Rooted in her humble beginnings in Cagayan de Oro City, Abigail Limbonhai entered De La Salle University as a freshman with a strong sense of affection and passion not just for the heavy academic load at hand, but also for her love-at-first sight, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Beginning in 2009, Limbonhai had an on-and-off relationship with Jiu Jitsu due to the constant demands of her academics. However, with the literal push and the strong encouragement from her brother, Limbonhai eventually found her way back into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s arms.
“I started training in Cagayan de Oro since the one who introduced this sport to me was actually my brother. He introduced it to the point that when I’m at home he did the techniques on me even when I was asleep; he would still put the locks and all. Then he left for college, but back then he was around first year college so he had to leave home to study in University of Santo Tomas (UST) then he just said ‘Abi, just go just try’,” she shares.
Limbonhai then adds, “So when I first started training, I was really new to everything since he wasn’t there with me and I was alone, and most of them were guys so everything was really new to me, but I just said I’ll just try. I’ll just keep trying and trying. Around three times a week I kept on going there to train and the sport, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, it was like love at first sight, literally. I fell in love with the sport.”
Family and honor
As a first year student, Limbonhai currently has only one term’s worth of experience in DLSU, however, she has already found her calling and family within the University’s grounds.
Upon venturing into La Salle, Limbonhai hoped and wished that she could continue her expeditions in the field of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Low and behold, her hopes and wishes turned into reality when her friend informed her of DLSU’s Jiu Jitsu team, which then turned into her newfound family, together with the national team extension which is also known as DEFTAC Philippines.
“Now, when I moved here to La Salle, I was really hoping and wishing that I could continue it (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and eventually one of my friends told me that there’s a Jiu Jitsu Team here. So I met them and I met DEFTAC Philippines, but moreover, I met my new family,” says Limbonhai.
Together with the discovery of the team, Limbonhai also unlocked various opportunities from joining and competing in various tournaments that were hosted by DEFTAC Philippines.
In such a short span of time, Limbonhai, with the push of trainer JR Rulloda, competed in DEFTAC Sucat and lost the first round of the tournament bracket by a slim margin of points. The loss eventually ended her run for the gold, but it gave her a shot at the bronze medal in the second round of the bracket. An exhausted Limbonhai, in the end, grappled her way to victory and sealed the bronze medal for herself and the DLSU Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Organization.
A never-ending quest
Limbonhai shares her aspirations for the upcoming year by emphasizing on practicing and never being complacent about who and where she is in the field of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
“Right now, I really want to improve my game whether I’m competing with someone bigger, taller, stronger, or even someone smaller than me. In all the ways possible, I really want to improve so my plans will be complete. I will train more and take drills more. Win or lose, I will compete to see how far I am since even if I lose, I know I just have to improve myself. Basically, its all about winning and practicing,” shares the determined Limbonhai.
