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BE Y O N D T H E D U N E S A N D A L L I M A G I N AT I O N y o u d i s c o v e r a n A r a b i a n t r e a s u re with glistening pools, nestled in the golden sands. This hidden palace invites you t o c o u n t l e s s a d v e n t u re s , e n d l e s s re l a x a t i o n a n d u n f o rg e t t a b l e i n d u l g e n c e . But what to do first? I t d o e s n ’ t re a l l y m a t t e r when you have it all a t y o u r f i n g e rt i p s .
Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara #InAbuDhabi
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WHAT’S INSIDE
#1 Year I
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Greetings
His Excellency Abdulmunam Al Hashemi
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Editorial
A new journey
24 UAEJJF Ranking
Everything you need to know about the athlete’s ranking
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Interview
Gabriel is going places
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Memory
The beginning
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Get Social
The Jiu-Jitsu online buzz
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34 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Treasure Hunters
Jiu-Jitsu World
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WHAT’S INSIDE
#1 Year I
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88
Emirati talent win big in Vietnam, Poland and Turkmenistan
Sleep, breathe and train Jiu-Jitsu
UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team
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UAEJJF Events
The best of action on the mat in the UAE
Lifestyle Tips
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Did you Know?
The history behind your mat
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Rules Book
How well do you know the rules of the game?
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Around the Globe
National Pro and International Pro events all over the world
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Making Jiu-Jitsu a part of people’s lives
Travel & Roll
Jiu-Jitsu in schools
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An athlete’s guide to London Jiu-Jitsu World
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Greetings
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His Excellency Abdulmunam Al Hashemi President of both the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union (JJAU) and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), and first vice president of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
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ith the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Jiu-Jitsu continues to enjoy unprecedented growth in the country. The 2015/2016 season provided no shortage of impressive feats, established by the Emirati stars at the international arena, and in terms of competitions, the launch of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and the introduction of a World Ranking system. The Grand Slam World Tour kicked off in Los Angeles followed by Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and London. It culminated with the eighth staging of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship. Abu Dhabi has been included as the fifth venue for the second season of the Grand Slam. The 2016/2017 season kicked off September 3-4 in Los Angeles, followed by Tokyo on October 23, Rio de Janeiro on November 12-13 and Abu Dhabi on January 13-14. The final stage of the World Tour will be set in London on March 18. The Grand Slam World Tour will once again reach its climax with the ninth staging of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship in April. Jiu-Jitsu has enjoyed remarkable progress in a short period of time and has been included at the 2018 Asian Games, in Jakarta, after a successful debut at the Fourth Asian Beach Games in Phuket, in 2014. Jiu-Jitsu has also been included at the inaugural World Beach Games in San Diego, in 2019, and in the Fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, in 2017. It also made a second appearance in 2016, at the Fifth Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam, from September 24 to October 3. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) must surely be given credit for Jiu-Jitsu’s incredible growth and for raising the profile of the sport both locally and internationally. They have a well-structured development program from the grassroots with a busy domestic calendar that includes competitions scheduled throughout 10 months of the year. The UAEJJF have emphasized on youth development and the nurture of discipline, loyalty, bravery and teamwork through Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. In fact, the rise of Jiu-Jitsu has attracted enough followers for a new crop of ‘Emirati heroes’ to emerge amongst its practitioners, as made evident in the number of medals and international titles earned from numerous competitions.
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#1 Chairman: H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi CEO: Fahad Al Shamsi Executive Manager: Rodrigo Valerio Editor in Chief: Ivan Trindade Editor: Ane Nunes Designer: Henrique Diniz Photography: Gentle Art Media Advertising Director: Ane Nunes Newsroom: news@jiujitsuworldmag.com Advertise with us: marketing@jiujitsuworldmag.com Customer Care: info@jiujitsuworldmag.com
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Gabriel Arges competing in Abu Dhabi in image by Ane Nunes and artwork by Henrique Diniz
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Faisal Al Kitbe putting his wrestling to work at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World
Editorial
A NEW journey
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elcome to Jiu-Jitsu World. As the sport we all love experiences unbridled growth all over the planet with more and more people embracing a much healthier lifestyle and events popping up in all 5 continents, the only thing missing was a proper medium to document and praise the wonderful accomplishments on and off the mat. That’s Jiu-Jitsu World’s mission. We are here to shine a light on the powerful professional Jiu-Jitsu movement spreading around the planet. Our team has great experience covering Jiu-Jitsu and will be prepared to deliver you the best content possible in each new issue. In our first edition, the main article brings you all the thrills of the luxurious Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, held on January 13-14, in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. For two days, the best competitors in the world gathered for a fast-paced sequence of epic matches. You’ll find some of the best images registered by our photographers who worked very hard mat side. You will also learn the stories behind the efforts each competitor put out to win the coveted medals and money prizes. We’ll also take you on a trip to the four corners of the globe to witness the truly powerful grassroots movement that is planting the seeds for a future when Jiu-Jitsu is present in the lives of nearly every person alive. Our mission also includes making Jiu-Jitsu an integral part of our reader’s daily routines. That’s why we bring tips on health, nutrition, exercises, techniques, mindset and much more. With Jiu-Jitsu World, your gentle art experience will expand from the moment you wake up in the morning to the moment you lie down to sleep at night. We end this first Editorial with an invitation. Join us in this amazing journey. Witness the wonderful world of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s much more than a martial art. It’s much more than a sport. It’s the lifestyle we all chose to live a longer, happier and more fulfilling life. Come with us explore the Jiu-Jitsu World.
IVAN TRINDADE
Editor in Chief
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MEMORY
The
beginning WORDS AND IMAGE: IVAN TRINDADE
The Jiu-Jitsu movement entered a new stage of its development throughout the world in 2009, when a new tournament was announced. The first Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship was scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, on April 1-2. For the first time in history, athletes would compete for more than $100,000 in money prizes on top of medals for placing first, second or third in each one of the divisions at play. The new event attracted most of the big names in Jiu-Jitsu at the time, including Rubens Cobrinha, Rafael and Gui Mendes, Marcelo Garcia, Braulio and Victor Estima, Robson Moura. Michael Langhi, Rafael Lovato Jr., Fabio Gurgel, among many others. The setting was the tennis stadium at the Zayed Sports City and matches happened after the sun had set to avoid the extreme heat on the open air court. The event tough was not all about famous black belts. Kids, teens and adults from the UAE put on a show to display the work that was being done at the schools around the country where Jiu-Jitsu was being taught. One of those pioneers was no other than Faisal Al Kitbe, then a white belt and now a decorated black belt and a true ambassador of the gentle art in the country. Another name that made history at the first ADWPJJC was Rodolfo Vieira. Still a brown belt then, the Brazilian shocked his more experienced opponents to rise to the top of the 95kg division and win the title and the nickname of “Black Belt Hunter”. In the next years, Rodolfo made several appearances at the ADWPJJC, becoming one of the most successful competitors of all times in the event. In 2017, the ADWPJJC reaches its ninth edition already consolidated as the most important event in the gentle art calendar. Athletes all over the world train daily looking for a chance to qualify to compete in the most prestigious stage of all, the world famous IPIC Arena. It’s a global movement that started on those two days of April 2009, under the Patronage of Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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Rodolfo Vieira battles out with Braulio Estima at the 2009 ADWPJJC
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GET SOCIAL
Join the Jiu-Jitsu Online Movement WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: INSTAGRAM
From world famous competitors like Renzo Gracie, Xande Ribeiro and Mackenzie Dern to everyday Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, the Jiu-Jitsu crowd is online sharing their joy for being part of a healthier lifestyle. On Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, there are hundreds of posts celebrating tournament achievements, hard training sessions and new challenges ahead. On every issue, Jiu-Jitsu World will feature the most awesome posts we can find online. Be sure to tag your posts with one of all of the following tags: #jiujitsu #uae #uaejjf #abudhabi #grandslam #jiujitsuworldmag. See you back here on number 2.
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ATHLETE’S RANKING
The race to be number 1 All you need to know about the UAEJJF athlete’s ranking WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: ANE NUNES
Every time an athlete walks on a mat in an UAEJJF event, he or she is adding valuable points in the annual ranking that will point out the best competitors of the season. The ranking is the most fair way of awarding the effort and the talent of each athlete that signs up to one of the UAEJJF tournaments throughout the year. It is also a great incentive for more and more athletes to take part in as many events as they can. This, in fact is already happening, as big names like Gabriel Arges, Xande Ribeiro, José Junior, Luiza Monteiro, among many others are showcasing their talents in events all over the globe. The next pages will explain how the ranking works. Have a good read, put on your gi and go out there to add points right away. How to add points in the ranking You add points in the ranking by at least participating in one of the events of the UAEJJF calendar (the current calendar started on May 1, 2016 and ends on April 30, 2017). There are five kinds of events in terms of how many points you’ll get: ADWPJJC – 6 stars, Abu Dhabi Grand Slam – 5 stars, National Pro – 4 stars, International Pro – 3 stars, Tournament – 2 stars. The chart bellow shows how many points you can earn in each type of event.
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How many rankings are there? The UAEJJF has divided the ranking in several categories. You can say that the two most important are male adult black belt and female adult brown/black belt. Each belt have its own ranking starting with white belts. You also have male master, academy and country rankings (UAE, Brazil, USA, Japan). There are also No-Gi rankings. What are the prizes for ranking leaders?
After all the effort, it is natural that ranking leaders at the end of the season receive proper rewards. The tables on the left show the main prizes for both the Gi and No-Gi rankings. The male adult Gi black belt division alone will award US$40,000, while the female Gi brown/black belt division will award US$18,000. That’s the same amount reserved for the male adult brown belt ranking leaders and the master 1 male black belt division. For what else is the ranking used for by the UAEJJF? The Federation will use the ranking to decide your position on the bracket of the ADWPJJC. It will also use the ranking to invite athletes to compete in the ADWPJJC. What else do you need to know about the ranking? Yes. There are a few details you need to know about the ranking. If you are alone in a division, you won’t earn points in the ranking. If you change belts during the season, you lose the points from the previous belt. The same happens if you change age divisions during the calendar. Due to the academies ranking, the UAEJJF will not change an athlete’s team during the same season. For more info, visit uaejjf.org/rank/show/25.
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INTERVIEW In Abu Dhabi, Arges won his third gold medal in four Grand Slam events
Gabriel is going places Gracie Barra black belt talks about his career and the choice he made to focus on the professional circuit in the 2016/2017 season 28
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Arges competing against teammate Otavio Sousa at the Grand Slam Los Angeles
WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: ANE NUNES
Gabriel Arges has been busy in the 2016/2017 season. He is focusing on UAEJJF events all around the world to rack up points in the ranking leading up to the 2017 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, on April, in Abu Dhabi. Arges competed in all four Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour events so far and he is getting ready to compete in London as well. Other than that, Gabriel has been traveling a lot to compete in several events both on the International Pro and National Pro events. Jiu-Jitsu World has caught up with the decorated black belt so he could tell you a little bit more about his career in Jiu-Jitsu and his goals for the remainder of the season.
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JIU-JITSU WORLD: How did you first get started training Jiu-Jitsu? Gabriel Arges: I started because many of my friends and family members were already training. I signed up for classes in the same academy I already worked out before. Since then, I never stopped training. Who are the biggest influences you had in terms of building your particular style of Jiu-Jitsu? I would say Romulo Barral and Felipe Pena were the ones responsible for building my Jiu-Jitsu style. I think I have combined elements of their games and put up a strong game. Other that the two, I have always been inspired by Michael Langhi, Leandro Lo and Rodolfo Vieira.
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In Tokyo, Gabriel once again made to the top of the 85kg division
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I don’t know of anybody who competed in so many different countries practically every weekend like I did this season.
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You have been one of the most active athletes in the 2016/2017 UAEJJF season. What made you decide to focus on the professional circuit this season? It’s been a great way to keep active in the gi on the second half of 2016. It also ran parallel to my seminar schedule. Another important factor for me is to give a boost to the professional side of our sport, in which the UAEJJF has such an important role. You competed in places like Belém, Manaus, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Guayaquil, etc. What is your secret to have a globetrotter’s life and keep a good performance at the highest level? It’s a very difficult thing to do. I don’t know of anybody who competed in so many different countries practically every weekend like I did. I
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even arrived untrained and tired in several events for lack of time to train properly. On the other side, you get a great competition rhythm. That’s something you get used to only by living through it. You won three out of four events in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, in Los Angeles, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi. Which was the most memorable moment of the season for you? It was all pretty special, but I have to say Tokyo was extra special. I loved the opportunity to compete in Japan. It was something I wanted to do for a long time. It was a dream come true and I am very glad I was able to compete there and win the gold medal. The 2017 World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is less than two months away. What are your expectations for another edition of the event? I love to compete in Abu Dhabi. In 2016 I won my third gold medal there and this year I want to repeat my performance. I looking for the second title as a black belt and the fourth overall. It’s always very exciting to compete in Abu Dhabi.
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COVERAGE
Treasure Hunters Elite Jiu-Jitsu competitors gather in Abu Dhabi for two days of epic battles and unforgettable thrills
WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: IVAN TRINDADE, ANE NUNES
The capital of the United Arab Emirates welcomed more than 1500 athletes from over 20 countries on January 13-14 for the fourth leg of the 2016-2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour. It was a two-day celebration of the gentle art at the world famous IPIC Arena. Day 1 was devoted to the no-gi divisions while day 2 was all about the gi competition. The crowds that packed the stands were amazed with the thrilling matches on each one of the nine mats set up in Abu Dhabi. The pages ahead tell the stories of the champions that put on a show for Jiu-Jitsu fans watching around the globe.
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Male Black Belt
The intruder
77 kg
Marcio André usually competes in a lower weight class, but in Abu Dhabi he chose to test his skills against heavier opponents. The 77kg division was also the most star studded bracket of the event. André had no shortcut on his way to the gold medal. In the semifinal, he outscored rising American star Edwin Najmi with a 4-0 win achieved with two sweeps. Marcio’s opponent in the final would be two-time ADWPJJC 36
champion Roberto Satoshi, who made to the gold medal match after finishing both his opponents, including Alexandre Cavalieiri in the semifinal with a choke from the back. The title was decided after a tough match where André was able to score three advantages for two near guard passes and a near sweep. Marcio talked about his campaign: “With patience and persistence dreams do come true. Dream big.” Jiu-Jitsu World
85kg On the way to the top Gabriel Arges competed in all legs of the Grand Slam World Tour this season. In Abu Dhabi, he won his third gold medal in four events. In three matches, Arges finished two of his opponents, both with chokes from the back. First, he caught Marcos Costa to advance to the semifinals. Arges got his spot in the final after a close match against a very game opponent in Jaime Canuto, beat with a 3-0 lead on advantages. Gabriel secured the gold medal with another choke from the back in a fast paced match against Matheus Souza. He talked about the achievement: “I’m happy to start the new year on the right note. I have to thank my team for helping me achieve my goals.� Number 01 - 2017
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94 kg Return to the top Since the Grand Slam LA, in September, Xande Ribeiro was working hard to return to the top of the podium in the 94kg division. In Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, he waged great battles against Felipe Pena, coming just short of the title twice. In Abu Dhabi, good fortune came Xande’s way once again. He fought three times, first finishing Thiago Pessoa with his trademark
kimura and then choking Basel Fanous from the mount in the semifinal. The final match was unexpectedly tough against Poland’s Adam Wardzinski. Xande managed a 4-0 lead on advantages, but Adam put on a great effort against a world class opponent. Xande commented on the second gold medal in four events of the Tour: ”Mission accomplished. I was surprised with Adam’s defense from the half guard and I should have changed the plan. I was stubborn in trying to smash. Always learning even in victory.”
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110 kg Giant Junior The heaviest division of the Grand Slam had no shortage of thrills. Jose Junior won his second gold medal on the tour this season with another outstanding performance. In Abu Dhabi, the Brazilian who lives in the UAE fought twice to rise to the highest spot on the podium. First, he beat Mauricio Lima in the semifinal and then met up with Jiddu Lemos in the gold medal match. Junior used his well known pressure game to reach side control and finish the match with a kimura. Here’s what he had to say about his route to gold in the UAE: “Thanks to all my friends and teammates for the help in everyday training!”
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69 kg Sharp shooter Isaque Paiva was on fire in Abu Dhabi. In three matches, he finished two of his opponents. First he caught Johnny Crispim with an armbar, then he beat João Bosco in the semifinals to make it to the gold medal match. In the final, Paiva met the always tough Tiago Bravo, but was able to find his way to the opponent’s back to finish with a beautiful choke. Paiva could not be happier about his performance in Abu Dhabi: “No words to describe it. Thanks to all of those who helped me. Thank God I was able to have good fights.”
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62 kg Mighty Hiago The lightest male division reserved two tough matches for champion Hiago George. First he beat Wellington de Lima and then met up Japan’s Tomoyuki Hashimoto in a tough gold medal match. The title finally came to Hiago’s hands after he was able to build a 1-0 lead on advantages after a 2-2 tie on points. Hiago knew he had accomplished something important in Abu Dhabi: “I want to thank my training partners and friends for helping me to pursue my dream and achieve my goals.”
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Female Brown/Black Belt
62 kg Back to back Bia
After a flawless campaign in Rio, Bia Mesquita hopped into a plane with plans to repeat her feat in Abu Dhabi. That was exactly what she did. In two matches, she finished both of her opponents to win the gold medal with authority. First, Bia caught Larissa da Silva with a plastic leg lock. In the final, Mesquita faced a well known rival and also world class competitor Luiza Monteiro. Bia was able to get a sweep in place, reach Monteiro’s back and finish with a choke. After the triumph, Bia had this to say about her campaign: “Thank God the victory came. I have always believed in hard work to achieve the best results.”
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A family thing Ana Carolina Vieira has all the right lineage when it comes to JiuJitsu. The youngest sister of Rodolfo Vieira, Carol was building a very successful career in the lower belts. Soon after she received the black belt, Carol was forced to take some time off to treat an injury. The first major tournament on her comeback was the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio, when she won the 70kg division. In Abu Dhabi, Carol repeated the feat and once again made to the top of the podium. In two matches, she first caught Priscilla Santos with a katagatame from the mount and then in the final finished Brenda Heller with an ezekiel choke from the mount. Carol had this to say about her triumph in Abu Dhabi: “So happy to begin 2017 the right way. Thanks to all who helped me win this one. I am so happy I was able to finish both of my opponents.�
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70 kg
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90kg
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Three times Nathi Nathiely de Jesus is the owner of the division this season. She won the gold medal in Los Angeles, Rio and Abu Dhabi. In the UAE, Nathi had to enter the mat only once to face countrywoman Vanessa de Oliveira. The match was tough, but Nathiely used her well known guard game to sweep, take the back and finish with a choke. She talked about the third gold medal: “I have the feeling of a job well done. Thank to all who rooted for me. Now it’s time to go back to training.”
Jiu-Jitsu World
55kg Return of the champion Talita Alencar won the weight class in the first leg of the Tour, in Los Angeles. She came back in Abu Dhabi to claim her second gold medal in four events. In the IPIC Arena, Talita displayed her trademark fast paced game that leaves her opponents not much time to think. In three matches, she first beat Maxine Thilyn 2-0, then caught Katsuja Horman with a choke from the mount. In the final, Alencar met Japan’s Rikako Yuasa, the division champion at the Grand Slam Tokyo, After a very close match, Talita edged Yuasa by the narrow margin of 1-0 on advantages. Alencar celebrated the tough win: “There was no better way to start 2017. Thank you to all of those who helped me achieve this title.”
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Master
Thrills after 30
The master division also offered the crowd at the IPIC Arena big thrills during the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam JiuJitsu World Tour. After all was said and done, the results of each weight class final were.
85 kg
77 kg
Michel Maia beat Theodoro Canal 2-0 with a sweep
62 kg
Wekciley Cruz beat Antonio Santana by referee decision
Davi Ramos choked Mauricio Antunes from the back
69 kg
Thiago Marques caught Magno da Silva in a choke from the back
94 kg
Celso Campos beat Filipe Bobrick by referees decision after a 2-2 tie on points 46
110 kg
Thiago Borges beat Pablo AragĂŁo 0-1 on penalties Jiu-Jitsu World
Team Results
Best Academy 1st - Commando Group BJJ - 5840pts 2nd - Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club - 4180pts
3rd - Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club - 3840pts
4th - UAEJJ Team (Abu Dhabi Training Center) - 3460pts 5th - Armed Forces Team - 2800pts
6th - Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy - 2580pts
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COVERAGE
NO-GI
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Faisal Al Kitbe was one of the big names to put on a show during the day of no-gi action at the Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour in Abu Dhabi.
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With a 1-0 lead on advantages, Adriano Araujo beat Nicholas Robinson for the adult black belt 75kg division title.
Faisal once again put his sharp takedown game to work on his climb to the top of the adult black belt 83kg division podium.
Wellington Lima became the adult black belt 67kg division champion after a 6-0 win over Abdallah Nabas in the gold medal match. 52
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Michel Maia choked Thiago de Souza from the back to secure the master 1 black belt 75kg division title.
Jiddu Lemos applied a lot of pressure to beat Mauricio Lima 1-0 on advantages to conquer the adult black belt 108kg division title. Thiago Pessoa and Pablo Popovitch fought their hearts out in the adult black belt 92kg division final. A 2-0 lead granted Pessoa (bottom) the win.
Paulo Pinto became the master 1 black belt 108kg division champion after beating Pablo Leite 3-0 in the gold medal match. Felipe Bobrick beat Celso Junior with a 1-0 lead on advantages to win the master 1 black belt 92kg division.
Thiago Marques beat Bruno Lopes by referee decision to win the master 1 black belt 67kg division title.
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Jiu-Jitsu World
Kids and teens also put a great show during both days of action in Abu Dhabi.
Yahya Al Hammadi got the crowd on their feet with exciting matches to win the master 1 brown belt 108kg division.
Jiu-Jitsu is stronger than ever in the Middle East as shown by the results in the Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Abu Dhabi.
Ahmed Al Ketbi and Ibrahim Alhosani won gold and silver in the master 1 brown belt 75kg division. Mohammed Al Asiri completed the podium with the bronze medal. Number 01 - 2017
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UAE JIU-JITSU NATIONAL TEAM
Emirati talent wins big in Vietnam, Poland and Turkmenistan WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: UAEJJF
The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Team kept busy in the second semester of 2016. Besides all the competitions under the UAEJJF in the UAE and all around the world, the team also travelled to represent the country and the sport at three major events. First, on September 26-27, in Danang, Vietnam, the team took part in the 2016 Asian Beach Games, then on November 24-28, in Wroclaw, Poland, tit was time for the 2016 World Ju-Jitsu Championship, under the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF). Less than a month later, the team travelled to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, for the 1st Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship, under the Ju-Jitsu Asian Union. Following the technical direction of Professor Roberto “Gordo� Correa, the team had big results on the mats. 58
The President of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Tomas Bach (right), attended and supported the 2016 Asian Beach Games. Jiu-Jitsu World
2016 Asian Beach Games Male Ne Waza
56kg - Khalifa Nassrati – 3rd Place
62kg - Zayed Al Mansoori – 7th Place 69kg - Talib Al Kribi – 1st Place
85kg - Khalfan Balhol - 2nd Place 94kg – Faisal Al Kitbe - 1st Place
+94kg – Yahya Al Hammadi - 1st Place
Open Class – Yahya Al Hammadi - 1st Place Open Class – Faisal Al Kitbe - 2nd Place Female Ne Waza
45kg - Wadima Al Yafei - 3rd Place
49kg – Mouza Al Shamsi - 5th Place 49kg – Maitha Sharim – 7th Place
62kg – Roudha Yaqoob - 5th Place 70kg – Salma Al Bloosh - 5th Place
2016 World Ju-Jitsu Championship Male Ne Wasa
94kg – Faisal Al Kitbe - 1st Place
1st Asian Ju-Jitsu Championship Male Ne Wasa
62kg – Zayed Al Mansoori - 2nd Place 69kg – Saleh Al Kribi - 2nd Place
77kg - Mohamed Al Qubaisi - 2nd Place 94kg – Zayed Al Kaabi - 1st Place 94kg – Faisal Al Kitbe - 2nd Place
+94kg - Yahya Al Hamadi - 1st Place
Open Class – Faisal Al Kitbe - 1st Place
Open Class – Yahya Al Hammadi - 2nd Place
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Sharjah
UAE EVENTS WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: UAEJJF
2017 SHARJAH INTERNATIONAL PRO The Jiu-Jitsu community made another show of strength on February 10-11, in the UAE. Close to 500 athletes gathered for the Sharjah International Pro in search of valuable points in the UAEJJF ranking. Competitors of all ages took on to the mats for a lively display of technique and drive to win. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Tiago Bravo (77kg), Marcos Costa (85kg), Mauricio Lima (110kg). Among women, Tamires Vieira beat Jessica Silva for the 90kg brown/ black belt division. In the teams competition, results were: 1st Commando Group BJJ (1740pts), 2nd – Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club (1480pts), 3rd – Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club (891pts), 4th – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club (790pts), Team Nogueira Dubai (740pts), UAEJJ Team – Abu Dhabi Training Center (515pts).
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Ras Al Khaimah
2017 RAS AL KHAIMAH INTERNATIONAL PRO More than 400 competitors took on the mats on January 27-28 for two days of both Gi and No-Gi matches. The event was a clear display of how strong Jiu-Jitsu is at this time in the UAE. The gentle art community gathered to display a lot of heart and high level skills. The event had the the presence of the President of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation, Mr. Panagiotis Theodoropoulos. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club (156pts), 2nd - Commando Group BJJ (123pts), 3rd - Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club (102pts), 4th - Land Forces Team (91pts), 5th - Al Wahda Club JiJitsu Academy (83pts), 6th - Al Nasr Jiu-Jitsu Academy (56pts).
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Ajman
WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: UAEJJF
AJMAN INTERNATIONAL PRO Over 300 athletes gathered at the Ajman Youth Center for two days of great Jiu-Jitsu on December 16-17. Competitors of all ages gave their best on the mats for the pleasure of the crowd. From the white belt to the black belt, there were tons of thrills on the mats. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Josimar Rodrigues (69kg), Tiago Bravo (77kg), Marcos Costa (85kg), Nivaldo de Lima (94kg), Jose Junior (110kg). In the female brown/black belt division, Jessica Medeiros won the 70kg division.
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AROUND THE GLOBE
BRAZIL NATIONAL PRO WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: FBJJ
More than 800 athletes gathered at the Arena Amadeu Teixeira, in Manaus, Brazil, on February 11-12, for the Brazil National Pro. The event awarded 50 travel packages for the 2017 ADWPJJC. In the black belt division, some big matches took place, including a generational clash between Xande Ribeiro and Nicholas Meregali, in his first competition as a black belt. The champions were: Huendel Osaki (56kg), Cleber Fernandes (62kg), Isaque Paiva (69kg), Gabriel Arges (77kg/Open class light), Diego Silva (85kg), Nicholas Meregali (94kg), José Junior (110kg), Xande Ribeiro (Open Class heavy). In the female brown/black belt division, there was also great action. Winners were: Talita Alencar (55kg), Bianca Basilio (62kg/open class light), Luiza Monteiro (70kg/open class heavy), Talita Nogueira (90kg). In the teams competition, Nova União made to the top with 4370pts, followed by Alliance (4290pts), Associação Monteiro (3580pts), Checkmat (3230pts), GF Team (2950pts), Orley Lobato (2110pts).
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ECUADOR NATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
Hundreds of Jiu-Jitsu competitors all over South America gathered in Guayaquil, on February 4, to compete for travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In the adult male black belt division, champions were: Johnny Tama (77kg), James Saa (85kg), Xande Ribeiro (94kg). Francisco Iturralde won the lightweight open class brown/black division while Xande won the brown/black heavyweight open class division.
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MEXICO NATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
On February 4, hundreds of athletes gathered at the Deportivo Plan Sexenal, in Mexico City, for the 2017 Mexico National Pro. Athletes from North and Central America fought their hearts out in search of travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In the adult black belt division, Timothy Mendoza won the 69kg division, Julio Cordova was the 77kg champion and Geon Kim won the 94kg division. In the adult female brown/black belt division, champions were: Erica Santana (62kg), Tara White (90kg).
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USA NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: IVAN TRINDADE
It was a full day of great matches at the Los Angeles Southeast College, on March 5. Hundreds of athletes of all ages gathered to fight in search of the 10 travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, scheduled April 18-22, in the UAE. The black belt division featured some well known names and after lots of thrilling matches, the champions were: Isaac Doederlein (69kg), Stephen Martinez (77kg), Keenan Cornelius (94kg), Isaac Doederlein (Light absolute/ travel package), Keenan Cornelius (Heavy absolute/ travel package). In the female division, Tara White won both the 90kg division and the absolute, also securing her travel package. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Checkmat (1590pts), 2nd – Alliance LA (1130pts), 3rd – Atos JJ/André Galvão (1060pts), 4th – Atos JJ/Gui Mendes (900pts), 5th – Gracie Barra USA (800pts), 6th – Gracie Barra Santa Barbara (670pts).
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ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
More than two hundred athletes gathered at the Kissimmee Civic Center for a full day of Jiu-Jitsu featuring some big names in search of valuable points in the UAEJJF world ranking. Gabriel Arges (85kg), Xande Ribeiro (94kg) and Leo Nogueira (110kg) won their weight classes in the adult black belt division. The event featured great matches on all age classes, from kids to master 2. In the team competition, Cardonas BJJ finished first with 780pts, followed by GB North Orlando (660pts) and Robson Moura Nova UniĂŁo (420pts).
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NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
The Big Apple is one of then important cities in the world when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu. The city is home to some of the best competitors on the planet and over 400 of them gathered on February 18, in the Bronx, to fight for valuable points in the UAEJJF ranking. The event was open to all nationalities, which guaranteed great matches all day. In the black belt division, epic matches took place before champions were crowned. Champions were: Male - João Miyao (69kg), Gianni Grippo (77kg), Jonathan Satava (85kg), Matthew Kachmar (94kg), Aaron Johnson (110kg), Gianni Grippo (light open class), Helton Junior (heavy open class); Female – Mayssa Bastos (62kg), Amanda Benavides (70kg), Tara White (90kg), Amanda Benavides (light open class). In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Unity JJ (1260pts), 2nd - Alliance MG (1139pts), 3rd - Renzo Gracie (1078pts), 4th – Soca BJJ (975pts), 5th - Vitor Shaolin BJJ (545pts), 6th – GF Team (510pts).
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NETHERLANDS NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
February 26 was a great day for Jiu-Jitsu in the Netherlands. Hundreds of athletes gathered in Almere, on the outskirts of Amsterdam, to compete for travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Krzysztof Suchorabski (77kg), Matko Kvesic (94kg), Mohamed Ait Khalifa (110kg), Yusef Kaddur (Light Open Class), River Dillon (heavy open class). In the women’s division, Martina Gramenius was the purple/ brown/black belt light open class champion. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Checkmat International (820pts), 2nd – East Coast JJ (780pts), 3rd – Prana JJ (500pts), 4th – GF Team (480pts), 5th – Neves BJJ (420pts), 6th – Akamat (410pts).
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BRITISH NATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
Over 360 athletes gathered in London on February 18 to compete for travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship, scheduled for Abu Dhabi this coming April. Competitors from all over Europe travelled to the Queen’s island to give their best and waged epic matches. After it was all said and done, the champions in the adult black belt division were: Male - Oliver Lovell (77kg, light open class), Antonio Junior (110kg, heavy open class). In the female division, Claire-France Thevenon won the 90kg brown/black belt division. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Roger Gracie Academy (2920pts), 2nd – Checkmat International (2440pts), Carlson Gracie Team (970pts), 4th - GB Knightsbridge (720pts), 5th – GB Nottingham (630pts), Carlson Gracie London (540pts).
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SLOVENIA NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
The town of Ljubljana was the setting for the Slovenia National Pro on February 11. Hundreds of athletes from all over Europe came together to compete for travel packages for the 2017 ADWPJJC. It was a full day of high level Jiu-Jitsu in Eastern Europe. The President of the Ju-Jitsu European Union Mr. Robert Perc attended the event. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Miladost – Alliance BD (1836pts), 2nd - Gracie Barra Ljubljana (710pts), 3rd – Jungle BJJ (464pts), 4th Zenith BJJ (384pts), 5th - Sampa BJJ (364pts), 6th – Ribeiro JJ (284pts).
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UKRAINE NATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
The Jiu-Jitsu community gathered on February 19, in Kharkov, for a full day of great action on the mats. Kids, teens and adults poured their hearts out in search of the gold medal in a great display of the highest level of competition. Nuno Martins won the male black belt 77kg division. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - UABJJ (3930pts), 2nd - uabjj (1970pts), 3rd - ZR Team Hungary (1570pts), 4th - zr team Hungary (1060pts), 5th - Atos JiuJitsu Barcelona (600pts), 6th - Strela Team (380pts).
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KAZAKHSTAN NATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
The best grapplers in the region gathered in Astana on February 27 for a full day of Jiu-Jitsu. Hundreds of athletes took on to the mats to compete for travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, scheduled April 18-22, in Abu Dhabi. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Atos JJ (2300pts), 2nd - Strela Alliance (2270pts), 3rd – Khazakstahn National Team (670pts), 4th - Checkmat International (450pts), 5th – Gracie Barra Almaty (310pts), 6th – Gracie Barra Nice (160pts).
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ANGOLA NATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
For two days on February 25-26 the Jiu-Jitsu community got together in Luanda for an awesome weekend of matches. Over 200 athletes gave their best on the mats fighting for the travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, scheduled April 18-22, in Abu Dhabi. In the black belt division, Jose Santana win the 85kg division while Adolfo Correa won the 94kg division, Filipe Domingos won the light open class and Edgar Zonzo won the heavy open class. In the teams competition, results were 1st – Z1 Academy (5140pts), 2nd Matilha BJJ Angola (3700pts), 3rd - Aliança do Tatame Angola (2620pts), 4th – Gracie Barra Angola (1820pts), 5th – Angola Demolition Team (1590pts), 6th – RX Team/Calasans (480pts.
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FUKUOKA INTERNATIONAL PRO
IMAGES: UAEJJF
After a very successful edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, the Japanese community gathered once again for a full day of Jiu-Jitsu at Fukuoka, on January 20. The Sendai International Open featured some of the best competitors in the country fighting for valuable points in the UAEJJF annual ranking. Kyuhwa Kim beat Masafumi Takahashi for the adult male brown belt open class title. In the teams division, Axis Jiu-Jitsu Academy finished first with 1500pts, followed by DCBS with 320pts and Waka BJJ with 40pts.
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JAPAN NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
The Japanese community gathered at the Riverside Sports Center on February 26 to compete for travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, scheduled April 18-22, in Abu Dhabi. It was a full day of matches in Tokyo. In the adult male black belt division, Akira Hosokawa won the light open class, Daisuke Shiraki won the 85kg division and the heavy open class. In the teams competition, results were 1st – Axis JJ (2070pts), 2nd – DCBS (770pts), 3rd - Carpe Diem BJJ (470pts), 4th – Paraestra GIFU (240pts), 5th – Chidori BJJ (210pts), 6th – Carpe Diem Hope (20pts).
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PHILIPPINES NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
Manila was another stop in the National Pro series, on January 14. Hundreds of athletes from all over Southern Asia and beyond gathered at the SM Mall of Asia for a full day of Jiu-Jitsu. Competitors of all ages from white belt and above proved that the gentle art is alive and kicking in the region. In the division with the highest ranking, Drew Kyle Palomo beat Juan Vincent Cortez for the adult brown belt heavy open class gold medal. In the women’s side, Annie Ramirez beat Margarita Ochoa for the purple belt heavy open class title. Here are the best images of the action in Manila.
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MONGOLIA NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
For two days on January 21-22, over 200 athletes competed at the Central Sport Palace, in Ulaanbaatar. Some of the best competitors in Asia and Oceania competed for travel packages for the 2017 ADWPJJC. Jiu-Jitsu was the biggest star on both days of action in Mongolia, which featured grapplers from the white belt to the black belt. In the adult black belt division, Bold-Erdene Odsuren beat Unkhbayasgalan Dorjderem for the 85kg title.
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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL PRO IMAGES: MICHAEL ACOLENTABA
Australia is one of the biggest hotspots for Jiu-Jitsu in Asia and Oceania. On January 28, over 200 grapplers gathered in Melbourne for a full day of action both at Gi and No-Gi divisions. They waged great battles in search of points in the UAEJJF ranking aiming a spot in the 2017 ADWPJJC. In the Gi, the black belt division featured some big names. Lachlam Giles was the lightweight open class champion while Roberto Frias won the heavyweight absolute. In the female purple/brown/black belt open class, Demi Butler beat Meagan Green for the gold medal. In the teams competition, Maromba Australia (2520pts) finished first, followed by CIA Paulista (1230pts) and GB Sydney (920pts).
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AUSTRALIA NATIONAL PRO IMAGES: UAEJJF
The land down under had its day of JiuJitsu celebration in Sydney, on February 19. Hundreds of athletes gave their best on the mats in search of travel packages for the 2017 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in Abu Dhabi, on April. In the brown/black belt division, Lee Ting won the light open class while Anton Minenko won the heavy open class division. Among women, Jess Fraser won the purple/ brown/black belt light open class division. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Gracie Barra Oceania (2530pts), 2nd - Nova União (1010pts), 3rd – Roots BJJ (750pts), 4th – SPMA (600pts), 5th – Legacy (530pts), 6th – Sydney JJ/ZR Team (440pts).
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JIU-JITSU IN SCHOOLS
Making Jiu-Jitsu a part of people’s lives
For the past seven years, Palms Sports has helped to take Jiu-Jitsu to hundreds of thousands of kids and adults in Abu Dhabi 86
Jiu-Jitsu World
WORDS AND IMAGES: IVAN TRINDADE
Since 2010, a new movement started to take over schools, military facilities and government offices in the United Arab Emirates. The Jiu-Jitsu movement. Little by little, the gentle art started to become part of the lives of boys and girls, soldiers and civilians, providing the tools for a much healthier lifestyle. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has a well-documented interest in sports, and in particular, the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu. His Highness has the ambition of making the UAE, and specifically Abu Dhabi, a center for Jiu-Jitsu by designating it as the UAE National Sport. Number 01 - 2017
His Highness believes that by practicing the art of Jiu-Jitsu, people can change their mentality and take broad strides towards a brighter and clearer direction. Having seen the positive changes and the impact that Jiu-Jitsu has had on his son’s character and attitude, His Highness says: “If I invest it in my son, I will invest it in my country.” His Highness recognized that local physical education programs did not feature martial arts, and he took the initiative to introduce a comprehensive Jiu-Jitsu program to public schools, the military, and other governmental organizations across the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Further to this, His Highness is passionate about the concept of “mens sana in corpore sano” (healthy mind, healthy
body) and his vision is to develop Abu Dhabi into a health-conscious community that unites to regularly practice sports. Palms Sports was founded with a mandate to execute this program to fulfill the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Palms Sports is now integrating mixed martial arts into sports programs across the emirate and is expanding its services to all industries. Seven years into the project, 100,000 people have taken Jiu-Jitsu classes under 600 coaches in 300 locations.The project also aims at the UAE Armed Forces and the formation of high level competitors. The future is bright as more and more people will join the effort to make the Emirati people stronger, and healthier. More info at palmssports.com. 87
LIFESTYLE TIPS WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: MORGUEFILE, IVAN TRINDADE
Sleep, breathe and train Jiu-Jitsu Do you want to make the gentle art an even more integral part of your life? There are a lot you can do to make your daily routine healthier. What you eat and drink, what you do between training sessions, how much you sleep, how well you treat your injuries and even the way you react to life’s challenges are all aspects of your routine that can affect your quality of life positively or negatively. With that in mind, we bring you five tips to improve your lifestyle on and off the mats.
Go natural The more your body has to work to get what it needs to function the better. That’s one of the reasons why processed food is so bad for your health. The Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle needs to include a balanced diet full of natural food that will give you the boost you need to smash your opponents on the mat. Avoid too much sugar, too much salt, too much grains and other carbohydrates. Also, don’t go overboard on meat, specially fat red meat. Fruits, vegetables, nuts and white meats are your friends, as well as more frequent meals consisting of smaller portions and lots of water. Most of all, listen to your body to find out what is the best fuel for the machine to run at full throttle.
Sleep tight Every warrior needs to rest properly. A rested body and a rested mind will function better on and off the mat when you need the most. There a few ingredients that contribute to a good night of sleep ranging between seven to nine hours of shut eye. First of all, keep hydrated and avoid stimulant foods in the afternoon and later. Once you get to bed, make it comfortable so you can really enjoy being there. Choose the right mattress for your weight, the right pillow for the way you sleep, the right temperature, noise and level of darkness for the room. Also, make sure to turn off electronic devices like cell phones. With all that, we can almost guarantee you’ll have a great night of sleep to wake up refreshed the next morning and hit the mats.
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Make it a family business The gentle art is such a transforming experience in one’s life that we simply cannot avoid becoming campaigners for its efficiency right away. That’s why we are always trying to bring family members and friends to train with us. It’s good for them and it’s good for us. Training is awesome, but training with people we know and love is even better. Jiu-Jitsu is known for healing relationships and also creating almost unbreakable bonds between people. So, jump in the train for a better life and bring as many people with you as you can.
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Strengthen your mind A strong warrior is humble in victory and resilient in defeat. You achieve that with a strong mind by listening to those who have more experience and have lived through the experiences that are new to you. The habit of learning from your own mistakes is one of the most important ones you need to acquire throughout your life, on and off the mat. Learn from your training partners, but also learn from your opponents. Leave your ego at the door and keep an open mind to absorb as much knowledge as you can. Ask questions. Remember, the black belt is nothing more than a white belt that never quit.
Heal the right way Jiu-Jitsu can be hard on the body, specially if you have a more extensive schedule of training. Injuries will happen, as well as chronic ailments due to the mat wear and tear. So, if you can’t completely avoid bad things from happening, at least you can do the right thing to recover fast and get back to the mat sooner than later. First of all, don’t overtrain. Know your limits and stop when you feel you reached them. Second, don’t try to ride out nagging injuries. A back pain, a sore ankle, a cracking shoulder are all signs that something is not well. So, pay attention to your body, slow down and look for professional help. Oh, and once you did that, follow what your doctor told you to do.
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DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
The history behind your mat WORDS: ANE NUNES | IMAGE: ISTOCK
Today, rolling or competing, the mat is part of your Jiu-Jitsu routine. But, did you know that the tatami were originally a luxury item for the nobility in ancestral Japan? The term tatami is derived from the verb tatamu, meaning to fold or pile. This indicates that the early tatami were thin and could be folded up when not used or piled in layers. During the Heain period, when the shiden-zukuri architectural style of aristocratic residences was consummated, the flooring of shinden-zukuri palatial rooms were mainly wooden, and tatami were only used as seating for the highest aristocrats. In the Kamakura period, there arose the shoin-zukuri architectural style of residence for the samurai and priests who had gained power. This architectural style reached its peak of development in the Muromachi period, when tatami gradually came to be spread over whole rooms, beginning with small rooms. Rooms completely spread with tatami came to be known as zashiki (room spread out for sitting), and rules concerning seating and etiquette determined the arrangement of the tatami in the rooms. The lower classes had mat-covered earth floors. It is said that prior to the mid-16th century, the ruling nobility and samurai slept on tatami or woven mats called goza, while commoners used straw mats or loose straw for bedding. Tatami were gradually popularized and finally reached the homes of commoners toward the end of the 17th century. As you know, to this day it is noble attitude to pay your reverence to the mat, reminding the warriors and all the knowledge from martial art masters.
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RULES BOOK Watch where you put your leg
WORDS: IVAN TRINDADE | IMAGES: IVAN TRINDADE, UAEJJF RULES BOOK
How well do you know the rules of the game? Jiu-Jitsu rules keep evolving as the game evolves on the mats around the world. Sometimes, staying up to date is hard. A careful read of the rules book will help you to be in comply the next time you step on the mats. Here are three important points every competitor need to know. Go to uaejjf.org/ pages/uaejjfRules for the complete rules book.
Knee reaping is a big no-no. All athletes have to be extra careful when attacking foot locks or leg locks so they don’t put the opponent’s knees under peril of being twisted. The rule book is clear about it and predicts immediate disqualification for the athletes that do the following: Knee ripping is characterized by when one of the athletes places his thigh behind the leg of his opponent and passes his calf on top of the opponent’s body above the knee, placing his foot beyond the vertical midline of the opponent’s body and applying pressure on his opponents knee from the outside while keeping the foot of the leg at risk stuck between his hip and armpit.
Is your Gi ready for competition
You trained hard, you watched your diet, you made weight fine and now you are ready to compete. Then, at the last minute, your gi is not approved by the gi checker. Imagine the size of the disappointment. So, the best strategy is to be prepared and have your gi ready for check before your first match. The rules book states: Patches may only be affixed in authorized regions of the gi, as depicted in the illustration. They should be of cotton fabric and properly seamed. All loose patches or in unauthorized regions of the gi will be removed by the gi inspectors. Take a look at the image and have your armor ready.
Double guard pullers better move
The clock is ticking for guard pullers. According to the rules, if both athletes pull guard at the same time, the referee will count 10 seconds to see if any action takes place. The book reads: If at end of this 10 second countdown, even if the athletes are moving, one of the athletes does not reach the top position, does not have a submission in hold, or is not imminently completing a point scoring move, the referee will stop the fight and give a penalty to both athletes. In this situation, the referee will restart the combat in standing position. So, know that you have to be quick when looking for that berimbolo setup, otherwise you will be back to your feet. 92
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TRAVEL AND ROLL
LONDON
London Calling If you are enjoying the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London, be sure to also enjoy one of the many attractions the city offers. From London’s gorgeous parks to free historic museums and activities, the Queen’s town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a perfect place to have fun before and after the battles on the mats. If you don’t have a lot of time, a hop on-hop off London Bus Tour is one of the most iconic ways to experience the city. Just jump on and off as you will and tailor-make your own
For art lovers… to roll or not to roll Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an open-air playhouse built as a reconstruction of the 1599 building where the great play writer penned many of his works. A tour introduces you to all historical and contemporary aspects of the Globe. The original theatre burned down in 1613 because of a miss-fired cannon during a Henry VIII performance. The authentic timber frame of the building with an open-air stage maintains the true feeling of a Shakespearean play and experience. There are no spotlights, microphones, speakers or amplification and all music is performed live on ancient instruments. Cost: Adult = £15 Child = £9.
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sightseeing experience. Cost: Adult = £25 Child = £11. On the other hand if you like to drive and happen to be cruising by the Lambert Bridge Roundabout, be sure to say at least once: “Hey kids look, there’s Big Ben, and there’s Parliament”. This joke comes from the 80’s classic movie National Lampoons European Vacation (1985) when Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is driving around the roundabout and is unable to get out for hours.
For food lovers… relaxing time after the weigh in After the weigh in, allow yourself to taste some traditional London working-class food, the Pie and Mash. This minced beef pie served with mashed potato is amazingly flavored. If you hear someone asking for more liquor, don’t be surprised if they drop it off on the plate. It’s an eel sauce served on the side. There are lots of pie houses in London, all of them with that homemade cuisine feeling. If you are lucky, the gentle lady owner of the pie house will serve you a spoon of pie to your mouth to prove that you’re in Grandma’s home. London’s oldest existing pie and mash shop is M. Manze at 87 Tower Bridge Road, established on 1891. This inexpensive and tasty meal costs less than £10 in many places, including beverage. Other traditional option in London is the Fish and Chips. If your diet allows fried food, this is the choice. Authentic British fish and chips consist of a high-quality flaky cod deep-fried in a thin, crispy batter served on a bed of large twice-cooked chips. The Nothing Hill Farmers Market (open every Saturday 9am-1pm) could be a good address to find fresh fish and potatoes to cook your own dish. For sure, the easiest option in one of the several restaurants that offer this dish for a cost of around £5-£8.
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For football lovers… never call it soccer in the UK
Wembley is London’s largest and most prestigious stadium. It’s the home of the England football team, the venue for all domestic club competitions such as the world famous FA Cup and hosted both the 2011 and 2013 UEFA Champions League finals. Stadium Tour Cost: Adult = £19 Child = £11. Go behind the scenes at Arsenal Football Club and let a roster of Arsenal stars share their match day experiences with you on a selfguided audio tour of Emirates Stadium. Get ready to take your place in the changing room,
walk down the tunnel and imagine the roar of 60,000 fans. Cost: Adult = £20 Child = £10. The home grounds of one of England’s most popular football teams, Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge is a great place to visit if you’re a fan of the game. You can go behind-the-scenes and see the changing rooms and press area – normally for players only. Learn about the history and victories of one of football’s greatest teams through this fascinating interactive tour. Cost: Adult = £22 Child = £13.
Top 10 free things to do in London before or after competition
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For fitness buffs, burn off some calories by jogging around Hyde Park, which covers 350 acres (142 hectares) and listen London’s most vocal orators share their opinions with the world at Speaker’s Corner.
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For guard passers, watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace daily at 11:30AM from April to July and between 10:15AM and 11:45AM on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from January to March, weather permitting.
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If you like a good old rear naked choke (mata-leão), take a selfie with the stone lions at Trafalgar Square.
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For mixed martial artists, discover for free the works of arts by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Renoir and Van Gogh at the National Gallery and admire masterpieces by Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Dalí, Pollock and Warhol at the Tate Modern.
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For natural champions, hold a genuine bar of gold at the Bank of England Museum.
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For a good time, enjoy a giggle at Angel Comedy Club, which offers free comedy shows every night of the week.
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For all fighters, visit the London Wall, the remains of the Roman wall which was built in AD 200 and was once part of the eastern defenses of Roman city of Londinium.
For the more brave, come faceto-face with a roaring T-Rex and experience the earthquake simulator at the Natural History Museum.
For a relaxing time after workout, follow the towpath through quiet Little Venice to discover a slew of waterfront cafes and pubs just to the north of Paddington. For everyone, soak up on the sweeping views across the river Thames and Central London from Greenwich Park.
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Number 01 - 2017
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