Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship returns next month

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing authority for the sport of Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE, will organise the 12th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the largest and most prestigious event on the global jiu-jitsu calendar, from April 6-9 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in the UAE capital.

This year’s edition will be held with strict health protocols in place for the safety of the athletes, officials and support staff.

The UAEJJF was among the first sporting bodies in the region to organise competitive events as well as training camps following the Covid-19 outbreak.

The showpiece tournament will kick off on April 6 with junior athletes below the age of 18 entering the arena. The next day will feature the masters competition while fighters competing in the professional category will be in action on April 8-9.

“Over the past year, we have successfully organised several championships and training camps, all with extremely high health and wellness standards and have developed a comprehensive set of tried and tested protocols to ensure that these are maintained over the course of the tournament," Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President, UAEJJF and president of ADWPJJC Organising Committee, said.

"I am confident that the experience gained from organising these high-quality events will enable us to successfully conduct the 12th edition of this prestigious championship.

“We have received great interest from the global jiu-jitsu community and putting the ADWPJJC’s latest edition together is another marker that contributes to Abu Dhabi’s position as the world’s jiu-jitsu capital and to demonstrate that we are firmly on the road to recovery,” he added.

Meanwhile, Faisal Al Ketbi, one of the UAE’s most decorated jiu-jitsu fighters, said that he was looking forward to participating in the grand tournament.

“It will be great to welcome the leading jiu-jitsu fighters of the world to Abu Dhabi and to go toe-to-toe against some world-class athletes. We have been preparing keenly for the ADWPJJC and we are glad that the UAEJJF has taken the decision to organise this tournament which provides us with a massive platform to test ourselves against the best in the world,” he said.