UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation eases coronavirus measures as national team returns to training camp

Senior team members and age group athletes will train twice per day after the federation took the decision to open the floor

Faisal Al Ketbi, bottom, is one of the UAE national team's leading jiu-jitsustars. Courtesy Action Group

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) became the first national sporting body to reduce coronavirus lockdown restrictions after resuming training for the national team at the Mubadala Arena on Saturday.

The 70-strong camp included core senior team members and age group athletes. They will continue training twice per day after the federation took the decision to open the floor.

According to Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, chairman of the UAEJJF, the federation arrived at the decision to resume the training camp following a video conference with board members last week.

“We have followed the UAE government’s directives to take every precaution to resume our training activities with a camp for the national team members before we open the floor to the rest of the jiu-jitsu community in the country,” he said.

Al Hashemi had earlier announced that the 12th Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship, the highlight of the UAEJJF's international calendar, will take place in November.

“We came to that conclusion after consultation with the health and other relevant authorities,” he said. “We are already working with the local authorities also to make it possible to schedule local, regional, national and international events as soon as possible.”

Ramon Lemos, the head coach of the national team, was naturally delighted to have his squads back in training, but insisted combating the virus on all fronts remains the biggest challenge.

"We have to combat the coronavirus first and hopefully that will be behind us soon," the Brazilian told The National. "I always believe in having my squad to be ready to compete at any time when they are asked to do so. Thinking on those lines, I'm glad we started this training camp.

“I’m not sure when the coronavirus will come completely under control and how soon the competitions can resume, but we have a November date to prepare the team for the Abu Dhabi World Pro.”

It is the first time the national team squads gathered after the spread of the Covid-19 in mid-March.

“The training is taking place under the guidelines provided by the health authorities,” Lemos said. “The training sessions are twice a day. We took the seniors as well as all age groups for this camp and I’ll have eight other coaches assisting.

“The entire squad are from the high performance squads and they know their drills perfectly well.

“We have been in touch with everyone in the team during the lockdown and we have done a lot of work remotely but it’s very hard to train that way and expect them to be in shape for competitions.”

Faisal Al Ketbi, who served as a volunteer section leader at one of the Covid-19 test centres in Abu Dhabi for more than a month, said all athletes in the camp underwent a test before joining the camp.

“It is nice to be back in training, which we all have been looking forward to, and more importantly it gives us hopes that life is getting back to normal,” said the UAE's most decorated jiu-jitsu fighter.

“Health and safety is always a priority and our federation has taken all precautionary steps to create a safe environment for our training.

“All athletes and the technical staff had to complete the Covid-19 tests and cleared by the health authority before they were included for the camp.”

Lemos, 40, is humbled by the support of the UAEJJF and the country’s jiu-jitsu community in helping drive the martial art sport and transform Abu Dhabi into the global home of jiu-jitsu.

“I love the UAE for all that they have done for the sport,” he said. “All of us are extremely grateful for the time and resources that the UAE and the UAEJJF have invested in elevating the country’s standing on the global jiu-jitsu stage.

“When you know that your efforts will be supported, you tend to go the extra mile and work a little harder to bring constant success.

“The UAEJJF’s goal is to construct a programme that invests heavily in the constant development of athletes and to introduce growing levels of professionalism in the UAE Jiu-Jitsu team’s fighters.”