Summer camp to serve as perfect preparation for UAE Jiu-Jitsu stars

The UAE’s leading male jiu-jitsu athletes have begun fine tuning their preparations for a busy end to 2020 during the second summer training camp, organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing body for the sport in the Emirates, in Abu Dhabi.

The three-week camp, which runs until Aug.23 in collaboration with International Vision Investment Group (IVI) at the Armed Forces Club, is also providing a platform for aspiring young amateurs to pick up tips and advice from the country’s best fighters and guidance from the Federation’s leading coaches.

With the UAEJJF having announced intentions for the 2020 edition of the showpiece Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC) and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship to be held in November, the UAE national team coaches are using the camp to assess the technical levels of their athletes ahead of a pursuit of glory on the global stage at the Asian Beach Games and Asian Indoor Games.

Ramos Lemos, head coach of the UAE jiu-jitsu national team, said: “Many of our fighters have been training regularly since May and through this camp we can effectively measure their progress. The end of the year will be a busy time for the national team with a number of competitions and we are focusing on tailoring training schedules with an eye on the specific types of opponents that our fighters are expecting to face at the ADWPJJC 2020 and the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship.”

The camp has a healthy mix of more than 70 participants at varying stages of development in the sport and Lemos said the presence of seasoned fighters in the same group will greatly help young athletes just starting out in the sport.

“This camp is a great opportunity for young players to observe and interact with some of the best fighters in the country. It can serve as inspiration for youngsters to share a mat with some of the UAE’s biggest heroes. This is a chance to discover stars of the future, but most importantly to instill a passion for the sport from a young age.”

Mubarak Al Menhali, the technical director at the UAEJJF, added that the camp aligns with the Federation’s commitment to ensure the athletes are fully prepared for the ADWPJJC and a busy season.

He said: “We are keeping a close eye on the conditioning of our fighters. We want our fighters to stay fresh and ready for prestigious tournaments such as the ADWPJJC and for the national team’s commitments.

“The UAEJJF has facilitated the resumption of training for our athletes following the enforced break through these camps and competitions. We are committed to providing more such avenues for our athletes to make the most of their talent and bring glory to the nation on the international stage,” he added.

Last month, the UAEJJF organised the Vice President’s Cup at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The third and final round of the Vice President’s Cup, conducted in strict adherence to local and federal health protocols, brought an end to the 2019-2020 domestic season of the UAEJJF and saw enthusiastic participation of some of the top jiu-jitsu clubs in the UAE.

Fighters from Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club put on a string of sparkling performances, winning six gold medals and racking up 390 points to claim the Vice President’s Cup.

Al Ain club’s dominating performance saw them pull well clear of second-placed Al Jazira club who tallied 306 points while Al Wahda club finished third with 175 points.  

Al Wahda jiu-jitsu club also secured the title in the ‘juniors’ (under-18 years) category, scoring 466 points to best Al Ain jiu-jitsu club (460 points), and Al Jazira jiu-jitsu club (141 points).

Baniyas jiu-jitsu club held their own in the youth (under-21) category logging 555 points, trumping Al Ain jiu-jitsu club (454 points) and Al Wahda jiu-jitsu club (356 points).

Al Ain’s march to the Vice President’s Cup was spearheaded by gold medalists – Theyab Al Nuaimi (56 kg), Khalifa Al Nassrati (62 kg), Obaid Al Nuami (69 kg), Mohamed Al Qubaisi (77 kg), Mohamad Radhi (94 kg), and Hamad Al Noaimi (110 kg),  propelling the club up the points table.