Competition begins at 15th Abu Dhabi Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships

ABU DHABI: The 15th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship began on Wednesday night at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.

The championship, held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, will run until Nov. 10.

Action on the first day included competitors in the Kids 1 category (4-5 age group), Kids 2 (6-7), Kids 3 (8-9), Infant (10-11 white belts), as well as para-jiu-jitsu athletes, representing various clubs and academies globally.

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee, said that the turnout aligns with the federation’s vision to nurture the next generation of jiu-jitsu athletes.“The competitions we witnessed today proves the tournament in its 15th edition continues to consolidate its position as a unique platform and cement the values of jiu-jitsu represented by courage, patience, determination, will, persistence, and tolerance,” he said.

“Para-jiu-jitsu competitions continue to empower people of determination and provide an inclusive environment that helps them grow, develop, and achieve their goals,” Al-Dhaheri added.

British participant Justin Levene, a purple belt, expressed his happiness at winning a gold medal in the Para-jiu-jitsu Men/K4 Heavyweight division.

“The true victory is being part of this prestigious championship, despite many challenges,” he said. “Winning on the mat requires a lot of sacrifices and patience; essential lessons learned from this noble sport.”Several parents of young athletes taking part in the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival also shared their delight at seeing their