ABU DHABI 11 April 2018: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) has revealed details of the 10th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Lasting 13 days, the 10th edition of the Championship will bring together the world’s leading professional athletes, including Adolf Kaure and Ruben Lemos from Africa, Youngam Noh and Joao Carlos from Asia, Krzysztof Flak and Adam Rardzinski from Europe, Matthew Leighton and Jonathan Satava from North America, Lachlan Giles and Ben Hodgkinson from Australia, and Igor Silva and Jose Lima from South America.
The Championship will be held from April 16 to 28 at the Mubadala Arena, Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, with total cash prizes exceeding AED 4 million.
More than 9,000 male and female athletes have registered for the Championship, including 6,400 participants in the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival from April 16 to 21.
Some 1,500 athletes are set to participate in the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship on April 22 and 23, with another 1,500 registered for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held between April 24 and 28.
Bronze Jubilee
The bronze jubilee of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship builds on the local and international success of its nine previous editions. Coinciding with the Year of Zayed, the bronze jubilee represents an opportunity for the UAEJJF to reaffirm its commitment to the principles and values of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in line with his guidance for building a strong generation.
‘Champion Within’ Initiative
As part of the championship’s promotional campaign this year, the UAEJJF launched the ‘Champion Within’ initiative, aimed at motivating youth to embrace their talents and strengthen their self-determination as they unleash their inner champion. ‘Champion Within’ seeks to instill the UAEJJF’s values, such as discipline and positive behavior. The initiative is also based on the core values of the Year of Zayed, combining respect and the development of human capabilities in all areas.
King of Mats – Championship exclusive
The King of the Mat is a new addition to the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, taking place on the event’s official opening ceremony day on April 24. Champions of the last nine editions will compete for the title and the chance to win prizes up to USD 200,000.
As one of the highlights of the Championship, this competition will include big names such as Tiago Bravo and Leonardo Saggioro from the lightweight category, Tanner Rice and Clark Gracie from the middleweight category and Alexander Trans and Andre Campos from the heavyweight category.
Program and Events
The 10th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship will include the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival, running from 16 to 21 April. The festival will be dedicated to a number of age categories, including under-18, as well as a white belt category for adults and the master 3 and 4 classes in all belt colors in addition to Parajiu-jitsu category. April 16 has been allocated to the UAE National Service (NSR), with April 17 set for the Armed Forces and April 18 and 19 for schools.
The Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Youth Championship will be held from April 22 and 23, while the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship kicks off on April 24 with a big opening ceremony, accompanied by the King of Mats competitions, continuing until April 27. The World Championship will be followed by the final round of the black and brown belts, which will be held on April 28 at the end of the event. The tenth edition will then come to an end on April 29 with the Abu Dhabi World Award ceremony.
The championship will be held at Mubadala Arena with free admission, and spectators will have the opportunity to experience the festivities program accompanying the championship, including a dazzling opening ceremony, prize giveaways and live shows. The Championship will also include a variety of diverse social activities and sports education initiatives, stemming from the UAEJJF’s ongoing social responsibility.
The Championship is considered a global destination for all Jiu-Jitsu and sports enthusiasts. It is also an entertainment and educational destination for families and individuals to enjoy various events and activities, complete with children’s play area and entertainment facilities.
Partnership Agreement
The Ministry of the Interior and UAEJJF signed a three-year strategic partnership agreement that sees Ministry sponsor all UAEJJF local championships, including Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championships.
This agreement reflects both parties’ goals of cooperation to provide a sporting environment that allows citizens to ensure their continuous achievements at all levels. It also works to build a generation capable of preserving the past and securing a bright future, all while developing a healthy environment and lifestyle.
Abu Dhabi Sports Dedicates its Second Channel
Abu Dhabi Sports Channel announced it will dedicate its second channel entirely to cover the events of the championship until the end of April, as part of its commitment to showcasing important local, regional, and international sporting events. These sporting broadcasts use the latest world-class broadcast technologies, highlighting the infrastructural and technical capabilities of the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Sports 2 will provide live coverage of the Championship, including high-level commentary from analysis studios throughout activities. In addition, documentaries, special features and interviews will be aired throughout the month.
Further information on news and developments related to the Championship and athletes can be found on the official Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship app available for Android and iOS.
Athletes from local clubs conclude spring training camp
The UAEJJF recently announced that athletes from local clubs successfully completed a nine-day spring training camp held from March 28 to April 5. With 30 participants taking part in the intensive preparations for the Championship, camp activities focused on developing techniques and skills, as well as improving strength and fitness.
The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship will see considerable local participation, featuring UAE’s top Jiu-Jitsu athletes. Among them is world champion Faisal Al Ketbi. Competitors also include members of the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu team, such as Taleb Al Kerbi, Obaid Al Kaabi, Mosbeh Al Katheri, Abdulla Al Jonaibi, Omar Al Mesmari, Mohammed Al Ameri, Hamdan Al Baloushi, Sultan Al Ali, Mariam Al Ameri, Zahraa Al Hashemi, along with former champion Khalifa Mohammad taking part in the Para Jiu-Jitsu championship.
Strategic Partnerships
The UAEJJF enjoys strong strategic partnerships that have allowed the sport to grow in the UAE, with cooperation taking place across various sectors. These partnerships reinforce the sport’s position within UAE society and contribute to the success of major global Jiu-Jitsu events, such as this Championship.
The Championship is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Media is the official media sponsor. Sponsors also include strategic partner Palms Sports; Emaar Properties, the premier developer of integrated modern communities; Etihad Airways as the official carrier; Premier Motors from Al Tayer Group; the Land Rover dealership as the official dealership’ Abu Dhabi Sports as the official sports channel while Sky News Arabia as the event’s media partner; Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is the event’s diamond partner and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is energy partner; and the Ministry of Interior as Government Partner.
Gold partners are: the Abu Dhabi Autonomous System Investment (ADASI), Al Masood Group, Emirates International Aluminum Company, Dolphin Energy, Cavallo (Louzan Fashion), Afaq Islamic Finance, Tourism and Culture Department, and the support partners Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), and silver partners Al Khajah Group, United Al Saqer Group, Senaat General Holding Corporation, Tawazen Holding, LuLu Group International, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) as safety partner.