Igorot jiu jitsu practitioner Gibran Amos Langbayan snatched a gold medal in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour in the United Kingdom and elevated his rank among jiu jitsu practitioners around the world.
The 33-year-old Langbayan edged Piotr Winiarek of Poland in the gold medal match of purple belt master 1-69 kilograms division after the rigid quarterfinals.
Langbayan now ranks 22ndin the world under the AJP world ranking for male master 1 purple belts and 10th in Asia. He is also ranked number one in the Philippines.
The London tournament is one of the toughest jiu jitsu competitions in the world, as it consisted of numerous matches across multiple weight and belt divisions.
Langbayan, a registered nurse, trains with Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro, along with well-known international jiu jitsu masters and practitioners around the world.
United Kingdom Charge d’ Affaires Philippine Ambassador Frank Cimafranca has invited Langbayan to honor the Cordilleran athlete for his win.
Langbayan and his younger brother Godwin are jiu jitsu practitioners for over a decade now. They have won medals in national and international competitions.
When in the Philippines, Langbayan trains with Clubs De Jiu Jitsu Filipinos and rolls with any gym in Baguio that offers jiu jitsu while Godwin trains with the Air Force, Clube De Jiu Jitsu Filipinas, and Team Lakay. – Harley F. Palangchao
April 30, 2024
