ILOILO CITY — The art of Brazilian Jiujitsu is set to deepen its roots in Western Visayas as DEFTAC, one of the country's pioneering BJJ institutions, opens its first franchise gym here on Saturday, June 28, 2026. Located on the third floor of the LBS Building on Jalandoni Street, the new facility marks a significant step in promoting self‑defense, discipline, and athletic excellence among Ilonggos. Chief Alvin Aguilar, the first Filipino BJJ Black Belt and DEFTAC founder, expressed confidence that the gym will become a breeding ground for top‑tier talent.
"I am very excited to open our first DEFTAC Iloilo gym," Aguilar said, citing the institution's track record of producing national champions and a third‑place finisher at the World Championship. "This gym will produce many Champions from Iloilo." The opening underscores Iloilo's growing appeal as a destination for elite sports development, extending well beyond traditional athletic events.
A Gathering of World Champions
The grand opening will feature a constellation of BJJ stars. Prof. May Masuda, the first Filipina World Champion and Asian Beach Games gold medalist who also holds the distinction of being the first Filipina Black Belter, will attend. Aielle Aguilar, a three‑time youngest Filipina World Champion, will join the event alongside Zony Zaldarriaga, chapter head of DEFTAC Iloilo, and bronze medalist David Zaldarriaga.
Chief Aguilar, Prof. Masuda, and Aielle Aguilar will lead a free seminar at 9 a.m. before the opening ceremony, offering a rare opportunity for local sports enthusiasts to learn directly from world‑class martial artists. The event is expected to draw significant regional television coverage, further highlighting Iloilo's vibrant sports culture on a national stage.
Iloilo's Emerging Sporting Identity
The opening aligns with Iloilo's broader push into professional combat sports and fitness. DEFTAC's choice of Iloilo for its franchise expansion underscores the city's health‑conscious community. A new, high‑quality BJJ gym adds to the city's portfolio of modern recreational assets, complementing its active mobility lanes and robust grassroots sports programs.
For the Ilonggo youth, the gym offers a structured pathway to learn BJJ's core principles of grappling and ground fighting. Beyond physical fitness, the sport instills discipline, mental fortitude, and grit. The presence of world champions as mentors provides local students with direct access to elite‑level training, potentially nurturing future national and international medalists and cementing DEFTAC Iloilo as a new pillar of the city's sporting community.
