Amin Abbas

ABU DHABI: The 15th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, commenced on Nov. 1 with a remarkable display of talent on show at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.

The championship runs from Nov. 1 to 10 and features the participation of an impressive 7,000 male and female athletes from 127 countries around the globe. It includes the following events: the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and the Para Jiu-Jitsu competitions, from Nov. 1 to 2, as well as the Youth, Amateur, and Masters competitions from Nov. 3 to 7.

The pinnacle of the event is the Professional category competitions, featuring athletes of purple to black belts from Nov. 8 to 10, followed by the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards ceremony on the 11th.

The first day of the championship was met with an impressive turnout, as jiu-jitsu fans, families, and friends of participants flocked in droves to set up an electrifying atmosphere inside the arena.

A host of exciting fights marked the start of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and showcased the best Jiu-Jitsu talent from around the world.

Participants on the first day included competitors from Kids 1 (4-5 years old), Kids 2 (6-7 years old), Kids 3 (8–9 years old), and Infant (10–11 years old, white belts) divisions, as well as para-jiu-jitsu players, representing various clubs and academies globally.

The competitions were attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif, the UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Abdel Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and President of the Asian Ju-Jitsu Union; Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee; Mohammed Haji El Khouri, Director-General of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation; Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director General, Al Ain Zoo; and a number of representatives of event sponsors and participating clubs and academies.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee, highlighted the unprecedented participation of thousands of children in the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival. Al Dhaheri emphasized that this significant turnout aligns with the Federation’s vision and goals for nurturing the future generation of jiu-jitsu talents.

“The competitions we witnessed today prove the tournament, in its 15th edition, continues to consolidate its position as a unique platform and cement the values of Jiu-Jitsu, represented by courage, patience, determination, will, persistence, and tolerance,” Al Dhaheri commented. 

“Para-jiu-jitsu competitions continue to empower people of determination and provide an inclusive environment that helps them grow, develop, and achieve their goals,” he added.

Ahmed Abdullah Al Muhairi, Director of Public Relations, Abu Dhabi Police (Traffic and Patrols Department), commented, “We are participating in the activities of the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship this year to spread traffic culture to all participants in this edition.” 

“By using artificial intelligence through a smart robot alongside the children’s patrol, we seek to instill traffic awareness among the participants and visitors of this tournament with the aim to protect all road users, maintain safety, and enhance their traffic culture,” he added.

Captain Abdullah Yousef Al-Buqaishi, from the General Department of Traffic Coordination in the Ministry of Interior, said, “We are pleased to participate in this tournament, which witnesses a large participation of children and an exceptional amount of enthusiasm and excitement.”

“I am pleased with the popularity of the sport of jiu-jitsu within the country and the great popularity it enjoys, thanks to the direction and support the wise leadership continues to give the sport and its athletes,” he continued.

British participant Justin Levene, a purple belt, expressed his happiness at achieving a gold medal in the Parajiu-Jitsu Men/K4 Heavyweight division. “The true victory is being part of this prestigious championship, despite many challenges,” he said. “Winning on the mat requires a lot of sacrifices and patience; essential lessons are learned from this noble sport.” 

Several parents of young athletes taking part in the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival also shared their immense happiness regarding their sons and daughters’ participation.

“The competitions showcase the tremendous efforts of the championship’s organizing committee in ensuring that exceptional tournaments continue to take place,” said Mubarak Abdullah Al-Mahri, the father of Abdullah Al Mahri, who competed in Boys/Kids 1/White/18lg/A Division. 

“My son was eagerly looking forward to the start of the tournament competitions and has prepared diligently for the tournament, both at the academy and at home. We are very proud of his achievements on the first day of the tournament,” he added.

Amira Ali, mother of Dana Al Hammadi, who competed in the Girls/Kids 3/Grey/25KG/B Division, praised the Federation’s ambitious plan to bring sports to every household in the region while creating the perfect environment for discovering and nurturing talents, saying, “My daughter has benefited significantly from the Federation’s programs, which strengthened her bond with sports and resulted in victory in today’s matches, earning a gold medal.”

Meanwhile, The Fitness District has officially opened again following its huge popularity in the 2022 championship’s edition. It includes an array of fitness-related hobbies, cultural elements, and a sports wellness area, while there will also be merchandise outlets and a wide selection of culinary delights.

The official opening ceremony of the championship will be held in Mubadala Arena on Nov. 2, which promises to be one of the most surprising elements of the tournament as it welcomes the world to Abu Dhabi and tells the story of jiu-jitsu and its development in the country.

Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival competitions will continue, with competitions for Junior, Teen, Youth athletes.