Gibran Langbayan, the first Igorot to earn a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, has left his job as a military nurse in Bahrain to pursue his passion for the martial art.
Originally from Buguias, Benguet, and Tadian, Mt. Province, Langbayan is now focused on training athletes to become world champions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Langbayan, a graduate of Benguet State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in 2007, also obtained his Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license the same year.
After serving as a military nurse in Bahrain for nearly a decade, he found himself in a highly stressful role, managing critical cases involving military and royal families.
During an interview with Bombo Radyo Baguio, Langbayan revealed that in 2013, he discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through a colleague, and it became his stress reliever after intense work shifts.
“I found being a nurse very stressful, so I turned to Jiu Jitsu to de-stress after work,” Langbayan shared.
Langbayan’s love for the sport grew as he participated in various Jiu Jitsu competitions across the Philippines, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, England, and the United States, winning multiple medals.
In 2019, he made the life-changing decision to leave his career as a military nurse and focus on Jiu Jitsu, with a mission to train athletes into world champions.
Now back in the Philippines, Langbayan teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at a gym in Baguio City, where he continues to share his knowledge and passion for the sport.