Meggie Ochoa

Margarita "Meggie" P. Ochoa[1] (born May 6, 1990) is a Filipino jujutsu practitioner. She competes both in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and the standard form of the discipline.

Meggie Ochoa
Ochoa in 2023
BornMargarita P. Ochoa
(1990-05-06) May 6, 1990
NationalityFilipino
StyleJapanese and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
TeamAtos Jiu-jitsu Philippines
Rank  black belt in BJJ
UniversityAteneo de Manila University
Medal record
Representing  Philippines
Women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Ju-Jitsu World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Abu Dhabi 48 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 Malmö 49 kg
Women's Ju-jitsu
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou ne-waza 48 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Jakarta–Palembang ne-waza 49 kg
Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Bangkok ne-waza 48 kg
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Philippines ne-waza 45 kg
Gold medal – first place 2021 Hanoi ne-waza 48 kg
Silver medal – second place 2023 Phnom Penh ne-waza 52 kg

Education

Ochoa was born on May 6, 1990[2] to Jobert and Lee P. Ochoa[3] She studied at Saint Pedro Poveda College for her basic education, graduating from the school in 2008.[4] For college, she attended the Ateneo de Manila University, where she graduated in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in business management.[5] She was part of her university's track team.[6]

Career

Early years

After graduating from college, Ochoa took up mixed martial arts (MMA) but she was deterred by the lack of opponents in her weight class at the time.[6] She has a small build[7] and has tried judo before MMA.[1]

She would take up jujutsu in 2013,[7] after changing teams where the coach suggest her to try to martial art.[6] For the next three years she has relied on crowdfunding as she works to obtain a black belt in Brazilian jujutsu (BJJ).[1]

Brazilian jujutsu

Ochoa is a three-time champion at the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship (2014 as a white belt, 2015 and 2016 as a blue belt)[8]

She would participate at the 2018 Ju-Jitsu World Championships in Sweden, where she would become the first Filipino jujutsu champion by bagging the gold medal in the women's BJJ -49kg.[9] She was promoted to brown belt for the feat.[10]

Ochoa would be promoted to BJJ black belt by August 2022.[11] She added another World Championships gold medal in the 2022 edition held in the United Arab Emirates, this time in the women's -48kg.[12][13]

Jiu-jitsu

Ochoa would also compete in standard jiu-jitsu. She took part in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan, where she won a gold medal in the women's -45kg.[14]

She has competed in the Asian Games twice. At the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia she would clinch a bronze in the women's -49 kg event.[15] At the 2022 edition in Hangzhou, China in October 2023, Ochoa won a gold medal in the -48 kg event.[16] She endured a flu which she recovered from only a day after the final match, and a hip injury which she incurred in the semifinal.[17]

At the 2023 Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, Ochoa would win the women's -48 kg title.[18][19]

Ochoa has also competed in the Southeast Asian Games from 2019 to the 2023 edition across multiple weight class.[20] She has won two golds (-45kg in 2019[21] and -48kg in 2021[22]) and a silver medal (-52kg in 2023).[20]

Personal life

Ochoa has worked in a non-profit organization before committing to her sporting career in 2014.[23] She has also been an advocate against child sexual abuse since 2015.[24][25] She founded Fight to Protect, a non-profit organization which teaches child survivors of abuse martial arts.[20]

References
  1. Jambora, Anne (July 11, 2016). "This 100-lb woman is a Brazilian jiujitsu champion". Lifestyle.INQ. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. "Ju-jitsu - OCHOA Margarita". Asian Games 2022. Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committe. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. Yalung, Brian (December 27, 2018). "Tagumpay ni Meggie, tagumpay ng pamilya" [Victory of Meggie, also the success of the family pamilya]. Balita. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  4. Galvez, Waylon (April 28, 2020). "Ochoa joins fight against online child abuse". Tempo. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  5. Recio, Noelle (August 17, 2014). "Meggie Ochoa: The people's champion". The Guidon. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  6. Mendoza-Dayrit, Mylene (March 20, 2018). "How Jiu-jitsu star Meggie Ochoa trains for the gold". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  7. Layug, Margaret Claire (March 31, 2020). "Meggie's Mission". GMA News. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  8. "Ochoa bags gold in 2016 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships". Tiebreaker Times. June 15, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  9. Dioquino, Delfin (November 25, 2018). "Meggie Ochoa bags historic gold for PH in Jiu-Jitsu World Championships". Rappler. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  10. Li, Matthew (November 25, 2018). "Meggie Ochoa picks up historic gold in World Championships". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  11. "Ochoa angat sa black belt" [Ochoa rises to black belt]. Abante (in Filipino). August 4, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  12. Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (November 4, 2022). "Meggie Ochoa clinches Philippines' second gold in Jiu-Jitsu World Championship". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  13. "2022 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - U16 U18 U21 ADULTS and PARA - ADULTS JIU-JITSU FEMALE -48 KG". p. 82. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  14. "Meggie Ochoa, Annie Ramirez secure golden double for Philippines". Tiebreaker Times. September 19, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  15. "Meggie Ochoa wins sixth bronze medal for PHL in Asian Games". GMA News. Asian Games 2018 Philippine Media Pool. August 24, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  16. Valderrama, Aeron Paul (October 5, 2023). "Meggie Ochoa dominates Asiad jujitsu for PH's second gold". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  17. Villanueva, Ralph Edwin (October 5, 2023). "'Really overwhelming': Ochoa bucks flu, hip injury en route to precious Asiad gold". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  18. Villar, Joey (February 27, 2023). "Ochoa tops 48-kg in Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship". BusinessWorld. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  19. "Meggie Ochoa grabs gold in Asian Jiu-jitsu Championship". CNN Philippines. February 28, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  20. "Her Side of the Court | Meggie Ochoa's response to SEA Games silver medal is a masterclass in resilience". One Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  21. Ramos, Gerry (December 9, 2019). "Meggie Ochoa banners PH three-gold romp in SEA Games jiu-jitsu". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  22. "Familiarity key for Meggie Ochoa in exacting revenge against Vietnam rival". CNN Philippines. March 17, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  23. De Leon, Job (April 1, 2014). "Brazilian jiu-jitsu rising star Meggie Ochoa turns to crowd-funding to help achieve her dream". GMA News. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  24. Dalupang, Denison Rey; Ochoa, Francis T.J. (November 26, 2018). "Her biggest fight". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  25. Kwek, Kimberly (October 4, 2023). "Meggie Ochoa is a jiu-jitsu star but finds her calling in life fighting against child abuse". The Straits Times. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
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