Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship takes place from April 16 until April 28 at the Mubadala Arena, Zayed Sports City.

"Jiu Jitsu represents a unique experience that highlights the variety of sporting institutions in the UAE...Working together, accessible opportunities and environments have been created to facilitate the upcoming generation’s prosperity in sports such as Jiu-Jitsu,” Al Hashemi

Abu-Dhabi-World-Professional-Jiu-Jitsu-Championship-2018

The world's leading professional athletes

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.

The "Champion Within"

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.

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.

Program & 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.

About the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation was established in November 2012 upon gracious directives and support by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The federation is the official body organizing and supporting Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE. The federation assumes a pioneering role in strengthening Jiu-Jitsu, with the goal of building a knowledgeable society with high standards in culture and sports, in order to position the UAE as a world leader in this sport.

The federation is mandated to issue policies and draft regulations that aim to support and develop Jiu-Jitsu and build partnerships with government bodies and educational institutions to support this sport and enhance its local presence, resulting in advancing the UAE’s position in Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts locally, regionally, and internationally.

For more information, please visit www.uaejjf.com

Yalla Abu Dhabi