Filipino Isabella Butler Claims Gold in Jiujitsu at Asian Youth Games

MANILA – Filipino-American athlete Isabella Joseline Butler emerged victorious in the girls' -63kg jiujitsu category at the Asian Youth Games Exhibition World Bahrain held in Sakhir on Thursday, October 30, 2025. The 17-year-old, based in Huntington Beach, California but born in Davao City, clinched the gold by submitting United Arab Emirates competitor Aysha Aljneibi with a collar choke at 1 minute and 5 seconds remaining in the match.

Butler advanced to the final by defeating competitors from Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Kazakhstan, respectively winning 4-0 in both the semifinals and quarterfinals. Reflecting on her strategy, she stated, "I was able to get to my controlling positions at close guard, which I love, and operate from there. My training on close guard techniques and lapel guard attacks truly paid off today." Butler is also the reigning gold medalist from the 2024 JJIF Jiu-Jitsu World Championships.

Looking ahead, Butler expressed her ambition to try out for the adult national team and compete in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games. "We found that there was a way to represent the Philippines through the sport that I love, and I’m grateful I got the chance to do so," she said.

Her win contributed to Team Philippines' total haul of seven gold, seven silver, and ten bronze medals, placing the nation 12th among 45 participating countries.

Other Filipino gold medalists at the event included:

• Kram Airam Carpio in pencak silat girls' 51-55kg
• Charlie Ratcliff in modern MMA girls' 45kg
• Pi Durden Wangkay in athletics boys' 200m
• Lyre Anie Ngina and Zeth Gabriel Bueno in muay boys' and girls' wai kru 14-15 divisions
• Jan Brix Ramiscal and Tyron Jamborillo as muay mixed team mai muay champions

Additionally, 15-year-old Mara Alexandria Sarinas secured a bronze medal in the jiujitsu girls' -57kg category after a submission victory over Thailand’s Prasita Rumakom. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Sebastien Blaize Cabanlig narrowly missed reaching the podium in the boys’ -48kg jiujitsu division.

These results highlight the rising prominence of Filipino athletes in martial arts and multi-sport competitions at the youth level.