UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Generations Fund officials during the signing of MoU.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing body for the sport in the Emirates, and Generations Fund, a leading Chinese investment platform, have inked a partnership agreement for the promotion and popularisation of Jiu-jitsu in China.

The agreement will enable both sides to use jiu-jitsu as a platform for in-depth exchanges and cooperation between the UAE and China in the field of sports.

The agreement, which comes just as jiu-jitsu is being added to the official roster of events for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2025 Chengdu World Games, will contribute to the rise in popularity of jiu-jitsu in the People's Republic of China, particularly among young people. Both parties will collaboratively support the Chinese National Jiu-Jitsu Team (CNJJT) for the Asian Games in terms of its formation, training, and competitions.

The signing ceremony, held at Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Zayed Sports City, was attended by Abdul Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of UAEJJF, President of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union, and Senior Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, Tom Wang, Cofounder of Generations Fund, Mr Zhou Biao, the China Deputy Head of Mission to UAE, David Shi, Director of Development Committee for China Jiu-Jitsu Council, Andy Pi, Director of Coaching Committee, China Jiujitsu Council, and Tariq Al Bahri, Director of the Abu Dhabi Professional Jiu-Jitsu Association. Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the UAEJJF and Tom Wang signed the MoU.

Hashemi said the partnership with Generations Fund is consistent with Abu Dhabi’s reputation as the world jiu-jitsu capital and home of the Asian and International Jiu-Jitsu Federations.

“The UAEJJF, as a leading jiu-jitsu federation in the world, has been working to boost the sport’s popularity across the world by hosting several competitions of the finest quality and offering all the resources required for this purpose. Our collaboration with Generations Fund is our latest of such initiatives and will help to grow the sport in China. Our approach is to back any initiatives aimed at popularising and promoting the sport,” he said.

“Generations Fund are proud to be collaborating with UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for promoting jiu-jitsu in China. This initiative is in line with our commitment to the sustainable development of the 'Belt and Road' initiative, the ambitious global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013. We are looking forward to fruitful cooperation with the federation and looking forward to fostering a talented national team as well as a vibrant fan base,” Tom Wang, Cofounder of Generations Fund, said.

The agreement states that the UAEJJF will support the Chinese National Jiu-Jitsu Team by offering technical and documentary support at all levels, using UAEJJF coaches to train them, and supporting their participation in intensive training camps, UAE-based jiu-jitsu competitions, and international jiu-jitsu competitions held in the UAE.

The Federation will also dispatch officials and referees to support Chinese National Jiu-Jitsu Team selection trials and other relevant competitions during the training period and will see both parties cooperating in the development of jiu-jitsu across the provinces and autonomous regions and municipalities of China.

The MoU also states the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour (AJP) tournaments as well as professional and amateur jiu jitsu training seminars, workshops, courses, and referee and coach certification camps will be held across China.