Pinnacle beyond mainstream: Looking into Jones Inso's journey to Wushu gold

Date Posted: December 19, 2024 at 02:01 PM


Basketball and volleyball have enjoyed the spotlight in the Philippine athletic landscape for decades; however, as the country opens its doors to new sporting events, there is also a similarly growing interest in Filipino athletes who shine beyond what locals view as mainstream sports. 

Gymnastics, weightlifting, fencing, and martial arts are also gaining traction, especially with the recent triumph of the country in the Olympics as weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bagged the Philippines’ first gold medal in the quadrennial meet, and gymnast Carlos Yulo became the first Filipino Olympic double gold medalist.

The same can be said for another budding star for the Philippines, this time in the field of Wushu. Adamsonian Jones Inso has been making waves in international tournaments, including victories in the recently concluded Men’s Chen Style 56 Movements at the 4th Wushu World Taijiquan Championship 2024, held in Singapore on August 24 - 27, 2024.

Wushu, or kung-fu, can be directly translated as Chinese martial arts. It involves various disciplines under combat (Sanda) and artistic (Taolu) events.

 

Finding the path

Jones Inso’s journey in Wushu began in the landlocked province of Benguet. He recalled he was nine years old when he joined a flock of kids training along the streets near his home. Having no clue about the swift throwing of kicks and jabs in the air, the young Cordillera native decided to relate and roll with the punches.

The community program Jones had learned about in his town piqued his potential in martial arts. Such opportunities opened doors to local talents, just like his, in less recognized sports events to emphasize the diverse programs in sports of the country at large. Fortunately, his mother supported and insisted on allowing him to join the local initiative. 

Every step of his evolving potential in the discipline has been significant in his growth. Jones started immersing himself in basic movements and stance works that challenged his flexibility and balance. – things he admitted were not natural for him but were acquired from rigorous training.

Upon reaching college, Jones initially enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering program at Saint Louis University in Baguio, where he received a scholarship to support his education while dedicating significant time to honing his craft. By then, he had already advanced to "Taiji," a subset of the sport that involves senior-level techniques.  

All the while, a senior national Wushu team player, who happened to be a fellow Cordilleran, watched him perform and noticed something remarkable in the petite young man, inviting him to join the growing national team pool. From then on, Jones kept his opportunities growing, along with his consistent rise in the international Wushu scene. 

In an interview with Adamson News, Jones highlighted the importance of focus and balance to guarantee precise executions and mastery of movements in his every routine. He underscored how repetition of his practices allowed him to refine his techniques and improve mental discipline in performing his complex competition pieces. While these are all evident in his performances, these principles are also reflected in how he lives his life.

“Pag nire-repeat mo yung mga actions mo, kailangan may natutunan ka, nag-self-reflect ka kung saan ka pa nagkukulang. In life naman, parang ganun lang din na parang repetitions. Kunyari may mga decisions ka na kailangan gawin, kailangan i-replay mo na lang din yung mga magiging outcomes,” he emphasized.

 

Braving the road taken

Jones also had to face his dilemmas. When he had to transfer schools from Baguio to Manila, he revealed that the transition became a challenge, especially weighing his priorities between his engineering education and the grand opportunities that came his way being part of the national team.  

At a young age, he had already determined that career opportunities and personal growth were crucial in making decisions. Driven by his passion for the sport, he temporarily put his studies on hold to focus on training and honing his skills, all in pursuit of his established dream: winning medals on the international stage.

“Nag-training ako nang ilang taon para maging up to standard yung skills ko, and then that time, yung goal ko is gold. Mag-gold talaga sa mga multi-sport events kagaya ng Asian Games tapos yung mga world-level na mga palaro. Kaya tinuloy ko mag-training.”

His sacrifice manifested positive results when he bagged the silver medal Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in the Men's Taijijian event held in Pasay City on December 2, 2019. When asked what he believed matters most now as he journeys his roadmaps in life, he said finding a path where he can leave a mark of his existence and proof of his hard work had always been important to him. 

“[Kung] ano ‘yung magiging mark ko sa existence ko para gano'n, kaya pinili ko yung mag-national team. Kaya nagstop muna ako ng pag-aaral nang ilang taon,” he shared.

After his success at the South East Asian Games, he decided to enroll at Adamson University in the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering program. Once again, he had to juggle his commitments as a student and national team player, commuting to Adamson in Ermita and Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, where his training facility is situated. 

“Tinatry ko na lang po na kunin yung mga sa subject sa umaga na kayang i-enroll, and then sa afternoon kasi yun yung pinaka-important na training. [So], school sa umaga, tapos training sa hapon, kaya minsan ilang units nalang nakuhuha dito sa school para maka-focus doon sa training.”

Today, as a world champion, Jones looks forward to the future, remaining steadfast in inspiring fellow athletes and encouraging them to dare and believe in their own potential despite not having been significantly popular to spectators. 

“[Explore] other sports kahit hindi Wushu. Kahit ibang sports na hindi yung mainstream, i-discover nyo yung mga mga sports na kahit na hindi kilala pero pag na-try nyo tapos na-enjoy nyo,” he said.

“Try to pursue a higher standard para [kung sakali] makapag-compete ka sa mas mataas na competition parang nagiging mas fulfilling yung pakiramdam mo pag may napupuntahan yung mga efforts mo.”

Jones Inso is a living testament that persistence and hard work are stepping stones to achieve big dreams, no matter how far they may seem.