Baniyas lead Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship on day one

Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club took the lead on the opening day of the first round of the second edition of the Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. M.O.D UAE followed in second place, with Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club securing third.

The first day of the championship attracted a large audience of martial arts enthusiasts and families, who enjoyed not only the thrilling competitions but also the accompanying entertainment and cultural activities.

The day featured competitions in the adult, masters, and youth (under 18) categories, drawing hundreds of athletes from various clubs and academies across the country. These athletes showcased exceptional skills and high-level performances as they competed to earn maximum points and take the first step toward the championship title.

The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Sheikh Khalifa Bin Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Sara Awadh Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge; Saif Bader Al Qubaisi, Director General of Abu Dhabi City Municipality; Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Mohammed Bin Dalmouk Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation.

Other attendees included Dr Saif Saeed Al Qubaisi, Acting Director General of Regulatory Affairs at the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi; Prof Ebrahim Al Hajri, President of Khalifa University; Salem Saeed Al-Saeedi, Vice President of Rabdan Academy; Ali Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of Tadweer Group; Dr. Abdulla Al Ghafli, Acting Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre; and Omar Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of TAQA’s Transmission & Distribution business.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship is a significant milestone in the Federation’s efforts to promote the sport locally, across the continent, and internationally. It reflects our commitment to achieving excellence in all we do. This championship highlights the continued support of our wise leadership for jiu-jitsu, a sport that instils discipline, courage, and self-confidence in our younger generations. This first round marks the beginning of a promising journey, filled with aspirations to reach new heights of achievement.”

He added: “The championship aligns with the Federation’s strategy to develop jiu-jitsu and strengthen its role in fostering a healthy, cohesive society. Our goal is to establish a sustainable sporting legacy for future generations by organising events that meet international standards.”

The tournament’s unique ranking system ensures equality among all players, awarding points for outstanding performances while also considering factors such as strategy, techniques, and skills. This system motivates athletes to continuously refine their abilities and innovate their approaches.

Jefferson Cordero, coach at M.O.D Academy, added: “Our team, consisting of around 145 athletes, is proud to participate in this prestigious tournament, which features a high level of competition. It provides our team with an excellent opportunity to test the players’ capabilities. We are delighted with our team’s performance and success in securing outstanding results, adding more medals to the club’s tally, and earning points that bring us closer to winning the tournament prize.”

Tareq Al Zaabi, an M.O.D Academy athlete who won the gold medal in the masters category (brown/black belt) under kg, said: “It is an honour to win the gold medal in this tournament, which carries a name so dear to us. I am determined to maintain this level of performance and achieve even more in future competitions. Over the past period, I have been focused on training hard to secure this victory and contribute to our academy’s success in earning the highest points as we strive for the title.”