Malolos, Bulacan – Nova União Philippines

Malolos, Bulacan – Nova União Philippines

Malolos is a small town on the outskirts of Manila, about an hour and a half drive from Clark Airport. Malolos is the capital city of Bulacan province and their people’s love for the grappling arts rivals that of any other place in the world. About 4 years ago, a small group of boys and girls, comprised of judokas, wrestlers and recent jiujitsu-ka have kick-started the BJJ-scene in the area. 

"Inspiring" is the first word that comes to mind when you start grasping and seeing what they have done in the name of jiu-jitsu and what they've achieved by themselves in order to train and compete in the Gentle Art. 

Well, if all you have to worry about competition day is cutting weight and what color kimono to compete in, let’s just say, you have it easy! In Malolos most of these kids can't afford to buy kimonos and the ones that can, save up for several months and then end up having to pay several fold of what people in other parts of the world have to due to the low value of the Philippine currency, the Peso. If you add up competition fees, traveling expenses and a bunch of other items that you need every time you go to a tournament, then you can imagine their love for the gentle art and what they go through to follow their jiu-jitsu dream. And things aren't rosy for them cause, if that was not enough, when they get to tournaments, they are discriminated against, because they did not fight under any black belt academy. To our utter astonishment we learned that if they get a medal they need to put their names under some other black belt based in the Philippines who they don't even know, who's never helped them or their jiu-jitsu in anyway.

That really motivated us at Nova União Macau to try and help out, not only by taking two black belts to train with this wonderful "Galera", but also to donate some kimonos and a bit of our experience to help them learn the gentle art that unites us all.

We were received by the most caring and hospitable people you will ever meet. Respectively curious they irradiated jiu-jitsu in every question, and they asked the two professors about everything, from techniques, to kimonos, about fighters, etc. All they really care about is jiu-jitsu and how to improve their skills and share them with others. And to us that's what it’s all about! So we hope we will be back soon to help our most recent friends grow their jiu-jitsu in lovely Malolos, Philippines!