and dedication, we will get through anything. Learn to aim for the sky for it is your only limit, and get past obstacles in your path. As long as you are motivated to get there, there is no limit on how much you can accomplish. You are never too old or too young to chase your happiness, as long as you put your heart into it.