ABU DHABI // The seventh edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship will witness more competitors than ever with nearly 4,000 taking part over six days.
The numbers do not lie. Jiu-jitsu is fast becoming one of the UAE’s most popular sports.
Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, chief executive of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) and general secretary of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union (JJAU), has been ideally placed to witness the development of the sport in the UAE and the growing demand from the world’s finest practitioners to take part in the Abu Dhabi competition.
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“More than 100 countries took part in the qualification for the tournament, players from 86 countries will take part here,” Al Shamsi said. “Some of the most important players will take part in the black belt; the top 10 in the world, as well as the top players from here in the Emirates.”
The first three days will of competition will see almost 1,000 girls take part in the Abu Dhabi Children’s World Cup, 968 of them Emirati.
The senior competition, with more than 1,500 entries, takes place from Thursday to Saturday.
The tournament has grown to become one of the highlights on the international jiu-jitsu calendar.
“It’s an important tournament for the jiu-jitsu family around the world,” Al Shamsi said. “There will be representatives from the JJ International federation and European association, as well as the Asian one. There is a high level of investment in the organisation and refereeing.
“It’s the most important tournament in the world.”
Al Shamsi estimates that by 2020 100,000 Emiratis will be taking part in the martial art that offers myriad benefits.
“It’s a sport that has direct influence on the participants, in terms of health, mental strength, self-belief, discipline and, of course, in sporting terms,” Al Shamsi said. “It’s about investing in yourself, in all these aspects that you might not get in other sports. The competitive side is important of course but it should be coupled with the principals and morals of the sport.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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