The numbers prove it: Emirati girls are embracing jiu-jitsu

Opening day of the Abu Dhabi Children’s World Cup 2015 last week at the IPIC Arena was noticeable for the fact there were 968 Emirati girls out of an entry of 995 competing across all three days, reports Maryam Al Shamsi.

Reem Rashid al Falahi (in blue) from UAE fights Lauren Martin from USA in female white blue juvenile 61.5 kilograms final at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jui-Jitsu Championship 2015 at IPIC Arena, Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The NationalShow less

ABU DHABI // There is no doubt, on statistics alone, that jiu-jitsu is a sport on the rise in the UAE, particularly among Emirati girls.

The opening day of the Abu Dhabi Children’s World Cup 2015 last week at the IPIC Arena was noticeable for the fact there were 968 Emirati girls out of an entry of 995 competing across all three days.

They aspire to progress to the adult competitions in the future. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed was among the UAE’s female competitors to impress on Friday at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship as she took silver in the women’s 75-plus kilogramme competition.

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Sheikha Maitha believes the future of the sport is well set, and believes the country can become a conveyer belt for future female jiu-jitsu fighters to develop.

“In jiu-jitsu we are very fortunate to have the best coaches and have the best athletes in the country and best facilities; everything is provided for them to reach their fullest potential,” she said.

“So we have to take full advantage of it.

“All other sports, they have to struggle, they have to leave the country. They have to find training and to find training here for jiu-jitsu, I think it’s solid. It has a very solid base here.”

Among the newcomers who took part in the adult competition was Khadija Sultan Al Meqbaali, 22, who picked up a bronze in the +75kg white belt, and she also believes that the future is exciting for the younger generation.

“I see a lot of potential in the younger girls,” she said. “That is because they are starting this sports at a young age, they are growing up strongly winning gold medals.

“The fact that they are starting at a young age, they begin to learn the techniques in schools or out of schools.”

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