Two young Filipino athletes are making waves in the UAE Jiu Jitsu scene, with back-to-back gold medal victories at this year’s Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu Jitsu Championship (KBMZ). Ten-year-old Naomi Agatha Pascual and her six-year-old brother Avin Yehoshua Pascual both stood at the top of the podium after dominating their respective categories in one of the UAE’s most anticipated youth competitions.
Naomi, a seasoned competitor despite her age, continued her winning streak by bagging gold in Round 1 (44kg Infant Yellow Belt) in January and again in Round 3 (48kg Infant Yellow Belt) this May.
“I’m very happy and knowing that I executed the technique I learned during our training,” Naomi said in a TGFM interview, recalling her 29-second arm bar submission. “I told my sister Nikeisha that I would try it, and thank God, it happened as I envisioned it to happen.”
Since starting Jiu Jitsu in 2021, Naomi has transformed from a curious learner into a confident and purposeful athlete. When asked what changed over the years, she shared:
“The changes in my mindset have led me to prioritize more of God’s service. As a result, the things I love the most naturally follow.”
She credits her growth not only to rigorous training but to the alignment of support around her — from her Simply the Best (STB) family, The DEN, Al Jazira Jiu Jitsu Team, to her homeschool community at Kingdom Citizen Homeschool (KCH).
“We’ve noticed a synchronization of timing and the right people helping us to be at our best. We give all the glory to God for this blessing.”
Naomi’s passion for the sport was especially evident during the AJP Tour Dubai held in April 2025, where she faced a tougher bracket after being moved up to a higher age category. She fought three difficult matches and still secured silver, while her sisters Nikeisha and Andrea took gold and bronze in the Amateur Blue Belt -49kg category.
“It was an amazing experience, and I’ll never forget it—especially since I shared it with my family,” Naomi said.
Balancing homeschool, faith, and sport is no easy feat for a child, but Naomi believes her spiritual foundation keeps her grounded.
“With prayer beginning each day, God directs me in managing my homeschool and church activities. It’s really hard to do everything without God’s guidance,” she explained. “I hope to inspire everyone I encounter through the way I live.”
Asked about the most important lesson she’s learned from Jiu Jitsu so far, Naomi answered without hesitation:
“Humility. I’m trying to understand it more each day. I’m also grateful to God for all the experiences and for the people who genuinely support and celebrate our journey.”
Looking forward, Naomi’s dream extends beyond medals.
“I want to raise awareness about Jiu Jitsu and teach humility at a very early age. I want young people to know that being physically, mentally, and spiritually strong is more valuable than any medal.”
A young warrior’s turning point
Avin, Naomi’s younger brother, has a journey marked by transformation and perseverance. Now six years old, he captured gold in both January and May 2025 KBMZ competitions in the Kids2 White Belt 23kg division.
“I’m overjoyed to see my family’s faces and their enthusiastic support,” Avin said with pride. “It fills me with motivation to push myself even harder. And doing the moves our coaches taught me brings me so much joy.”
But it wasn’t always this way. Avin first started training in late 2022 but struggled to adjust.
“I was scared, crying, and wanted to run away from my first competition,” he recalled. “I even told my parents I wanted to quit.”
After taking a break, 2024 became a turning point. Watching his family train reignited his interest.
“Seeing my family’s love for Jiu Jitsu made me want to try again,” he said. “Now I really enjoy training, and I look forward to every session.”
Avin now trains three times a week at the UAEJJ arena and also participates in family and homeschool-based sessions.
“I train with my sisters and with KCH students too. We even do Jiu Jitsu for homeschool!” he proudly shared.
When asked about what he loves most about the sport, Avin gave a heartfelt answer:
“The support I get from my family. The time we spend together is the best part.”
His favorite techniques include the osoto gari take-down and rear naked choke, both of which he’s learned to execute with precision thanks to his dedicated coaches and family encouragement.
As with Naomi, Avin’s journey is anchored in faith.
“God is the only reason behind all this. I see myself one day traveling around the world and sharing God with others—just like what happened to me and my family.”
One family, one passion
For the Pascual family, Jiu Jitsu is more than a sport—it’s a shared passion, a bonding ritual, and a way of life shaped by values. Trained under Coach Michael (UAEJJ) and Coach Babi & Coach Lari (STB), and strengthened by their homeschool and church communities, Naomi and Avin continue to inspire with their dedication and discipline.
“By living a physically, mentally, and spiritually fit lifestyle, this growth will be more valuable than any gold medal,” Naomi said.
