By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Alvin Aguilar of Bacolod City captured four Coach of the Year honors at the SJJIF World Championships held recently in Chiba, Japan.

Aguilar, the founder of DEFTAC Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Philippines, was recognized as the top coach in four divisions — Gi Adults, NoGi Adults, Gi Kids, and NoGi Kids — after leading the Filipino contingent to a successful campaign.

The recognition was based on the collective performance of his students, who tallied the most points and produced the most champions in each category.

Aguilar, who has served as DEFTAC’s head coach since 1996, shared the honor with his team.

“This achievement is the result of the collective effort of everyone at DEFTAC, from our dedicated chapter heads and coaches to the supportive parents and, most importantly, our amazing students,” he said.

Widely regarded as the pioneer of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the Philippines and the country’s first homegrown BJJ black belt, Aguilar is also the president and founder of the Universal Reality Combat Championship.

He expressed gratitude to his longtime mentors, Sensei Xande Ribeiro and Saulo Ribeiro, for their guidance and inspiration throughout his journey.

The four-time award further solidifies Aguilar’s nearly three-decade coaching career, marking 2025 as a banner year for the Filipino martial arts icon./ASC, WDJ