Samantha Cook has said more European jiu-jitsu fighters will head to the UAE following her success at Grand Slam Abu Dhabi over the weekend.
The Englishwoman, along with Germany’s Charlotte von Baumgarten, broke the stranglehold Brazilians have over the martial art in the capital when they clinched gold medals at the two-day event, which concluded on Saturday at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.
Cook and Von Baumgarten won the women’s 90-kilogram and 62kg weight divisions, respectively - feats the former said would open the doors for more fighters, particularly from the United Kingdom.
“It’s incredible feeling to come here for only the second time and return with a gold medal,” Cook said after victory over the Brazilian Thamara Silva by submission in the final gave the Londoner her first title outside the UK.
“I have been here for the Abu Dhabi World Pro in 2015 after qualifying through the trials in the UK but couldn’t make it to the medal rounds," she added.
"I thought I’ll make another trip and very glad I did."
Cook pointed out the competitions in Abu Dhabi were beginning to reveal they were not necessarily dominated by the Brazilians.
“People from Europe are trying to come over because they know this is the best place to come, as it brings the top competitors from around the world to compete,” she said.
“Now the balance is tipped [after her gold], and hopefully more people from Europe will be coming in to compete here.”
Cook is not a full-time fighter but she finds the time to train from her day job as a physiotherapist.
“I have been in jiu-jitsu for nine years,” she said. “I started in judo as a young kid and then switched to showjumping competitively before taking up jiu-jitsu, which I want to pursue as long as possible."
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Cook said even though she was 30, she felt she could go on for at least two more years with the help of some rigorous training to remain competitive at this level.
"I’m still happy to fight girls who are 10 years younger to me," she added. “My body will tell me when to quit, but at the moment and with the success I have just had at Grand Slam Abu Dhabi, I want to enjoy it a bit more.
"Perhaps, coaching is another option.”
Cook also said she saw jiu-jitsu as a fast-growing sport that was increasingly popular in the UK.
“I’m based in London and I see quite a lot of jiu-jitsu schools,” she continued. “It’s still a part-time culture at the moment with not many pursuing it full time. But it’s growing."
Grand Slam London in March is one of the most popular jiu-jitsu events in the UK, and Cook said it would serve as a roadshow for the Abu Dhabi World Pro.
“The competitions like the Grand Slams are encouraging us to take the sport more seriously and find us the time to take part in competitions outside the UK,” she said.
“I have only taken part in the last two Grand Slams in London, and my preparation begins for a third appearance when I return to base.
“It’s hard to find the time when you have a day job but when you have the discipline you will find the time. It also means lots of sacrifices but that’s the joy in sports, preparing for competitions.”
Von Baumgarten stunned Larissa Paes, the Brazilian world No 1, by points 5-0 in the semi-finals. She then went on to take the gold medal from a second Brazilian - world No 10 Nadia Melo - on advantage points following a scoreless deadlock in the six-minute final.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE
Engine: 1.8 litre combined with 16-volt electric motors
Transmission: Automatic with manual shifting mode
Power: 121hp
Torque: 142Nm
Price: Dh95,900
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
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