Strong turnout confirmed for Al Ain International Pro Jiu-Jitsu C’ship

Elite jiu-jitsu athletes from 45 different countries including Brazil, Colombia and Russia are gearing up to take part in the sixth edition of the Al Ain International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship which takes place on Oct.18 at Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium (KBZS) in Al Ain.

The tournament, which is part of the UAEJJF World Ranking and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Qualifying Series, is open to all nationalities and all belts, with different weight classes to contest for juveniles (over 16) and adults (Over 18) through to Masters (Over 30).

Falling one month before the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held in Abu Dhabi on Nov.16, the Al Ain tournament is an important date on the UAE calendar, offering local athletes a platform to perform and hone their skills ahead of the big tournament.  A strong regional presence will also be bringing their skills to the mat with entries from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon.

Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The organization of the championship is in line with the objectives and vision of the UAEJJF to expand the spread of jiu-jitsu within the country and beyond, spreading the noble values inherent in this sport and enhance its presence in the society.

“The popularity of this tournament, both in terms of players and fans, is increasing on a yearly basis, which reflects the growing interest in the sport. We would like to thank Al Ain for its continuous cooperation with the federation in creating a suitable environment for the growth and development of jiu-jitsu players and hosting tournaments that attract the elite stars of the game,” he added.

“Al Ain has always played a pivotal role in building the global jiu-jitsu stars who represent the future of the country, training players to the highest international standards, and creating the perfect environment to develop their performance and skills and record their strong presence in various local and international events.”

Al Ain International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship will welcome a number of UAE stars, most notably Hamdan Ahmed Alblooshi, a black belt holder and the winner of the UAE Player of the Year in the violet belt category for the 2017-2018 season, and Sultan Al Ali, the brown belt holder and bronze medal winner at the 4th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, held in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar in July. The tournament also welcomes a number of established international players including the Brazilian black belt holders Yuri Ribeiro and Igor Silva, recognized as the best jiu-jitsu athlete in South America for the 2017-2018 season.

The UAEJJF is thankful for the steadfast support of the sponsors and supporters of local and international Jiu-Jitsu championship.

Meanwhile, the 6th edition of the Fujairah International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship was the latest event on the 2019-2020 UAE Jiu-Jitsu to witness strong competition and high levels of technical ability with athletes from numerous nationalities representing 54 local, regional and international clubs, held at the Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah.

With clubs and athletes taking to the mats to improve their early-season rankings, Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club topped the leaderboard in Fujairah at the weekend with 2,300 points.

Abu Dhabi-based Commando Group came in second with 1,745 points and Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in third place with 1,260 points. The action-packed one-day championship was attended by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi, President of the Emirati Federation for Body Building and Physical Strength; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi; Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Self Defence Sports Club; Brigadier Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, Executive Director of the Fujairah Martial Arts Club; and Abdullah Ali Al Dhanhani, Director of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank - Fujairah Branch.

With technical excellence and competitive spirit on display, the 6th edition of the Fujairah International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship was a good barometer for the UAE players as the season gathers momentum.

“The unwavering support of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Bin Muhammad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and his generous sponsorship of the championship continues to make the Fujairah International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship making an important event on the international jiu-jitsu circuit, attracting the most prominent players from the region and the world,” said Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAEJJF.