Jiu-jitsu athletes arrive in Al Ain

abu dhabi — Elite jiu-jitsu athletes from 45 different countries including Brazil, Colombia and Russia are gearing up to take part in the sixth edition of the Al Ain International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship which takes place on Friday at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium (KBZS) in Al Ain.

The tournament, which is part of the UAEJJF World Ranking and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Qualifying Series, is open to all nationalities and all belts, with different weight classes to contest for juveniles (over 16) and adults (over 18) through to Masters (over 30).

Falling one month before the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held in Abu Dhabi on November 16, the Al Ain tournament is an important date on the UAE calendar, offering local athletes a platform to perform and hone their skills ahead of the big tournament. A strong regional presence will also be bringing their skills to the mat with entries from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon.

Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The organisation of the championship is in line with the objectives and vision of the UAEJJF to expand the spread of jiu-jitsu within the country and beyond, spreading the noble values inherent in this sport and enhance its presence in the society. “The popularity of this tournament, both in terms of players and fans, is increasing on a yearly basis, which reflects the growing interest in the sport.”