Optimistic Jiu-Jitsu stars ready for UAE’s ‘most intensive’ new season

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

As the start of the new UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) season approaches, the preparations of the country’s top athletes are well underway in the quest to maintain recent international success.

Emirati athletes have been undertaking intensive training programmes supervised by technical staff from the national team, as well as local academies and clubs, said national team coach Ramon Lemos.

The upcoming season, which starts on February 12, promises to be another busy one for the UAE’s top athletes as they prepare to compete in major international tournaments, including July’s World Games in the US, September’s Asian Games in China, October’s Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in the UAE capital, and November’s Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship.

Lemos, the UAE national team’s Brazilian coach, welcomed the new calendar, which features a mix of local and international tournaments.

“We are starting the new season at a point where we will need a lot of physical training, technical sessions, and mental and psychological work to refine and grow our champions,” he said.

“The technical staff of the national team and coaches of state-level clubs and academies are eager to keep ahead of the latest international training practices developing daily. They also want to adopt high-efficiency physical training programmes that can improve their flexibility, speed, balance, and focus in the heat of competition.”

Lemos also thanked the UAEJJF for its planning and efforts in designing tournaments that can genuinely contribute to improving the overall level of competitions, as well as expanding the base of participants, which will help players and clubs improve their rankings. The national team's success in achieving impressive results over the past few years, as well as the emergence of several young talents, requires them to put in more effort and work diligently to maintain that level, he added.

Mahdi Al-Awlaki, who represents the national team and Baniyas club, was in complete agreement, revealing that preparations for the upcoming season are already in full swing.

“The players did not stop practising throughout the off-season,” he said. “We understand the importance of remaining fully prepared and physically fit, especially given the busy schedules of local and international events. Fans have great hopes for us players as well, so there is a responsibility there too."

Theyab Al Nuaimi, the national team's emerging star and gold medallist at the recent Asian Championship, noted the competitiveness of this year’s calendar. His focus, he noted, will be on some local competitions and the team's external involvement. His heart is set on winning gold at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the Asian Games, as well as helping cement the UAE’s position as a global leader in jiu-jitsu.

Elsewhere, female practitioner Shamma Al Kalbani of Palms Academy Team 777, said she is proud that the new season's calendar provides equal prospects for growth, advancement, and achievement. "We would like to express our gratitude to the UAEJJF for providing an ideal atmosphere for UAE girls to reach their goals in this sport,” she said. “We are looking forward to excelling locally as a foundation for representing the national team and advancing to podiums at international events.”