Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship Kicks Off with Strong International Participation
The Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship began today, marking the launch of a major event within the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. This year’s edition has attracted leading local and international clubs and academies, showcasing the sport’s expanding global footprint and the depth of young talent in UAE and beyond.
Sunday’s competitions focused on athletes aged 10 to 17, competing in the grey, yellow, orange, and green belt divisions. Competitors delivered high-level technical displays, underlining the meticulous preparation and increasing standards among the academies and clubs represented.
Celebrating its seventeenth edition, the championship enjoys the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The event’s stature is reflected in both the calibre of athletes present and the dignitaries in attendance, including key leaders such as Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi (Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation), Odonbaatar Shijeekhuu (Ambassador of Mongolia to the UAE), Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri (Vice Chairman of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation), and a host of other prominent federation officials and sports leaders.
Yousef Abdullah Al Batran commented:
“Today showed how much the championship has evolved in terms of organisation and technical level. We saw strong and advanced performances from youth athletes. These age groups are the foundation of jiu-jitsu’s future, and they provide national teams with talented athletes. These performances from athletes around the world show how fast the sport is growing and how much effort clubs and academies are putting into training a disciplined and professional generation. Every year, the championship proves it is a global platform for developing champions and spreading the sport’s values.”
He also highlighted that the “wide international participation today shows the championship’s strong position on the international jiu-jitsu calendar and the great level of confidence that international sports communities have in Abu Dhabi’s organisational and technical capabilities. The diversity of training backgrounds adds to the quality of the competition and gives athletes the chance to learn from others from different continents, helping the sport grow locally and internationally.”
Redha Monfaredi remarked:
“I am proud to be here at this significant event. The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship has helped raise the level of the sport around the world. We are happy to see record numbers of participants growing every year. The UAE is strongly recognised for its constant support in developing jiu-jitsu at regional and international levels. Today, we see many participants from all age groups, including top professional athletes.”
Coaches and academies alike see the championship as a major opportunity. Fernando Almeida, from the coaching staff at UFC Gym Middle East, said:
“This is our third time taking part in this important championship, and it is the first time for several of our athletes. Our team has 16 male and female athletes, and we see this as a great chance for them to compete against strong talent from around the world. We hope they gain more competitive experience and confidence on the mat. Championships like this help athletes develop quickly, as they bring together different skills and jiu-jitsu styles.”
The championship is set to continue with more intense competition, as youth blue and purple belt divisions take to the mats tomorrow, featuring some of the most promising local and international talents in the sport.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
