Jiujitsu star Meggie Ochoa is finding renewed fulfillment nurturing the next generation of athletes in the Asian Youth Games.
Filipina jiu-jitsu icon Meggie Ochoa has found a new calling in the sport she once dominated as part of the national team.
The 35-year-old now coaches the national youth jiu-jitsu team competing in the Asian Youth Games here with the goal of developing a new crop of talents who will not just continue, but hopefully, surpass her and her fellow champions’ international exploits.
“‘Yung motivation ko, ma-build up ‘yung mga youth athletes para mayroong mga mas marami pa na papalit sa amin sa adult team in the future, na ma-level up sila to the point na ‘yung mga na-deliver namin na medals in the past, ma-outnumber nila,” said Ochoa.
Her resume is nothing short of remarkable.
Ochoa made history as the first Filipino gold medalist in the JJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships when she topped the women’s -49kg category in 2018 in Sweden then struck gold again in the women’s -48kg class in 2022 in UAE.
She also won gold medals in the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games.
To complete her golden collection, Ochoa earned the top prize in the women’s -48kg division of Asian Games in China in 2023, a little over a year before she retired as a national athlete.
“Actually sa totoo lang, before I really thought I was just going to be an athlete all the way. Pero parang nagkaroon ako ng mga opportunities to coach noong 2024, and somehow, I really found a fulfillment in it and nakita ko rin na parang mas willing na akong i-give up ‘yung pagiging athlete ko kaysa i-give up ko ‘yung coaching para mag-focus sa pagiging athlete,” said Ochoa.
She admitted she still has a long way to go as a coach, but her experiences as an athlete have helped ease the transition into her new role.
And it helps that she is not alone as she shares the coaching duties with Christopher Gallego, with 18 athletes competing in these Games under their guidance.
“Mas mahirap maging coach para sa’kin kasi ang dami mong iniisip tsaka parang kailangan ‘yung emotions mo, kailangan mo siyang i-manage kasi you have to be on top of things and kailangan ikaw din ‘yung mas composed para yung mga atleta, hindi rin sila mara-rattle,” said Ochoa.
“Ang daming mga iba ibang layers na iniisip kung coach ka. Pero exciting din siya and challenging pero for me kasi, pag ka challenging, for me, dito ako lalong nae-encourage na magpatuloy, lalo na pag nafi-feel ko na wala pa ako doon sa nararapat. Nacha-challenge ako tapos gusto kong mas matuto at mas galingan pa lalo.”