DUBAI // Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Sergio Penha believes the rise in popularity of mixed martial arts in the Middle East is making the region a focal point for the sport.
The 52-year-old, who currently coaches mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters Stephan Bonnar, Steve Cantwell and Anthony Njokuani in Las Vegas, said: "The interest from people in the region has grown significantly and excellent masters setting up gyms here is helping in the rapid growth of the sport."
Penha is one of only a handful of Jiu-Jitsu masters to be awarded a red and black belt - the sport's second-highest honour - and the only known practitioner to have skipped over a brown belt to be promoted to black belt.
After being a black belt for 31 years, he was awarded a red and black belt on June 7 at the 2010 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship.
Penha arrived in the UAE recently to attend the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup 2011, which will be held in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from tomorrow until Saturday.
The world cup is the sport's richest annual event, with a total prize fund of US$1 million (Dh3.6m).
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was derived from Japanese martial arts by two brothers in Rio de Janeiro, Helio and Carlos Gracie.
Carlos Gracie was taught the art by a visiting Japanese Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and Kodokan Judo master, Mitsuyo Maeda. Carlos went on to teach his brothers the sport and develop the Brazilian style.
Since the 1960s, the sport has been used in military and security training, for self-defence training and in MMA training.
The sport rose to prominence in the early 1990s after Royce Gracie - the son of Helio - used the fighting style to win the first, second and fourth Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). UFC is a televised MMA tournament in which competitors face off in a cage with no rules of engagement, save a ban on biting and eye-gouging.
"UFC and MMA helped Jiu-Jitsu a lot," said Penha. "All MMA champions know Jiu-Jitsu, and this helped make the sport more popular."
"You cannot be a kickboxer or a karate professional and survive in the cage with only the knowledge of these sports - you need Jiu-Jitsu to be able to compete and win in MMA fights," he said.
Tam Khan, a professional MMA instructor and the pioneer of the UAE's first MMA training centre, Contender MMA, backed up Penha's claims about the growth of the sport in the region.
"When I first started three years ago, it was me and two others who were training," said Mr Khan. "After UFC started being broadcast on television, interest grew rapidly. We hosted Royce Gracie to conduct a training seminar and from three, the class exploded to 150," he said.
On Monday, Penha addressed a group of more than 30 students at the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Centre about the different techniques and styles of the sport.
"My teacher was taught by Sergio Penha and this is an incredible opportunity to let students meet a true legend of the sport," said former world champion Rafael Haubert, master at the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Centre.
Haubert's centre opened a year ago. "I want to introduce this sport and expand its base in the country. It is a great and healthy sport," he said.
amustafa@thenational.ae
Sheikh Zayed's son shows an interest
Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts enthusiasts can count themselves in good company. The Abu Dhabi Combat Club was founded by the son of Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, after he was introduced to MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during a trip to the US.
The club meets on Al Saada West Street in the capital (www.adcombat.com).
In Dubai, Jiu-Jitsu classes are offered at the World Black Belts Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road (04 343 4397) and at Art of Power in Al Hana Centre, Satwa (04 398 9812).
Haubert’s Emirate’s Jiu-Jitsu Centre is in Al Barsha, near Mall of the Emirates (04 447 5120) and Tam Khan’s Contender MMA gym is in the Giordano Building on Sheikh Zayed Road (04 346 9990).
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
The specs: 2018 Genesis G70
Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
