UAE Jiu-Jitsu team off to Los Angeles

abu dhabi — An 11 member Jiu-Jitsu squad will be representing the UAE at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Los Angeles. The tournament will be held from September 3 – 4, 2016.

Commenting on the national team’s participation, Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation said: “We are extremely proud of our national team and Emirati players who have put in extensive work and dedication to raise the bar of the local Jiu-Jitsu scene in a global arena. Today, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam proves to be the most prestigious Jiu-Jitsu championship series in the world and is an ideal platform for the UAE team to evolve and secure a commendable position in the global ranking.”

Al Hashemi added, “We are confident that our national team will demonstrate a very high skill level and supreme professionalism underscoring Abu Dhabi’s aim to become the Jiu-Jitsu capital in the world.”

The Grand Slam tour will have its own world ranking and an increased prize value of over Dh550,000. In addition to the UAE national team, around 1,000 players from global Jiu-Jitsu academies will be participating in the tournament in Abu Dhabi.

The first leg in LA will offer over $100,000 in cash prize and Black Belt Adult GI winners will receive complimentary flight ticket to the Grand Slam event in Abu Dhabi in January 2017.

Medals will be awarded for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each division. Prize money awarded will range from $500 to $2,000 in several categories, including juvenile, adult and masters, from blue, purple, brown and black categories for both men and women. The first-place winner in the respective weight categories of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam will receive 200 points. The secondplace winner will receive 160 points and the third-place winner will receive 120 points.