Amin Abbas

ABU DHABI: The 15th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship had an unforgettable opening ceremony on Thursday, with Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary General of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations, calling the two-day festival a “global carnival par excellence.”

“Allocating the first two days of the Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship to the festival competitions underscores the UAEJJF’s commitment to investing in future generations. This championship is a meeting place for the most promising talents from the new generation of jiu-jitsu athletes. It provides an ideal platform for them to both develop their skills in front of an audience and compete on a world stage,” said Al Shamsi.

Moreover, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed attended the ceremony at the Mubadala Arena and met with young athletes who are competing across youth, professional, masters, and para-jiu-jitsu categories. He praised the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the event organizers, for providing a platform from which to promote jiu-jitsu and for implementing programs to develop the sport and nurture emerging talent.

The second day of the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival provided a glimpse of the sport’s future as competitions across the Junior, Teen, and Youth categories took center stage inside the UAE capital’s Mubadala Arena as part of the 15th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

With nine mats laid out inside the venue, Abu Dhabi once again proved an ideal host for such a well-supported international jiu-jitsu event, with enthusiastic fans passionately cheering on their friends, family, and favorite athletes.

Dana Asaad Alnaqbi of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club, who took first place in the Girls Gi /Junior /White /63kg division, said she was proud of her victory, calling it “a very important milestone in my career.”

“It gives me more confidence in my skills and is a motivation to continue my training to achieve my ambitions and establish a professional career,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Borys Pisarek from Poland, representing Checkmate International and winner in the Boys Gi / Junior/ White/ 55kg division,  said regarding his victory, “I’m so pleased to win and get the gold medal. It was a joyous moment as my family members were present to see me win.”

“Perhaps what most distinguishes the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is the continuous improvement we see year after year. In every participation, I find new and amazing things here,” he added. 

Ashok Kumar, the father of Jishnu Kumar, a participant in the Youth 94kg category, was thrilled that his son was participating in the championship. “This is one of the biggest jiu-jitsu championships in the world, and I’m truly delighted to witness the vibrant atmosphere here,” he said.

“I’ve made a decision that I will make every effort not to miss any competition organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation. I appreciate the way they organize events, especially the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, as it brings the entire Jiu-Jitsu community together in one place,” he added.

Estonian Marina Hoepfl, mother of Francisco Macedo, who is competing in the Youth 34kg category, added, “I am pleasantly surprised by the exceptional organization. There are various kids’ entertainment options outside the arena, plenty of engaging activities, and food trucks… it is fantastic and particularly enjoyable for children.”

The 15th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is taking place until Nov. 10, bringing together around 7,000 male and female athletes from 127 countries.