Sixth-degree black belt John Baylon has long been a legend in Judo and the Philippines' pride in sports.
Baylon may not be as familiar among most Filipinos as Manny Pacquiao is today, but everyone in the martial arts community knows and respects him.
You really have no choice.
Undeafeated in the Southeast Asian Games since 1991, he is an eight-time SEA Games gold medalist in Judo--the first and only person to have the highest medal tally in an individual sport.
He is also a two-time Olympic Games competitor (1988 in Seoul, South Korea and 1992 in Barcelona, Spain), a four-time Asian Judo champion in four different weight divisions, a bronze medalist in the 2003 World Masters Judo Championship in Japan, and a consistent placer in the Asian Games.
But apart from being the country's most decorated Judo black belt, Baylon has made another milestone when he was recently awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from his Japanese teacher, Wado Toshiyuki, in Tokyo--making him the first Filipino and only Southeast Asian to ho
ld such high ranks in both Judo and BJJ.
This Filipino prodigy has been a regular visitor to Toshiyuki's BJJ academy since 2002 when he was visiting Japan as part of the Philippine national team.
Baylon is currently the co-head instructor of Team Fabrico BJJ/Judo Academy along with New Zealander Judo and BJJ black belt, Stephen Kamphuis.
In November 2008, he ended a match in just two minutes against the much younger and more agile Mike Fowler--a Copa Atlantica BJJ champion, Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championships medalist, World Abu Dhabi Combat Club finalist, and head instructor of a BJJ school in Guam--via an armbar in the 2008 Hajime! Judo Competition at the Ateneo De Manila University.
Born on 6 November 1964 in
Binalbagan, Negros Occidental but grew up in Zamboanga City, this decorated Judo player started honing his skills in Japan while working and taking Nippongo lessons back in the late eighties. He became a member of the Philippine national team in 1988.
Despite the long list of injuries he sustained in more than two decades of fighting and against the advice of well-meaning friends, Baylon continues to spend countless hours in the gym, perfecting his skills.
The following clips show some of John Baylon's recent victories...
JOHN BAYLON VS MIKE FOWLER
PHILIPPINES VS VIETNAM
Info Source: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Philippines Website
Video Sources: Gerard Teruel's YouTube Channel and GMANews.TV
Photo Sources: Men's Health Philippines Website, Jamd Website, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Philippines Website
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