Jujitsu group is newest POC member

RAMIREZ (left) and Masuda display their Asian Beach Games medals.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) family is growing bigger each year.

The Ju-Jitsu Federation of the Philippines, Inc. recently became the newest member of the local Olympic body as sports officials and their national sports associations gear up for the challenges of 2016.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Richie Garcia said the association would also be recognized by the sports-funding agency and entitled to the privileges the other NSAs enjoy.

“It is now a regular member of the POC, but not yet a voting member,” said Garcia.

The JFP received the blessings of the World Ju-Jitsu Federation, the global governing body.

The JFP, the mother organization of over 50 jujitsu clubs nationwide, elected Choi Cojuangco as president.

Over 170 jujitsu fighters nationwide, led by Asian Beach Games gold medalists Annie Ramirez and Maybelline Masuda, recently competed in the National Open. Ramirez (-60 kg) and the Filipino-Japanese Masuda (-50 kg) won the country’s first two golds in the ABG held last year in Phuket, Thailand.