April 2026

Training is about more than techniques on the mats.

It is also about responsibility, preparedness, and taking care of the people who trust us with their time, training, and families.

That is why our management, coaches, and staff recently completed a First Aid Seminar led by Dr. Ryan Ignacio.

This was something we had planned for a while, and when schedules finally lined up, we made sure it happened. We have always believed that preparation matters, especially when it comes to unforeseen situations.

The seminar covered practical first response skills and how to stay calm during emergencies. One of the biggest takeaways for our team was simple but important:

Knowing what to do in the moment can make a huge difference.

In many situations, people freeze because they are unsure how to respond. Training helps remove that hesitation. Practice builds confidence, and confidence leads to quicker, better action when it matters most.

For us, this connects directly to our values as a gym.

We talk often about discipline and consistency in training. Those same values should also apply off the mats. Being prepared, staying calm, and continuing to learn are all part of becoming a better coach, teammate, and organization.

We hope our members and parents feel reassured knowing that safety and preparedness are priorities for us.

While we never hope to use these skills, we believe it is always better to have them and be ready than to need them and not know what to do.

Thank you to Dr. Ryan Ignacio for sharing his time and knowledge with the NorthSouth team.

We will continue doing our best to grow not only in skill, but in service to our community.

NorthSouth Fight Sports
89 Maharlika, United San Pedro, San Pedro, Laguna

This past weekend (Sept 20-21, 2025) was a special one for the NorthSouth community. Our team showed up on two fronts — at the National Jiu-Jitsu Tournament and at the Calambato Judo Tournament in Calamba, Laguna.

Both kids and adults stepped on the mats, giving their best in every match. We’re proud to share that our competitors took home medals, but more importantly, valuable lessons and experiences that only competition can bring.

As with every tournament, there were highs and lows. Some tough matches didn’t go our way, while others showcased the hard work and grit our athletes put in during training. Through it all, one thing was clear — our NorthSouth family has heart.

The kids especially shined in Calamba, showing discipline, skill, and sportsmanship beyond their years. For many, it was their first taste of competition, and they handled the challenge with courage.

None of this would be possible without the constant support of our families and community. Every cheer, ride, meal shared, and word of encouragement fuels our athletes and keeps the team spirit alive. These wins and experiences are not just for the individual — they’re for all of us.

We head back to the gym motivated, inspired, and ready to keep improving. The mats are where we grow, and weekends like this remind us why we do what we do.

Here’s to more tournaments, more growth, and more moments together as one team. 

See you on the mats

NorthSouth Fight Sports proudly celebrates the impressive debut of Kevin Villacourte, who represented our team at the Marianas Pro Manila 2025 held last April 5–6, 2025 at Festival Mall, Alabang.

Competing in the Adults -76kg division for both Gi and No-Gi, Kevin took home bronze in the Gi division and secured gold in the No-Gi division—an incredible achievement for his first-ever Jiu-Jitsu competition as a white belt.

In the No-Gi division, Kevin dominated with two submission victories—one via Ezekiel choke and the other via guillotine choke—demonstrating both technical skill and composure under pressure.

Reflecting on his experience, Kevin shared, “I felt that all my hard work had validation. I learned a lot about myself and about BJJ as well, and while learning these things, I realized that I’m just scraping the tip of the iceberg.”

On competition day, Kevin admitted that nerves played a part. “On the first day of the competition, not gonna lie, I felt nervous. But on the second day, the only thing I felt was that I needed to redeem myself from the loss on the first day. The plan was to just do what I practiced and listen to the instruction of Coach Brendo.”

Kevin’s preparation leading up to the tournament was intense and disciplined. “I did what Coach Brendo said. He told me to train at least 5-8 times a week, and so I did that. I also lifted weights until two weeks before the competition. Diet was heavier than usual since I was losing weight rapidly—I had to eat four meals and two snacks to maintain 72kg.”

When asked about his biggest challenge, Kevin opened up about the mental battle. “The most challenging part was not the competition nor the training, it was to believe in myself that I had what it took to win. It was the hardest because you won’t know until you get called to step on the mats. Since I had doubts, there was a big reliance on Coach to lift me up. I would say I didn’t really overcome it, but with the help of people around me, especially my wife and Coach, it made it easier to go through it.”

As for his biggest takeaway, Kevin offered wise advice: “The biggest takeaway from this is to just show up. Whether it’s a good or bad practice, whether you understood the lesson or not, just show up. The next step would be to compete again and see what needs improvement.”

Coach Brendo praised Kevin’s dedication and performance, noting, “Kevin’s hard work and determination really showed on the mats. Winning gold in No-Gi with two submissions at his first competition is an outstanding achievement. We’re all excited to see how far he can go.”

Kevin’s success at Marianas Pro Manila marks the start of an exciting journey. At North-South Fight Sports, we are proud to support athletes like Kevin, who embody the spirit of discipline, perseverance, and constant growth.

Congratulations, Kevin! Your NorthSouth Fight Sports family is behind you all the way. On to the next!

On March 8, NorthSouth Fight Sports proudly hosted Relentless Superfights, bringing together some of the toughest grapplers from different teams and backgrounds. This wasn’t just another competition—it was a celebration of skill, resilience, and community.

From start to finish, the energy in the gym was electric. The matches were intense, filled with crazy scrambles, high-level wrestling, and nail-biting submissions that had the crowd on their feet. Shoutout to Jhumel and Calvin for putting on an unforgettable main event, showing the heart and determination that make this sport so exciting.

The youth division also stood out, with young athletes like Earth and Chase proving that the future of Philippine Jiu-Jitsu is brighter than ever. Watching these kids take on seasoned competitors was a reminder that hard work, training, and dedication pay off.

Beyond the fights, what made this event special was the camaraderie. BJJ is more than just a sport—it’s a community. Competitors from different teams came together, not just to test themselves but to build each other up and grow the sport in the Philippines.

A huge thank you to Relentless Asia for organizing yet another top-tier event, and to all the athletes, coaches, and fans who made this an unforgettable day. Whether you competed, coached, or cheered, you were part of something special. Stay tuned for more action as Relentless Superfights continues in Bangkok, Manila, and Bacolod!

December 2024

NorthSouth Fight Sports: A Weekend to Remember

This past weekend marked a milestone for NorthSouth Fight Sports as we officially opened our doors with a weekend full of energy, camaraderie, and free classes. Our soft opening was a celebration of community, wellness, and the pursuit of greatness.

Before I met my husband, Jiujitsu was an unfamiliar sport to me. Growing up, like many, I was familiar with common sports such as Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, and Basketball, to name a few. But Jiujitsu? Who even practiced Jiujitsu back then? It wasn’t the kind of sport you’d easily find at school or in the local gym in the early 2000s

That changed when I met my husband. I watched him dedicate countless hours to Jiujitsu. He wasn’t just attending one class a day; he was doing two, sometimes even more, and would schedule our dates around his BJJ sessions. I distinctly remember asking him early on in our relationship, back in 2017, “Ano bang meron diyan sa Jiujitsu?” His go-to answer was, “Masaya ako sa Jiujitsu. It changed my life.”