Live Better with LGBTQ advocate and martial artist Christian Camangonan

PTVPhilippines

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Transcript

00:00Music

00:27This afternoon, we met Christian Kamangonan, an LGBTQ advocate and martial artist.

00:36He proves that the strength and success in the field of Jiu Jitsu and Kyaweyan

00:41is not limited by limitations or stereotypes.

00:44Join us and watch his inspiring story here on Live Better.

00:50Music

01:11Sport is for everyone, regardless of age, race, or gender.

01:16This is proven by Christian Kamangonan, a champion in Jiu Jitsu and Kyaweyan,

01:21a proud member of the LGBTQ plus community.

01:25He's cheerful, funny, and at first glance, he's very timid.

01:30But when it comes to the fighting ring, the air around him changes.

01:36He's a monster of skill and bravery.

01:40How did he overcome his silence in martial arts?

01:45Ever since I was a kid, I was drawn to violence.

01:51Not necessarily literal violence, but my dad and brother are very fond of action movies.

02:02Somehow, if you're around a kid, you absorb it.

02:08You can adapt the moves, the FPJ moves, the guns, and some sort of sword.

02:18But at that age, I realized that I'm not the typical boy.

02:27I'm also feminine.

02:29Yeah, I like fighting, but I also do love Barbie.

02:34Dolls, feminine things.

02:38As a kid, I saw the feminine side, the nurturing side, but also the protective side.

02:44I'm not necessarily very athletic as a kid.

02:49I'm kind of sheltered because I'm a girl.

02:52My mother is protective, but she doesn't stop me from being naughty and playing outside.

02:58When I was a kid, although I'm not necessarily a trained athlete,

03:04but when it comes to games, I'm very competitive.

03:07I'm very athletic.

03:10I'm fast, I'm quick, I run fast.

03:15His love and acceptance of his parents for his true self and for his chosen career.

03:24Actually, he knows, he accepts, if he's just waiting for me to succeed.

03:28So now, they're not against me.

03:30So I can be open with my sexuality.

03:33I can do martial arts, I can be feminine, I can be masculine, I can be anything.

03:40Although Christian is a member of the LGBTQ plus community,

03:44he hasn't experienced discrimination in the world of martial arts.

03:49Maybe, here in the gym, there's no discrimination.

03:53Because here in the gym, my master, my teammates, they accept me for who I am.

03:58They know that I'm a badass, they know that I'm not straight.

04:02But since they saw my determination, my capabilities, my commitment to training and doing the martial arts,

04:10I earned the respect.

04:12But outside, I encounter, let's say, because there's no way to avoid the stigma.

04:17Like, if you're straight, you're just there in the martial arts,

04:21you're grappling, you're clinging, you just want to hug boys, to take advantage.

04:27But actually, though, it's not that shallow.

04:31I love the game, the martial arts game, the combat sport.

04:36So every time I spar, every time I do the drills, I do the training,

04:41I'm getting myself into the zone.

04:44So I focus on the game, on how to execute my strategy,

04:48on how to do the combos and techniques.

04:51So there's nothing like that, honestly speaking, nothing.

04:54There's nothing wrong with it or like, no, it's nothing like that.

04:58So they haven't experienced it inside.

05:02When you're inside, you're well-immersed in the process of learning the skills.

05:07You can't think of anything like that, no.

05:10I think first things first is being able to commit.

05:15Because when you're practicing martial arts,

05:18you have to do lots of repetitions of technique,

05:21you have to do drills with a partner, you have to do sparring,

05:26you have to do continuously every day, consistent training.

05:31So you have to be able to do that.

05:33You have to have a commitment.

05:44You have to have a regular training despite of the busy schedule that you have.

05:56You have to find ways.

05:58So you have to have commitment.

06:04You have to be committed to what you're pursuing, which is martial arts.

06:10And also, it's discipline.

06:12Discipline is very important.

06:14Like I said, even if no one's watching, you have to be disciplined.

06:17You have to do the things that will help you improve as a martial artist.

06:23So those things are very important.

06:25And most importantly, it's courage.

06:30Because if you don't have the courage,

06:33you won't be able to do all of these things.

06:36The times when you're so tired from training,

06:40your body gives up.

06:41But if you have the courage and also the resiliency,

06:46you will overcome everything, no matter how hard it is.

06:50Because of sports, she was able to gain strength and confidence in herself.

06:57For example, being able to survive.

07:01Just warm up.

07:02Try it, guys, here in Yauyan, Buhawi.

07:05Just warm up, you'll be able to challenge yourself.

07:08You'll be able to challenge your resilience.

07:10So here, it helps to build confidence.

07:14Because you're here inside, you're continuously training.

07:18You're bragging, but you'll feel like you're not like a normal person.

07:24Because people outside, when they experience training here,

07:31they'll be culture-shocked.

07:34Like, why am I doing this?

07:36That kind of vibes.

07:37But she was able to build confidence in a way that,

07:39oh my God, I'm being able to do all these things.

07:43I'm not just normal, but since I became committed to training here,

07:47you can see the changes.

07:48And when you do the combos, the techniques,

07:52because you're always training and practicing,

07:54it builds your confidence in yourself that you can do these things.

08:00What are the other difficult things that I might encounter outside?

08:04Of course, I'll be able to handle it.

08:06That's how it is.

08:09In the world of martial arts,

08:11it broke down the stigmas.

08:14It's so strong that it's breaking the stigma.

08:17For example, for me, as being part of the LGBTQ community,

08:22supposedly, the stigma of people is that you're gay,

08:24but you should be a parlor, makeup artist,

08:28or a comedian.

08:31Although, we're like comedians here now.

08:33But being able to...

08:38I mean, like me personally, regardless of my gender,

08:42I like what I'm doing.

08:44So, I'm not considering my gender.

08:46Like, I'm just gay, I'm just here.

08:48No, I'm breaking that barrier.

08:50That we can be anything that we want.

08:52Right?

08:52And then, maybe it's also the inner drive,

08:56because there's a lot of discrimination.

08:59So, it's a form of protest that I can do it too.

09:03Even if you say I'm gay, I can do it too.

09:05I can accompany you, I can do it.

09:07Like that.

09:08Don't hide who you really are.

09:12You have to be true to yourself.

09:15And not necessarily if you pursue martial arts,

09:17but it will be a great help for you to break out

09:21from that stigma of this society.

09:23That we can be different.

09:26We can break away from that thinking.

09:29You know, I'm like me.

09:31I can be a martial artist even if I'm gay.

09:33So, just be true to yourself.

09:36Because sometimes, other people,

09:37when they're in a situation

09:39that they need to suppress themselves.

09:42Because someone might get offended,

09:44someone might get mad.

09:44I'm gay, and I'm gay,

09:46and people might get mad.

09:48No, right?

09:49As long as you're not harming anyone,

09:50as long as you're not hurting anyone,

09:52why you should hide yourself, right?

09:55Even if you're a bit clumsy,

09:57don't let your imagination run wild.

10:00When it comes to the ring,

10:02no one can stop you.

10:04A true fighter.

10:06But I have a belief that

10:09me and my team,

10:11our recent amateur MMA fight,

10:13I won the tournament.

10:16I won against my opponent.

10:18So, MMA, like what we did earlier,

10:20we have the strikes, we have the grappling.

10:22I took him down,

10:24then I pinned him,

10:26and then I pound him,

10:28using the strikes.

10:30Technical knockout.

10:34So, actually, when I'm in a tournament,

10:36I'm very like, I'm just being myself.

10:38I'm just feeling myself.

10:40I'm not trying to prove myself.

10:42Although, given that, as a fighter,

10:44you have to be something with form.

10:46But I still showed that I'm feminine.

10:48There are women

10:51who are in the corner,

10:53and then, wow, you're so good.

10:55This is for us, madam.

10:57It's not just for men,

10:59it's for women as well.

11:01Women empowerment.

11:09My ultimate goal is

11:11to achieve lots of things

11:13by competing.

11:15To achieve,

11:17of course, victory.

11:20All of that stuff.

11:22Belt, championship belt.

11:24Why not?

11:26And also,

11:28I was given the opportunity

11:30by Master Reina

11:32to be an instructor.

11:34I teach here at the gym,

11:36and I also teach at San Mateo.

11:38So, I'm a kickboxing instructor,

11:40MMA instructor.

11:42What I want is,

11:44as I grow as an individual,

11:46I want to help

11:49to help them achieve their goals.

11:51So, by improving my credentials,

11:53my knowledge,

11:55that I can share with them,

11:57that would be great.

11:59Because what can I give

12:01if I'm an empty cup?

12:03I have to fill myself with lots of things

12:05so that I can be more helpful.

12:11Martial arts is for everyone.

12:13A discipline for everyone.

12:16If you want to learn martial arts,

12:18you need to find

12:20a legitimate gym.

12:22You have to find

12:24a coach

12:26that you can trust.

12:28And you need first to find

12:30an environment

12:32like here in our gym

12:34that is, let's say, friendly

12:36to people

12:38that are different

12:40from the norm.

12:42Also,

12:44you need to commit yourself.

12:46You have to expect

12:48that training martial arts

12:50won't be easy.

12:52You'll have to try your physical aspect,

12:54your mental aspect,

12:56your emotionality.

12:58So, everything. You have to be prepared.

13:00You have to prepare yourself.

13:02So, you will break your limit

13:04and

13:06when you break your limit, you'll be stronger.

13:08You'll improve.

13:10No matter what your goal. If your goal is for fitness,

13:12self-defense,

13:14if your goal is to be a fighter like me,

13:16you can do it.

13:18You just have to expect that it won't be easy.

13:20It won't be easy,

13:22but it will be enjoyable

13:24if the environment around you is good.

13:26You won't be discriminated

13:28or judged.

13:32That's what I'm saying here in our gym.

13:34It's very LGBTQ friendly.

13:36So, we encourage

13:38other gyms to do the same.

13:42Christian Camagonan,

13:44a proud member of the LGBTQ

13:46plus community,

13:48proves that identity

13:50is not just about smiling.

13:52He broke the stigma

13:54in the field of sports.

13:56He showed dedication and courage

13:58and became an inspiration

14:00to fellow athletes who dream.

14:02He used his platform

14:04to promote equality

14:06and freedom

14:08in the issues that his community

14:10faces.

14:12Despite the challenges,

14:14he proved that success

14:16is for everyone,

14:18regardless of your background.

14:20His story reminds us

14:22that the real strength

14:24is in the fighting spirit

14:26and belief.

14:28He continues to build his legacy,

14:30a story of self-love,

14:32fight for your rights,

14:34and strive to

14:36inspire the world.

14:38And that concludes

14:40our episode for today.

14:42My name is Meg Siozon,

14:44encouraging everyone to live better.

15:08Follow us on our social media pages,

15:10Facebook, YouTube, and PTV Sports Network.

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