AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu C’ship kicks off in Abu Dhabi today

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) completed preparations for the launch of the AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The event will kick off on Sept.13 and run until Sept.15, featuring more than 1,700 athletes from over 50 countries, competing across youth, amateur, professional, and master divisions.

The championship is one of the most significant events in the local sports calendar, offering athletes the chance to test their skills and improve their performance ahead of upcoming competitions, especially the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in November.

Youssef Abdullah Al-Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, highlighted that this championship is crucial for athletes to assess their performance as they compete against world-class competitors.

Al Batran said: “The collaboration between the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro has consistently produced some of the most exciting tournaments, attracting the best athletes in the sport. These tournaments provide opportunities for athletes to shine on the global stage, showcase their talents, and experience the unique atmosphere that Abu Dhabi offers.”

“Competing in these tournaments is essential for champions, as it earns them ranking points and brings them closer to securing travel packages for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and increasing their chances of recognition at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-JitsuAwards.” added Al Batran.

Rodrigo Valerio, Operations Manager at Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), commented on tomorrow’s Asia Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, saying: “This championship is an important opportunity for athletes aiming to boost their international rankings. The winner of each category will earn 1,400 ranking points, bringing them closer to the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards.”

Brazilian athlete Yuri Hendricks, ranked fourth globally in the black belt category, commented on his participation, saying: “This championship is a valuable opportunity for us to test our abilities against the best. I’ve trained intensively over the past few weeks and am ready for the challenge. Competing in Abu Dhabi gives me a boost, as this city is now a global center for jiu-jitsu. Our goal is to win and reach the podium, and I’m determined to give my all.”

Emirati athlete Marwa Al Housani, ranked number one in the brown/black belt category in Asia and the Middle East, highlighted the importance of such tournaments: “Every competition is an opportunity to learn and develop. This championship is important for me to gauge my readiness for upcoming events, particularly the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. I am grateful to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for their support, which helps us perform at our best and achieve success.”

The championship will feature three days of competition, starting tomorrow with the youth division, followed by the amateur and master divisions on Saturday, and concluding on Sunday with the professional category.

Meanwhile, UAE clubs put up a stellar performance at the recently-concluded AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

On the final day of the event, which featured both amateur and professional divisions, Commando Group secured second place, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took third.

This year’s championship saw participation from 74 clubs and academies from around the world, up from 64 last year.

On the final day alone, 310 male and female athletes competed. The third day’s events were attended by a host of dignitaries, including Youssef Abdullah Al Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Mohamed Hussain Al Marzooqi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, UAEJJF; Ali Omar Al Balushi, Director of Sports Events at Dubai Sports Council; and Ahmed Al Janahi, Chief Events Implementation Officer at the Dubai Sports Council.

Al Batran congratulated the winners of the championship. He said: “This round of the AJP Tour Dubai International Jiu-Jitsu Championship has been a great success.