ABU DHABI // David Elliott has not kept count of the number of victories he has recorded in jiu-jitsu, but he does know that he is yet to be defeated since he took up the sport three years ago.
The Canadian, 13, added another medal to his collection when he clinched the 54.5-kilogram yellow-belt division in the Abu Dhabi Junior World Championships at the FGB Arena at the Zayed Sports City Tuesday.
Elliott – who trains in California under the famous Mendes brothers, Rafael and Guilherme – arrived with his mother, Deanne, in Abu Dhabi after he won a trial in New York.
“I have been living in California for a while and when I heard of this trial to qualify for Abu Dhabi, I took part,” he said.
Elliott won gold medals at the Pan-Am in New York and the Kids World in California before arriving in Abu Dhabi.
“They were very hard because I had five fights in the Pan-Am and four in the Kids World,” he said.
“Here, I had only two fights in my division, so it was relatively easier for me.”
Elliott, like several hundred other youngsters who were competing on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Junior World Championship, wants to turn his hobby into a career.
“The school I attended in Canada had jiu-jitsu,” he said.
“I was in to karate but didn’t like it much, so I switched to jiu-jitsu.
“I haven’t kept a count on the number of competitions I have won but I have never lost any fights so far.
“I have already made up my mind to pursue a full-time career in jiu-jitsu.”
Today's second day will see the junior girls in action with competition in the World Professional Championship that has a purse of Dh1.6million, beginning Thursday through to Saturday.
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