2
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
3
4
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
5
6
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
7
8
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
9
Jiu-Jitsu World #18
WHAT’S INSIDE 34
The Highest Achievers The class of 2019 ADWPJJC black belt champions reached a rarely seen level of excellence to give the 2018/2019 season the grand finale it deserved with epic matches in Abu Dhabi
20
Self-Made Champion
Norway’s Tommy Langaker developed a personal style of Jiu-Jitsu with equal amounts of freedom, creativity and love for fighting.
10
62
Jiu-Jitsu for Life Seasoned champions teach by example and leave blood and tears on the mats to reach the top in the masters division at the 2019 ADWPJJC
Jiu-Jitsu World
t
70
International Talent Champions from all over the world prove that Jiu-Jitsu is stronger than ever as they claim their gold medals in the 2019 ADWPJJC
MORE 14 Greetings
Join us in this Exciting New Journey
H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi
16 Editorial
Welcoming Bigger Challenges Ahead Ivan Trindade
24 Get Social
Global Community
76
Mission to Inspire Para-Athletes and young competitors give a big lesson of devotion and passion for Jiu-Jitsu in three full days of matches in Abu Dhabi
82
Talent and Effort Recognized The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards celebrated the completion of another glorious season with a night of gala for the sport’s heroes
Number 18 - 2019
The 2019 ADWPJJC went viral on social media as people from all over the world converged to Abu Dhabi to be a part of Jiu-Jitsu history
28
AJP Athlete’s Ranking
How to build your route to the top Rodrigo Valerio
90 A New Era for Jiu-Jitsu
Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour (AJP) launches with the mission of taking the sport to higher levels of professionalism
94 Around the Globe
Jiu-Jitsu takes over the world
104 Opinion
The Living Legend, The Viking and The Prodigy Mohammed Al Housani
106 UAE News
Welcome to the Capital of Jiu-Jitsu
110 Lifestyle Tips
The Key to Healthy Eating Sophia McDermott
11
12
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
13
Greetings
Join Us in this Exciting New Journey
14
Jiu-Jitsu World
H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi
Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) and the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP)
The 2019 ADWPJJC was the Grand Finale the 2018/2019 season deserved. The best competitors of all ages and skill levels once again gathered to test their skills and decide on the mats who’s the best. The global Jiu-Jitsu community turned its attention to Abu Dhabi, as it is truly the Home of Jiu-Jitsu. All the action was then crowned with an epic day of black belt finals that treated the crowd with matches that became instant classics. The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards, on April 27, at the Emirates Palace Hotel, gave our heroes the recognition they deserved. Both locally and globally, athletes and officials received their trophies after so much effort and talent displayed on and off the mats. The presence of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Transport, to present the winners with their trophies made the occasion even more special. As we look ahead to the 2019/2020 season, we are proud to announce big changes that will benefit all of those involved in our circuit of competitions. The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) is born with the purpose of taking the sport to never before levels of professionalism and excellence. Our team of highly qualified specialists will work their hardest to present athletes, organizers, partners and officials the best product possible. The first major stop is already scheduled June 1516, as the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour lands in Moscow, Russia. A new powerful market is opening for the gentle art. Join us in this journey! We once again would like to express our gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, for his continuous support of Jiu-Jitsu. His Highness has always been a source of inspiration for us and we are fortunate to have him on our side.
Number 18 - 2019
15
Editorial #18
Chairman: H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi CEO: Fahad Al Shamsi Executive Manager: Rodrigo Valerio Editor in Chief: Ivan Trindade Editor: Ane Nunes Design: Henrique Diniz Editorial Production: Gentle Art Media Advertising Director: Ane Nunes Newsroom: news@jiujitsuworldmag.com Advertise with us: marketing@jiujitsuworldmag.com Customer Care: info@jiujitsuworldmag.com
Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine - Head Office: Capital Tower, 17th Floor 33rd St - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates PO BOX 110004
Follow us
jiujitsuworldmag jiujitsuworldmag
Welcoming Bigger Challenges Ahead
jitsuworldmag Printed in the UAE, UK, USA, Russia and Brazil Copyright Š 2019 Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine. All rights reserved. All reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the publisher’s written authorization.
www.jiujitsuworldmag.com
L Photo by Ane Nunes Artwork by Henrique Diniz
16
ife only makes sense when you make an effort to take one step ahead every time you move. Here at Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine we make sure each new issue is a little better than the previous one. It can be anything, a new columnist, an interview with the competitor of the moment, valuable tips oh health and fitness. Each member of our team knows that his or her job is to reach the highest level of quality on the product we are offering our readers. Jiu-Jitsu World 18 is the third edition since our launch in 2017 to cover the biggest
Jiu-Jitsu tournament there is, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. It is without a doubt the best one so far. The 11th edition of the ADWPJJC, on April 20-26, 2019, once again brought the Jiu-Jitsu community together in the sports global capital of Abu Dhabi. Our team landed in the UAE ready to report on all the thrills that took over the state of the art Mubadala Arena on the seven days of competition. We witnessed it all and now we bring it to our readers
Jiu-Jitsu World
special features on each one of the age groups and skill levels that stepped on the mats. From kids to masters, from para-athletes to black belt stars, all heroes have their space on our pages. Our photographers pushed the buttons on their cameras more than 50,000 times. Our editors went through tens of thousands of images to select the best. Our reporters talked to hundreds of people to bring their takes on all the action and wrote thousands of words to tell their stories. Our design team worked hours and hours to find the best solutions and build the most attractive pages for your visual pleasure.
Number 18 - 2019
It all came together in this luxury120-page edition, once again a document for posterity. Another thing with life is that it waits for no one. As we send JJW18 to the presses, our team will already be packed for another overseas trip, the first one in the 2019/2020 season. Now under the flag of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam lands in Moscow, Russia, on June 15-16, for the inaugural event of the season. Once again, we will be ready to bring you the best live coverage there is. Stay tuned to Instagram on @ajptour and @jiujitsuworldmag.
Continuing with our motto of always improving, we ask you to stop by our website jiujitsuworldmag.com to check out the new and improved layout and exciting features. It’s the place where you can find all of our past issues free to read online. You’ll also find the latest news on the AJP season and valuable info on how to be part of the movement. We hope to see you there. Stay on the mats and have a great read!
Ivan Trindade
Editor in Chief
17
18
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
19
INTERVIEW
Self-Made Champion Norway’s Tommy Langaker developed a personal style of Jiu-Jitsu with equal amounts of freedom, creativity and love for fighting. In an exclusive interview, the 77kg division gold medalist in the 2019 ADWPJJC shares the secrets that allowed him to enter the exclusive club of black belt champions Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
Jiu-Jitsu World: What can you tell us about how you started training Jiu-Jitsu? Tommy Langaker: I started training traditional Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 9. I developed a love for fighting and as almost everyone else starting out on this journey, I wanted to fight MMA. At the age of 17 and feeling tired from traditional Jiu-Jitsu, I came across BJJ. We were fortunate enough to have then purple belt Luis Alberto Armas visiting our city and he planted the seed of Jiu-Jitsu there. After he went back to Peru we had a choice of either just stop and fall off or train. With no instructor for a long time we had the luxury of using our imagination to develop techniques while sparring, which has now become a key success to our style. Who were the biggest influences in your career on the mats until becoming a black belt? What were the most important lessons they taught you? I cant really say I had any big influencers, of course there were motivators, but I was and I still am motivated to just fight. I just like to fight and feeling superior in such a physical and tactical sport. That’s one hell of a feeling. Fighting is in my blood. I have dedicated my life to it and I will continue to do so for the
20
rest of my life. When I’m done competing, new Norwegian men will take my spot and crush everyone else. Norway has won the last two gold medals in the ADWPJJC 77kg division, with Espen Mathiesen and yourself. How do you see the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu in your country and in Scandinavia? The growth of Scandinavian Jiu-Jitsu has been slow, but now its picking up. A lot! We finally see what we are capable off. We have never had world champions to teach us, to guide us, to motivate us. We had ourselves. There is a broad lie that keeps going around that you have to train with the best, to be the best. Some parts of this is true but it is easily misinterpreted. Its true that to become the best you have to train with the best, but you don’t have to move far away. If you had to pick three aspects of your life on and off the mats that were important for your success, what would they be? Just travel to the big gyms, exchange techniques and learn how to think. Try to beat up everyone and learn from what you did wrong. Bring the information and techniques back home, teach it to your training partners and from there develop as a
Jiu-Jitsu World
“
I just like to fight and feeling superior in such a physical and tactical sport. That’s one hell of a feeling
“
Number 18 - 2019
21
Freedom to experiment led to a diverse style that caught the attention of the public to Langaker
His approach to Jiu-Jitsu allows Langaker to soak up and learn from every experience on the mats
With innovative techniques, Langaker is able to catch his opponents by surprise
team and not as an individual. What people seem to forget is that everyone is human, therefore everyone makes mistakes. Fighting is about capitalizing on your opponents’ mistakes and strike when they are weak. What tips can you give athletes that are just starting and dream of becoming high level black belt competitors? The only tips I can give are: Don’t be afraid to fail and don’t fight for someone else. Do it because you love it. Be like a sponge, soak up all the information you get in touch with. Some will be lost, but that’s part of the process. Keep the constant flow. You have been active in the UAEJJF (now AJP) circuit. How important it is for Jiu-Jitsu to have a professional environment that rewards athletes monetarily for their dedication and results? The UAEJJF did a great job in developing the professional part of Jiu-Jitsu . It helps it grow and pushes other organizations to better themselves.
22
Great results like the gold medal at the 2019 ADWPJJC are the proof that Langaker is on the right path
Jiu-Jitsu World
PRIVATE BEACH LIVING
Number 18 - 2019
ACCESS FROM SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD
GATED ISLAND
MARINA LIFESTYLE
23
GET SOCIAL
Global Community The 2019 ADWPJJC went viral on social media as people from all over the world converged to Abu Dhabi to be a part of Jiu-Jitsu history Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Instagram
As the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship landed on Abu Dhabi for the 11th year in a row, the Jiu-Jitsu crowd followed in an annual pilgrimage in search of writing their names in history. The mat people took over the UAE capital as they took their time off the mats to visit the gorgeous sights the city has to offer. They also flooded their timelines on social media to share their experience before, after and sometimes even during their time on the mats. In the next two pages, we will showcase the best images we collected from Instagram that used the hashtag #adwpjjc19. You’ll find images of triumph, happiness, friendship, effort, pride and struggle. The ADWPJJC is an one of a kind competition and the images in this pages prove just that. As the 2019/2020 season kicks off, we hope you’ll continue to share your experiences online. Our first stop is in Moscow, on June 15-16. Share your posts and don’t forget to use the hashtags #adgsmoscow and #abudhabigrandslam. See you in Russia.
Follow us on the social media /jiujitsuworldmag @jiujitsuworldmag @jitsuworldmag www.jiujitsuworldmag.com
24
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
25
26
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
27
AJP Athlete’s Ranking
How to build your route to the top Understanding the AJP athletes ranking
Words: Rodrigo ValĂŠrio, | Image: Ane Nunes
28
Jiu-Jitsu World
The New AJP World Ranking Format Based on rules of the Olympic Charter, the Qualification System aims to ensure that the principles of universality, performance, country, representation and gender equity, remain the focus for the AJP participation. In addition, a number of other technical principles and rules have been established to provide a basis for the development of the AJP Qualification System. The ranking is the most fair way of awarding the effort and the talent of each athlete that signs up to one of the AJP 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. The next pages will explain how the ranking works and the new changes. Have a good read, put on your gi and go out there to add points right away.
How does the ranking work and what are the main changes?
The raking period will be in general for 24 months. The Seven (7) best results during next season (12 months’ period) will count + one extra (8th) result from the Continental Pro + the result of Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship, starting from May 1st, 2019. The points for each individual tournament will expire as follows: • From May 1, 2019 to April 30th, 2020 the points will count 100%. • After May 1, 2020 the points will be reduced to 50%. • After May 1, 2021 the points will be reduced to 0 and not count anymore. The dividing line is the first week of May 2020. Example: If tournament is held in first week of May 2019, the points are reduced to half on the first week on May 2020 and expired in the first week of May 2021.
How to add points in the ranking?
You add points in the ranking by at least participating in one of the events of the AJP calendar (the current calendar started on May 1, 2019 and ends on April 30, 2020). There are five kinds of events in terms of how many points you’ll get: ADWPJJC; Abu Dhabi Grand Slam; Continental Pro; National Pro; International Pro;
Here are the number of points athletes will earn on each event depending on their performance.
Number 18 - 2019
29
How many rankings are there?
The AJP 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 has its own ranking starting with white belts. You also have a ranking in the male master division, an academy ranking, continental and country rankings. There are also No-Gi rankings. Here are a few examples of how to count an athlete’s points.
For what else is the ranking used for by the AJP? 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. In addition the ranking will be used to select fighters for the new Abu Dhabi King of Mats through Continental Ranking and Grand Slam Placements. 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 AJP will not change an athlete’s team during the same season. Another features to be implemented are that athletes will get points for not only placements, but also for each matches won. For example, athletes can get a certain point for a gold medal, but will also earn extra points for each win. So if athletes win a really large bracket that could lead award more points than smaller brackets. On top on that athletes will be awarded even extra points for different type of wins, for example winning by advantage or by submissions.
30
Are there any more novelties in the ranking for the 20192020 season? In case of equality of total RANK points, the higher ranking will be decided by:
1. The highest sum of the current points from World Pro. 2. The highest sum of the current points from all Grand Slams. 3. The highest sum of the current points from all Continental Pro, followed by National Pro, International Pro and Regional Championships. 4. The highest current points from one single event, then, if needed, the second highest, and so on. 5. If the competitors are still equal the decision will be taken by the number of matches done by the fighter through the season, followed by the fastest submission(s) or who made more points during the matches in case of World Pro Qualification. Scan here for more info https://ajptour.com/en/rankings/ajp-world-rank-definitions
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
31
32
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
33
2019 ADWPJJC
The class of 2019 ADWPJJC black belt champions reached a rarely seen level of excellence to give the 2018/2019 season the grand finale it deserved with epic matches in Abu Dhabi
34
Jiu-Jitsu World
Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes, Ivan Trindade, Kinya Hashimoto
For seven days, Abu Dhabi became the center of the Jiu-Jitsu universe for the 11th year in a row. The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship landed on the UAE capital city on April 20-26 to kick off the second decade of the most important event in the history of the sport. Athletes from all over the world converged to the Mubadala Arena in search of the ultimate glory that
Number 18 - 2019
is to become an ADWPJJC champion. The adult black belt division for men and the adult brown/black belt division for women were the pinnacle of excellence and once again captured the attention of the crowd on the stands and also those watching online and on TV at home. In the next pages, you will relive the thrills and remember the journey of each champion on their way to become a Jiu-Jitsu hero.
35
Adult Male Black Belt
56 kg
One step down towards the top
Hiago George decided to drop six kilos for a chance to win his second gold medal as a black belt in the ADWPJJC. The decision proved a wise one. Competing one class under his usual competition weight, Hiago was able to make his way to the top of the podium. Here’s how he did it. In the Country Qualifiers, Carlos Alberto Oliveira beat Alex Lira 2-0, then finished Oziel Carvalho and outscored Cleber Fernandes 6-2. The final match was against
Carlos Alberto Oliveira Brazil
36
Hiago George Brazil
2018 ADWPJJC champion JosĂŠ Lima. An armbar finish granted Bebeto the spot in the main bracket. In the Main Bracket, each finalist fought three times to secure their spot in the gold medal match. Hiago George finished Massaki Todokoro with an armbar, then finished Andrea Verdemare and closed his campaign with another submission on Nobuhiro Sawada. Bebeto Oliveira first outscored Todokoro 4-0, then beat Sawada 8-0 and finally finished Verdemare. The Final against a very game Carlos Alberto Oliveira was decided by details. A 2-0 lead on advantages was the edge Hiago needed to celebrate the gold medal.
Massaki Todokoro Japan
Jiu-Jitsu World
“
Even if our body wears out, your spirit is renewed everyday. Sacrifice is temporary while the glory is forever.
“
Hiago George
Number 18 - 2019
37
62 kg Dreamlike Ending João Gabriel Sousa set a goal for himself at the beginning of the 2018/2019 season. He wanted to finish it as the leader of the adult male black belt ranking. His journey ended in complete success at the 2019 ADWPJJC. Here’s how Gabriel had a perfect ending to his yearlong mission. In the Country Qualifiers João Miyao fought twice to secure his spot in the main bracket. He first beat Danilo Barbosa 9-0 to advance to the final against Pablo Mantovani. A 4-2 lead was enough for Miyao to take the win. In the Main Bracket, both finalists fought three times to secure the chance of competing for the gold medal. João Miyao first caught Alex Alduncin with an omoplata, then beat Mohd Ali Hayat via DQ and finally finished Virgílio Carvalho. Gabriel Sousa debuted with a 29-0 win over Alduncin, then finished Carvalho and Ali Hayat. In the gold medal match,Gabriel beat João Miyao 2-1 on advantages in a very strategic match. As the clock marked zero, Gabriel was finally able to burst in celebrations after an entire year of battles.
João Miyao Brazil
38
João Gabriel Sousa Brazil
Alex Alducin Mexico
“
It was an year of sacrifice, wins, defeats, happiness and learning. It was incredible and I could never had done it alone!
“
João Gabriel Sousa
Number 18 - 2019
39
“
Life can be seen as a choir or a miracle. I choose to see each breath, each step, each moment as a miracle.!
“
Paulo Miyao
40
Jiu-Jitsu World
69 kg Champion by Fire Paulo Miyao took the long way to the top of the podium. He needed to compete in the Brazil Qualifiers to earn the right for a spot in the main bracket. With talent and relentless drive, he carved his way to the his second title in a row as a black belt in the ADWPJJC. Here’s how he did it. In the Country Qualifiers, Paulo Miyao had to fight twice to make it to the main bracket. He first beat Murilo Amaral 2-0 and then outscored Hilton Silva 14-0 in the final. In the Main Bracket, the finalists made their way to the gold medal match after beating three opponents each. Paulo Miyao first beat Mehdi Allaoui 9-0, then outscored Jan Basso 11-0 to finally finish Jorge Nakamura with a triangle. Isaac Doederlein had a tough first match against Lucas Galbusera, winning via referees decision. Then, he finished Aleksander Jablonski and caught Yijad Moussa with an armbar. In the gold medal match, Paulo faced well-known and always tough rival Isaac Doederlein. A nail-biter, the match was decided by one penalty to Isaac that gave Miyao the edge after a 2-2 tie on points.
Number 18 - 2019
Isaac Doederlein
Paulo Miyao
Jan Basso
USA
Brazil
Germany
41
“
I can’t describe into words the feeling of winning. The grind continues and many more titles will come.
“
Tommy Langaker
42
Jiu-Jitsu World
77 kg
Norwegian Territory Tommy Langaker had the responsibility to keep the gold medal in the weight class in his home country. After Espen Mathiesen won in 2018, Langaker wanted to become the second Norwegian to win the division. It was not easy. Here’s how he did it. In the Country Qualifiers, Guilherme Rocha fought four times to reach the main bracket. He debuted with a 2-0 win over Flavio Vianna and moved on to outscore Michael Douglas 6-0 in the quarterfinals. The spot in the final came with a 2-0 win over Antonio Silva. The final opponent was Tiago Bravo, beat with a narrow 3-2 lead on advantages. In the Main Bracket, Oliver Lovell had no time to rest as his first match was against Australia’s standout Levi Jones-Leary, finished with a knee bar. Then Lovell beat Darragh O’ Connaill 2-0 on advantages and finally beat Bradley Hill 1-0 on advantages in the semifinals. Tommy Langaker debuted with a referee decision win over Christian Dellevag to meet Diego Ramalho in the quarterfinals and win with a 4-0 lead. The semifinal was against Guilherme Rocha and a narrow 3-2 lead on advantages put Langaker in the gold medal match. In the final match, Langaker found a choke from the back to finish Oliver Lovell and make sure the belt stayed in Scandinavia.
Number 18 - 2019
Oliver Lovell
Tommy Langaker
Diego Ramalho
UK
Norway
Brazil
43
85 kg Silent Killer Rudson Mateus keeps a very low profile as a competitor while always reaching the final stages of each competition he enters. In the 2019 ADWPJJC, it was not different. Here’s how he won his first gold medal as a black belt in Abu Dhabi. In the Country Qualifiers, Matheus Godoy fought two times to reach the main bracket. A 1-0 lead on advantages over Melksedec Franco followed by a WO win over Igor Sousa took him to the final against Thiago Sá. Godoy made it through with a 3-1 lead on advantages after a 2-2 tie on points. In the Main Bracket, the UAE’s Faisal Al Ketbi fought twice to reach the finals. He first beat American Devhonte Johnson by referees decision following a 0-0 tie. The semifinal put Faisal against DJ Jackson and a 2-1 lead on advantages made him a finalist. Rudson Mateus secured the right to compete for the gold medal with an armbar finish over David Willis to meet William Dias in the semifinal and win via referees decision after a 0-0 tie on points. In the final, Faisal Al Ketbi fought bravely and managed to take the match in a tie until the very end. With a 2-2 on points in the scoreboard, two out of the three referees decided in favor of Rudson.
44
Faisal Al Ketbil
Rudson Mateus
DJ Jackson
UAE
Brazil
USA
Jiu-Jitsu World
“
Victory is certain, but do not hurry it. Walk up step by step until you reach the top.
“
Rudson Mateus
Number 18 - 2019
45
94 kg
Golden Debut
It’s not easy to debut in a tournament like the ADWPJJC and win the gold medal in your first year as a black belt. That’s what Kaynan Duarte did, beating much more experience opponents in almost every match of the campaign. In the Country Qualifiers, Kaynan made it to the main bracket after two matches. He first beat Renato Cardoso 2-0 and then met up with Jackson Sousa to build a 6-0 lead for the win. In the Main Bracket, Kaynan became a finalist after three matches. He first beat Anton Minenko 2-0 to meet Nicolas Penzer and win
46
by submission. The semifinal was against no other that 2018 ADWPJJC champion Erberth Santos. Kaynan managed a sweep to build a 2-0 lead. Adam Wardzinski first beat Rida Haisam via referees decision and then caught Basel Fanous with a choke from the mount in the semifinal. Kaynan Duarte was on fire and the gold medal match was short-lived. He quickly found a leg lock to finish Adam Wardzinski and claim the gold medal and the belt, his first as a black belt at the ADWPJJC.
Adam Wardzinski
Kaynan Duarte
Anton Minenko
Poland
Brazil
Australia
“
I fight for the feeling of winning, but I am thankful for every moment on the mat
“
Kaynan Duarte
Number 18 - 2019
47
“
Nobody said it was going to be easy. Be strong always
“
João Gabriel Rocha
48
Jiu-Jitsu World
110 kg Long Way to Glory João Gabriel Rocha took no shortcut to win the gold medal at the 2019 ADWPJJC. He had to compete for three days and step on the mats seven times. Here’s how he climbed to the top of the podium. In the Country Qualifiers, João Gabriel fought three times to reach the main bracket. He first finished Mauricio Lima with an armbar followed by a 2-1 lead on advantages over Rodrigo Ribeiro. In the final, Rocha beat Matheus Felipe Xavier 4-2 on points. In three matches in the Main Bracket, João Gabriel made his way to the final. He first caught Keunwoo Kim with a toe hold. Then he outscored Khasan Varando 4-0 to meet Ricardo Evangelista in the semifinal. A 2-0 lead on advantages put João in the final. The UAE’s Yahia Al Hammadi fought twice to secure a spot in the final. He first beat Walter dos Santos via referees decision and then beat Paulo Brasil in the semifinal also via referees decision. In the Final, João Gabriel wasted no time to find his way to victory and his first gold medal as a black belt at the ADWPJJC. He worked his way to the back of Yahia Al Hammadi and finished the match with a choke.
Number 18 - 2019
Yahia Al Hammadi
João Gabriel Rocha
Ricardo Evangelista
UAE
Brazil
Brazil
49
ADULT FEMALE BROWN/BLACK BELT
49 kg
The Only One No athlete has been able to dethrone Mayssa since the 49kg weight class was introduced to the ADWPJJC in 2017. With her lethal back takes and chokes from the mount, the GF Team athlete remains undefeated in the division. In the Country Qualifiers, Thamires Aquino fought twice to win her spot in the main bracket. She first finished Isabela Couti. A WO win over Sayuri Toledo led to the final match against Tatiane Nunes, finished with a choke from the back. In the Main Bracket, Mayssa Bastos made her way to the final with an undefeated campaign in three matches. She caught Thamires Aquino and Elina Moestan with chokes from the back and then met with Serena Gabrieli in the semifinals to win with another choke from the back. Thamires made it to the semifinals after beating Elina Moestan 1-0. She finished Margarita Ochoa for a spot in the gold medal match. In the Final, Mayssa beat Thamires with a 1-0 lead on advantages to conquer her third belt in the brown/black belt division.
Thamires Aquino Brazil
50
Mayssa Bastos Brazil
Serena Gabrieli Italy
Jiu-Jitsu World
“
Most goals are considered unattainable before you actually go accomplish them
“
Mayssa Bastos
Number 18 - 2019
51
55 kg
The Right Decision Bia Basílio went down one weight class to win her second ADWPJJC title in row as a black belt. She won gold in the 62kg division in 2018, but decided to compete in the 55kg division in 2019. Here’s how she did it. In the Country Qualifiers, Anna Rodrigues had two matches. Two wins earned her a spot in the main bracket. Anna first outscored Tamiris Vieira 5-0 and then met up with Ariadne Oliveira to win by a 4-0 lead on points. In the Main Bracket, both finalists had a full agenda to reach the gold medal match. 2018 ADWPJJC champion Amal Amjahid finished Katjusa Horman, beat Anna Rodrigues 1-0 on advantages and finished Rose El Sharouni. Bianca Basílio finished Rose and Katjusa and beat Anna Rodrigues 3-0 to make it to the final. In the Final, Bia Basílio had a close match against Amal Amjahid. A 4-2 lead on points was the edge that gave Bia her second belt in a row.
52
Amal Amjahid
Bianca Basílio
Anna Rodrigues
Belgium
Brazil
Brazil
Jiu-Jitsu World
“
Every dream you have, God has already given it to you. All you need to do is go get it.
“
Bia Basílio
Number 18 - 2019
53
“
I’m happy to do what I love and to be an example that is possible to conquer the world if you believe in yourself.
“
Beatriz Mesquita
54
Jiu-Jitsu World
62 kg
Settling the Score Beatriz Mesquita wanted to be back on top. After not making through the Brazilian Qualifiers in 2018, she came back this year with fiery eyes. Here’s how she made her way to the title. In the Country Qualifiers, Bia was merciless. She finished both of her opponents on her way to the main bracket. A choke from the back on Natalia Zumba followed by another choke from the back on Deborah Santos were the weapons Mesquita presented on the mats of Abu Dhabi. In the Main Bracket, Bia debuted with an armbar finish on Julia Maele followed by a choke from the back on Larissa Paes in the semifinal. Ffion Davis also fought two times to make it to the gold medal match. She caught Nicole Sullivan with an armbar and then finished Kira Sung with a bow and arrow choke. In the final, Bia was behind 2-0 in the scoreboard after Ffion Davies managed a sweep. With less than three minutes to go, Bia increased the pace and managed a sweep followed by a mount and back take to set the score in a comfortable 10-2 lead for the win.
Number 18 - 2019
Ffion Davies
Beatriz Mesquita
Kira Sung
UK
Brazil
South Korea
55
“
No one but myself will write my own story.
“
Thamara Silva
56
Jiu-Jitsu World
70 kg Thamara Silva took the division by storm in the 2018/2019 season of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, winning four gold medals in five events. The grand finale came with the gold medal at the ADWPJJC. Here’s how she did it. In the Main Bracket, three matches for each finalist. Thamara first beat Yara Kakish by referees decision and then outscored Alessandra Moss 4-0. In
The Woman in Charge the semifinal, Thamara beat Samantha Cook 4-2 on advantages. Moss debuted with a loss to Thamara, but then beat Yara Kakish 2-1 on advantages and met up with Vedha Toscano in the semifinal to win by one penalty. In the final, Thamara caught Alessandra Moss with an armbar to finish the match and celebrate an amazing season.
Alessandra Moss
Thamara Silva
Samantha Cook
New Zealand
Brazil
UK
57
90 kg Simply Unbeatable No other name was written in the first place slot of the 90kg weight class in the 2018/2019 season. Gabrieli Pessanha won all five ADGS events and finished in awesome fashion with gold at the ADWPJJC. In the Country Qualifiers, two matches, two triangle chokes, two wins and a spot in the main bracket for Nathiely de Jesus. She finished Ewelyn Arruda and Rafaela Bertolot to secure her spot in the battle for the gold medal. In the Main Bracket, Gabi fought twice to reach the final. She first beat Shantelle Thompson 4-0 and then waged war against Nathiely in the semifinal, making through to the final with a narrow 1-0 lead on advantages. Claire-France Thevenon fought only once to beat Marta Szarecka 3-2 on advantages and make it to the gold medal match. In the final, Gabi caught Claire-France with a triangle to seal the deal.
58
Claire-France Thevenon
Gabrieli Pessanha
Nathiely de Jesus
France
Brazil
Brazil
Jiu-Jitsu World
“
Focus on the good side of life. Learn with the bad and go after new good moments
“
Gabrieli Pessanha
Number 18 - 2019
59
60
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
61
2019 ADWPJJC / MASTERS
Seasoned champions teach by example and leave blood and tears on the mats to reach the top in the masters division at the 2019 ADWPJJC Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
The masters division took over the mats of the Mubadala Arena on April 23 for an exclusive day of competition for athletes over 30 years old. The atmosphere was wholesome with Professors competing and students cheering on the stands. On the mats, the feeling of camaraderie was predominant as athletes in the masters division have a slightly different approach to competition. It’s not about winning at any cost, but really about having fun and enjoying the fact that you are part of a global community of good. Masters 1 to 4, from blue belt to black belt, treated the crowds on the stands and watching at home with thrilling matches throughout the day. With smiles on their faces and gis soaked in sweat for the effort on the mats, they wrote another chapter in the long and proud history as Jiu-Jitsu competitors. In the next pages, you’ll be able to relive the thrills of an action-packed day in Abu Dhabi.
62
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
63
MASTER 1 Portugal’s Juan Lopes da Silva fought four times in a all against all bracket in the 56kg division. He beat three of his opponents, two by submission to finish the bracket in first place
In four matches, José Barros made his way to the top of the podium of the 62kg division. In the final, he met up with the UAE’s Musabbeh Al Khateri, who fought twice to reach the gold medal match. The title was decided when Barros caught Khateri with a choke from the back
There was no easy match for Tamara Rocha in the 55kg division
Sergio Rios made his way to the title in four matches in the 77kg division. The final challenge was Chile’s Pierpaolo Chiappe. Rios worked his game efficiently to build a 8-2 lead and secure the gold medal
Three matches, three wins, two submissions. That’s how Marcos Tinoco built his path to the gold medal in in the 85kg division. In the final, he beat Australia’s David Willis 6-0 with a powerful top game to finish the 2018/2019 season in high fashion
64
Ana Maria Ardisson fought hard to win the 49kg division
Jiu-Jitsu World
Male Black Belt 56kg
Juan Lopes da Silva
Portugal
Jorge dos Santos Brazil
Albert Santanna Brazil
62kg José Barros
Brazil
Musabbeh Al Khateri UAE
Gabriel Moraes Brazil
69kg
Thiago Marques
Brazil
Talib Saleh Brazil
Daisuke Nakamura Japan
77kg Sergio Rios
Thiago Marques fought three times to claim the gold medal in the 69kg division. He finished two of his opponents and met up with the UAE’s Talib Saleh to fight for the title. A 2-1 lead on advantages after a 2-2 tie on points granted Thiago the top of the podium
Brazil
Pierpaolo Chiappe Chile
Marcos Paulo Costa Brazil
85kg Marcos Tinoco
Brazil
David Willis Australia
Stefano Correa Brazil
94kg
Renato Cardoso
Brazil
Melksedec Franco Brazil
Dean Liebenberg Australia
104kg Igor Silva
Brazil
Renato Cardoso had to go through an all against all bracket in the 94kg division and walked out of it with a perfect record. He beat all of his four opponents, three by submission. The final opponent was fellow Brazilian Melksedec Franco. A wrist lock was the finishing touch on Renato’s campaign for the gold medal
Antonio Junior United Kingdom
Ricardo Evangelista Brazil
Female Brown/Black 49kg
Anna Carolina Ardisson Brazil
Hanna Hayduchenko Ukraine
Tatiane Nunes Brazil
55kg Tamara Rocha Brazil
Aline Coelho Brazil
Katjusa Horman Finland
62kg
Eloisa Perez Spain
Jane Minondo Canada
Priscilla Santos Brazil
70kg Igor Silva fought twice to become the 110kg division champion. He first finished Ricardo Evangelista in the semifinal to face Antonio Junior for the gold medal. A unanimous referees decision after a 0-0 tie on points was enough for Igor to celebrate the title
Polyana Lago Brazil
Anne Andersen United Kingdom
Katia Pina Brazil
Number 18 - 2019
65
MASTER 2
Male Black Belt 62kg Leandro da Silva Brazil
Valmyr Neto Brazil
69kg
Sergio Calderon
With a unanimous referees decision win after a 2-2 tie on points, Leandro da Silva beat Valmir Neto for the black belt 62kg division gold medal
Spain
Marcos Santos Brazil
Pakisi Nginga Angola
77kg Rodrigo Campos Brazil
Wisam Ahmad Jordan
Peterson Souza Brazil
85kg Alexandre Moreno Brazil
Reriano Couto Brazil
Carlos Alexandre Rodrigues Brazil
94kg
Paulo Pinto Brazil
Raphael Souza Brazil
Nilson Braga Australia
104kg Antonio Peinado Brazil
Mezouari Fousi France
Emilio Junior Brazil
66
Rodrigo Campos found a choke from side control to finish Wisam Ahmad and take the black belt 77kg division gold medal home
Jiu-Jitsu World
Spain’s Sergio Calderon caught Brazil’s Marcos Santos with an armlock to conquer the title in the black belt 69kg division
With a 2-0 lead, Alexandre Moreno beat Reriano Couto for the black belt 85kg division title
Paulo Pinto managed a 2-0 lead on Raphael Souza to win the black belt 94kg division title
Number 18 - 2019
Antonio Peinado beat France’s Mezouari Foussi 3-0 with a guard pass to become the black belt 110kg division champion
67
2019 ADWPJJC / Color Belts
International Talent Champions from all over the world prove that Jiu-Jitsu is stronger than ever as they claim their gold medals in the 2019 ADWPJJC Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
From the UAE to Brazil, from Sweden to Cambodia. The color belt divisions at the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship were a true display of international talent. On April 24-25, the best athletes in the world from the blue belt to the brown belt took over the mats to drive the crowd crazy with insane matches that granted them the ultimate glory of becoming ADWPJJC champions, a title few in the world carry. In the blue belt division, the UAE home crowd was on its feet to celebrate two very important gold medals. Reem Abdula ruled over the female 49kg division. She fought five times in one day to reach the final and beat Kazakhstan’s Nazgul Rakhayeva 9-2 and claim the title. In the male division, Emirati jewel Omar Al Fadhli fought through a sea of tough opponents to claim the gold medal. In four matches, he reached the final to beat Brazil’s Ricardo Conceição 6-2 for the gold medal. The purple belt division showed how talent is sprouting all over the globe. The female side featured five champions of five different nationalities in five weigh classes. In the 49kg division, Cambodia’s Jessa Khan gave another display of how talented she is. After becoming a Asian
Games champion, on August 2018, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jessa continued to rule over her weight class. In Abu Dhabi, she fought three times and submitted two of her opponents. In the final, she finished Britain’s Fiona Middleton with an armbar for the gold medal. In the brown belt division, Brazil made a show of force, winning five out seven weight classes. Thalison Soares continued on his victorious path to become a high level black belt with another title in the 56kg weight class. Another standout in the brown belt division was Jonnatas Gracie. He had no easy path in the 94kg division. The final against American Roberto Jimenez was a nail biter where Jonnatas was able to find a toehold and take the gold medal home. In the next pages, you’ll find some of the best images from our champions and the complete list of winners.
Thalison Soares cruised in the brown belt division on his way to becoming a high level black belt
70
Jiu-Jitsu World
ADULT BLUE BELT FEMALE
49kg
Reem Abdula
55kg
Julia Alves
62kg
Astrid Scholin
70kg
Larissa Santos
90kg
Scarlett Anstiss-Liljefors
UAE
Brazil
Sweden Brazil
Sweden
MALE
56kg
Nathaniel Fernandes
62kg
Omar Al Fadhli
69kg
Uanderson de Oliveira
77kg
Vinicius Bueno
85kg
Rui Neto
94kg
Yago Oliveira
110kg
Robson Chaves
Brazil UAE
Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil
ADULT PURPLE BELT FEMALE
The UAE’s Omar Al Fadhli crowned an impressive campaign to win the blue belt 62kg weight class with a promotion to the purple belt rank at the 2019 ADWPJJC podium
The work in the UAE schools is already revealing great talent such as Reem Abdula, winner of the blue belt 49kg weight class
49kg
Jessa Khan
55kg
Annie Ramirez
62kg
Margot Ciccarelli
70kg
Larissa de Almeida
90kg
Katiuscia Dias
Cambodia
Philippines Italy
Brazil
Portugal
MALE
56kg
Roiter Lima
62kg
Fabricio Junior
69kg
Ronaldo Estrada
77kg
Jansen Ramos
85kg
Tainan Dalpra
94kg
Erich dos Santos
110kg
Anderson Munis
Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil
ADULT BROWN BELT MALE
Jessa Khan proved the strength of Jiu-Jitsu in Asia with a gold medal for Cambodia in the purple belt 49kg division
Number 18 - 2019
56kg
Thalison Soares
62kg
Huseyn Abaszada
69kg
Diego Batista
77kg
Jeferson Guaresi
85kg
Ronaldo Junior
94kg
Jonnatas Gracie
110kg
Guilherme Jardim
Brazil
Norway Brazil Brazil Brazil Brazil
Portugal
71
No neck was safe in the blue belt division at the 2019 ADWPJJC
The Philippines’ Annie Ramirez (white gi) was another international star to shine in Abu Dhabi and win the purple belt 55kg division
72
Jiu-Jitsu World
Brazil’s Tainan Dalpra is another upcoming talent already writing his name in ADWPJJC history with a gold medal in the purple belt 85kg weight class
Jonnatas Gracie had no easy match on his way to the title in the brown belt 94kg division
Brazil’s Ronaldo Junior ran through opposition on his way to the top of the podium in the brown belt 85kg division.
TEAMS & NATIONS ACADEMY
PSLPB Cicero Costha 5136pts
Number 18 - 2019
COUNTRY
Alliance 6448pts
GF Team 4816pts
UAE
Brazil
Russia
14624pts
28656pts
5472pts
73
74
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
75
2019 ADWPJJC / Para Jiu-Jitsu, Teens and Kids
Mission to Inspire
Para-Athletes and young competitors give a big lesson of devotion and passion for Jiu-Jitsu in three full days of matches in Abu Dhabi Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes, UAEJJF
The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship kicked off on April 20 with the always inspiring para Jiu-Jitsu division. Hundreds of athletes from all over the world came together to share their love for the sport and their incredible examples of dedication and capacity to overcome adversities. On April 21-22, it was time for the young talents at the kids and teen divisions to take center stage and showcase the valuable lessons they learned at their schools around the globe. In the next pages, you’ll be able to relive the thrills of those three days in Abu Dhabi.
76
Jiu-Jitsu World
No obstacle was big enough for our athletes to overcome in Abu Dhabi
All the effort put on the mats by para-athletes like Elcirley Silva was rewarded at the podium
Brazil’s Jorge Nakamura was one of the many para-athletes who also competed in the able-bodied divisions
Boys and girls competed like grown ups at the Mubadala Arena
Number 18 - 2019
Jiu-Jitsu is after all a communal activity that bring people together
77
The teens fought their hearts out on the mats
Jiu-Jitsu brought kids from all over the world together to compete for the same goal
78
Smiles were plentiful at the podium in Abu Dhabi
Every inch was fought to the very last second in the teens division
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
79
2019 ADWPJJC / Abu Dhabi Awards
The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards celebrated the completion of another glorious season with a night of gala for the sport’s heroes Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes
The 2019 Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards gathered the global Jiu-Jitsu community on April 27, at the prestigious Emirates Palace, in Abu Dhabi. Athletes, Officials, Organizers, Media Representatives, among others, joined for a night of celebration when the effort, hard work and talent on and off the mats were recognized. His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Department of Transport, was joined by the Chairman of the UAEJJF,
82
Abdulmunan Al Hashemi, to present the winners with the trophies. Those present at the awards ceremony watched a highlights video with some of the most thrilling moments of the 2018/2019 season which spanned over 10 months of action on the mats all over the world. The trophies started being handed out to athletes and entities who had outstanding perform ance throughout the season. Winners came both from the UAE and from all over the world. Here’s the complete list of all winners.
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
83
Best Asian Federation
Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation
Best International Academy
GF Team 84
Best Male Player of the Year JoĂŁo Gabriel Sousa (Brazil)
Best European Player
Adam Wardzinski (Poland)
Best Rookie Player
Thalison Soares (Brazil) Jiu-Jitsu World
Best South American Player
Best African Player
JoĂŁo Gabriel Sousa (Brazil)
Walter dos Santos (Angola)
Best Oceanian Player Lee Ting (Australia) Number 18 - 2019
Best North and Central American Player
DJ Jackson (USA)
Best Female Player of the Year Gabrieli Pessanha (Brazil)
Best Master Player
Igor Silva (Brazil) 85
Best Emirati Female Blue Belt
Reem Abdulla
Best Emirati Male Blue Belt
Omar AlFadhli
Best Emirati Male Black Belt
Best Emirati Female Blue Belt Youth
Faisal Al Kitbe
Best Emirati Male Brown Belt
Hamdan Ahmed Alblooshi 86
Hamda Alshekali
Best Emirati Male Purple Belt
Khalifa Mohamed Lal Nassrati Jiu-Jitsu World
Best Emirati Male Blue Belt Youth
Hazza AlQubaisi
Best Emirati Female Purple Belt
Maha Alhinaai
Best Emirati Boys School
Al-Maqam
Best Emirati Girls School
Al-Reef
Number 18 - 2019
Best Emirati Club
Al Wadha Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy 87
88
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
89
AJP TOUR
A New Era for Jiu-Jitsu Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Tour (AJP) launches with the mission of taking the sport to higher levels of professionalism Words: Ivan Trindade | Image: Ane Nunes
90
Jiu-Jitsu World
Welcome to the Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro™ (AJP). This new groundbreaking Professional Jiu-Jitsu Sport Organization is born to revolutionize the world of Jiu-Jitsu competitions. With 78 events in all six continents on each season, the AJP aims to elevate our sport to levels of excellence and professionalism never achieved before. The AJP is the natural evolution of a movement that kicked off in 2009, with the inception of the first Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. The brand new event was born with two main goals: to move Jiu-Jitsu towards professionalism and to make Abu Dhabi the world capital for the sport. Eleven years later, it is clear that both goals were brilliantly achieved. The ADWPJJC has changed the landscape of Jiu-Jitsu competitions, making all of those involved understand that the days of amateurism are long gone. At the same time, Abu Dhabi has become a beacon of development for the sport and a example to be followed. The second major step taken was the creation of the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), in 2012. Under the guidance and with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the UAEJJF quickly became a reference for Jiu-Jitsu both in the UAE and all over the world. Since its creation, the UAEJJF has supported the development of a strong generation of athletes in the UAE. It has also played a leading role in the expansion of an international circuit of tournaments that create the opportunity for the sport to flourish around the planet. The third major step came in the 2015/2016 season, with the creation of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour, a series of anchor events in five of the most important cities in the world. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour will enter its 5th season in 2019/2020 as a complete success. It has been embraced by the global Jiu-Jitsu community. Each one of the events have become the moment athletes get ready for year-round. Host cities Tokyo, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Abu Dhabi and London have turned into continental hubs for the sport. The newly added sixth host city, Moscow, will surely follow the same path of success. As the expansion continues to take place, there was the need to take a step further in the direction of making the operation of all the system run more smoothly. The AJP comes to fulfill that need as it gives a highly qualified team with eleven years of experience in running the professional Jiu-Jitsu movement the focus and the time to dedicate fully to the task of putting out the best product possible for the complete satisfaction of all of those involved, from athletes to fans, but also local organizers, the media and commercial partners. The AJP is under the direction of the International Vision Sports Management (IVSM), which gathers the talents of a selected group of top professionals in the diverse areas of knowledge, including sports management, event production, television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/
Number 18 - 2019
91
that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms. To fulfill that mission, the AJP is working with governmental bodies, private entities, international sports organizations, academies and players in order to achieve the greater goal of uniting the entire Professional Jiu-Jitsu world under one jurisdiction. The first season of the AJP (2019/2020) will consist of a variety of events in all six continent in different levels of competition. They are:
relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/ development, international licensing, marketing, sponsorship, advertising, publicity and commission relations. In its first season, from May 2019 to April 2020, the AJP will organize 78 events all over the world, from regional events to continental and global events that will feature the elite athletes in Jiu-Jitsu today. AJP events will be broadcasted and streamed live to over 10 million people worldwide in over 60 countries. Our media partners include top level sports broadcasters like Abu Dhabi Sports in the UAE, Canal Combate in Brazil, Fox Sports in Europe and FloSports online worldwide. On top of that, the AJP will also have a strong presence in all of today’s major social media channels, offering high level content with elevated potential to become viral. Based on over a decade of expertise in organizing Jiu-Jitsu tournaments all around the world, the AJP team embraces the mission of having Jiu-Jitsu recognized as a legitimate sport and Abu Dhabi home to the world’s premier entertainment events
92
30 International Championships 30 National Pro Championships 6 Continental Championships 6 Abu Dhabi Grand Slams 4 Abu Dhabi King of Mats 1 Abu Dhabi World Cup 1 Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship The AJP main goals are to make Jiu-Jitsu a profitable enterprise for all of those involved in it and also make it as entertaining as possible for those watching and competing in it. It aims to create a strong and stable system that’s profitable for pro players and provides entertainment for fans in the long-term. The AJP is working daily to create that environment and it would like to invite all of those who love Jiu-Jitsu to be a part of this incredible journey that begins now!
Scan here for more info
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
93
AROUND THE GLOBE Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: AJP
Prague
Czech Republic May 18, 2019
Abu Dhabi national Pro The Abu Dhabi National Pro - Czech Republic opened the 2019/2020 season of the AJP Tour in Europe on May 18. The beautiful and historic city of Prague hosted athletes from all over the world for a full day of competition. The crowd was pleased with the high level of technique displayed by the athletes on the mats. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Male - 77kg - Ali Munfaredi; 85kg - Thiago Amorim; 110kg - Eldar Rafigaev. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Jungle BJJ 5580pts; 2nd - DSC Gym 1640pts; 3rd - Pound for Pound Team 1240pts.
94
Scan here for the complete results. https://ajptour.com/en/event/201/results
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
95
Zadar Croatia May 18, 2019
Abu Dhabi International Pro The 2019/2020 season kicked off in Croatia on May 18 with the Abu Dhabi International Pro -Zadar. Some of the best competitors in the region showed up for a full day of matches. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Male 110kg – Luka Skoric; Female brown/black 90kg - Emma Kamaric. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Checkmat International 2338pts; 2nd - Mladost Bd 1580pts; 3rd - Gracie Barra Ljubljana 525pts.
96
Scan here for the complete results. https://ajptour.com/en/event/196/results
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
97
Gramado
Brazil May 19, 2019
Abu Dhabi International Pro The 2019/2020 season kicked off in Brazil in the southern city of Gramado a tourist favorite in the country. Hundreds of athletes took the little town by storm to compete for valuable points in the AJP Tour annual ranking. As usual, the level of competition was the highest possible as competitors fought their hardest for the top position on the podium. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Male – 62kg – João Silveira; 69kg – Murilo Amaral; 77kg – Arthur Detanico; 85kg – Manoel Junior; 94kg – Henrique Cardoso; 110kg – Tiago Paula. Female Brown/ Black – 55kg – Ana Zanolete; 62kg - Ariel Magalhães; 70kg – Melissa Cueto; 90kg – Maisa Santos.
98
Scan here for the complete results. https://ajptour.com/en/event/202/results
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
99
Milan
Italy
May 25, 2019
Abu Dhabi International Pro Italy was the place top be for Jiu-Jitsu aficionados on May 25. The Abu Dhabi International Pro - Milan brought together some of the best athletes in the continent for a full day of matches both in gi and no-gi divisions. In the black belt division, champions were: 77kg - Rokas Narusevicius; 85kg - Thiago Amorim. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Tribe JJ Italy 740pts; 2nd - Milanimal 635pts; 3rd - ZR Team 635pts.
100
Scan here for the complete results. https://ajptour.com/en/event/199/results
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
101
OPINION
Mohammed Al Housani
Jiu-Jitsu Analyst/Commentator
The Living Legend, The Viking and The Prodigy The 2019 ADWPJJC featured a new class of heroes on the mats of Abu Dhabi
Another edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship has come and gone, and just like the previous editions, we witnessed established stars solidifying their legacies, international stars challenging the status-quo and new stars being born. When the monumental 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC) turned the page on another successful season for the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), it represented a new challenge for everyone involved to improve on the historic decade of the prestigious tournament. This season ended no different, as it was a season to never forget, with a tale of 3 fighters that ended their UAEJJF 2018-2019 season in victory. A pioneer of the UAEJJF Women’s Division, Beatriz Mesquita won her division this year to become a 5x Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion. She is the only woman to still be active since her inaugural appearance in 2010 at the 2nd edition of the ADWPJJC (the first edition where a women’s division was contested) and is the most active high-level fighter to have competed in all the
104
editions of the tournament. She made it look easy this year after the previous year’s shocking and disappointing exit from the qualifying stages. She had to fight 4 times to reach the final, submitting all her opponents en-route to her 5th gold medal, beating this season’s standout, Britain’s Ffion Davies by points in the final. She truly is a living legend in the sport and deserves to be recognized for her accomplishments in this tournament, a tally only bested by former nemesis, Gabi Garcia (9x Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion). On the Men’s side, it was a Brazilian dominance over the Black Belt Division once again, except for one Viking who refused the clean sweep. Tommy Langaker celebrated his 1st Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship, becoming the 2nd consecutive Norwegian to win a title at the tournament after Espen Mathiesen’s accomplishment last year. The Norwegians are a force to be reckoned with in European and Global Jiu-Jitsu, and they have managed to rise up the ranks next to the British and Polish fighters as the leaders in Europe and the countries that will spearhead the rise of the sport in the Old Continent. It was also interesting to note
Jiu-Jitsu World
that this was the 1st final in the Black Belt Men’s Division not to include a Brazilian, as it was strictly a European duel in the 77kg final. Since the UAEJJF’s initiative 2 years ago to have country qualifiers to promote fairness and diversity, this has become a reality. Since the format change, we have seen champions from the United States, Norway, United Kingdom and Belgium win the title in both the Men’s and Women’s divisions, a true testament to the effectiveness of this format. Last, but not least, and the most important to the local Jiu-Jitsu community, was Omar Al Fadhli’s historic win to cap a season that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. This was the 2nd straight gold medal in the Adult Category from a product of the Jiu-Jitsu Schools Program after Hamad Nawad’s achievement last year. It was a victory made more important because it was only last year that Omar won the World Championship for Juniors and Aspirants
Number 18 - 2019
in Abu Dhabi, then became only the 2nd UAE fighter to win the Senior World Championship in Sweden, which is a record that has not been achieved ever before. Three World Championships in one calendar year is a record that will take time, if ever, to be broken. He is being dubbed the UAE’s Prodigy in the sport, and with time and dedication, he could very well become the next icon of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu scene after Faisal Al Ketbi retires his competition Gi and moves on to a coaching role. An honorable mention also goes to Reem Al Hashemi, who became only the 2nd woman to win an Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship overall, and the 1st from the Jiu-Jitsu School Program at Blue Belt level and above, adding to the historic day for the UAEJJF and its stakeholders, who saw two of their brightest stars in the Men’s and Women’s Divisions victorious on the day, shining a spotlight on what’s in store for the UAE in the sport in the near future.
105
UAE News
106
Jiu-Jitsu World
Welcome to the Capital of Jiu-Jitsu Abu Dhabi hosts the 11th edition of the ADWPJJC to once again bring the the world together for seven days of thrilling matches Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: UAEJJF
The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship was born in 2009 to revolutionize the sport and make the capital of the UAE the epicenter of that movement. As we reach the 11th edition of the ADWPJJC, it’s clear that that those goals were achieved in full. From April 20 to April 26, once again the global community of athletes, fans, officials, media and partners celebrated the growth of the sport in a majestic event. With every match in every different age bracket and weight class, the ADWPJJC proved that the sport is for all and that once on the mat all differences vanish. Athletes from 79 countries compete in an environment of equality and fairness to decide who comes out on top based solely on effort and skills. Outside the mats and even outside the arena, the impact of a week-long event was felt throughout the city and the country. The ADWPJJC mobilizes the UAE society as local competitors test their skills on the mats against talented opponents from all over the world. The business community gave full support to the event with huge partners such as the Abu Dhabi Culture and Tourism Council, EMAAR, ADNOC, Palms Sports, ADIB,
Number 18 - 2019
Abu Dhabi Media, Premier Motors, Abu Dhabi Sports TV, The National, Al Ittihad, Dolphin Energy, Lulu Supermarkets, AAFAQ, ADASI, Sky News, SEHA, Land Rover, Sport 360, Ministry of Interior, Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, EGA, Al Masaood, United Al Saqer Group. The importance of the event was made clear by the presence of several local and international authorities, such as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Al Ain Club; His Highness Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Khaled Al Nayhan; His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance. As the 2019 ADWPJJC came to a close, it left all of those involved in it the certainty that the future of Jiu-Jitsu is secure with the sport growing both locally and globally. As a new season gears up, more thrills are in store for Jiu-Jitsu fans all over the world.
107
108
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
109
LIFESTYLE TIPS
The Key to Healthy Eating Find out how to build an everyday diet that will boost your energy, help you recover faster and give you an edge on the mats Words: Sophia McDermott*
It is hard to stick to a clean diet all the time especially with so many easily accessible and deliciously tempting goodies right at our fingertips. I have found that working with so many clients the one main culprit that causes slip-ups is lack of preparation. If there is no healthy food or snacks available then that is when cookie monster rears its ugly head - especially after a hard training session. It’s after training in particular that your blood sugar levels are low, and your glycogen stores are depleted so your body wants food right away to build back up its energy reserves. There is a precious window of about 1.5 hours after training where your body is programmed to soak everything up like a sponge to restore and replenish so the drive to eat and consume loads of calories is strong. It is imperative to have healthy food and snacks available to avoid succumbing to that whole bag of chips or that pizza.
110
Being prepared with your meals and snacks is the key to staying on track with a healthy eating plan. No matter how hard you train, blowouts like eating a box of donuts will still pile on the pounds and have a negative impact on your health. The right foods will keep your weight in check and contribute to your health in a much more beneficial way that can aid in recovery, energy levels, mental clarity, mood and overall well being. If you can eat a healthy meal soon after training at home or work I suggest stocking the fridge so that you can make your meal within that precious window time frame. Prep in advance some baked sweet potato, rice, chicken or fish, steamed veggies, loads of chopped veggies and salads and eggs. If you can’t eat a healthy meal soon after training, bring some snacks with you. Have available hard boiled eggs, a good protein powder that doesn’t
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 16 18 - 2019
111
contain artificial sweetener, nuts and seeds, small cans of tuna, chopped veggies and fruit. Here are some suggestions from my 7-day meal plan for some healthy snacks to take with you after
a training session that have a good balance of protein, carbs and fat to replenish your glycogen stores, shuttle the protein to your muscles and keep you lean:
Protein shake and a banana\ 2 hard boiled eggs and a piece of fruit 1-2 rice cakes with a can of tuna or smoked salmon 1 tbsp almond butter or a handful of mixed nuts and 1 banana Remember when it comes to sticking to a healthy diet prepping is the key. Avoid those blowouts by always having healthy food available. Take these healthy snacks with you to enjoy directly after a training session or have healthy food already cooked and prepped at home work or work. You will feel the benefits of consistent healthy eating on so many levels including feeling stronger and leaner with more muscle and less fat. A good diet will aid in recovery, overall energy levels, performance and overall well being.
If you want more healthy meals and snack recipes check out my nutrition e-book here.
Also check out my my 7-day meal plan.
Sophia McDermott (Drysdale) is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and coach, personal trainer and mother of two. Sophia is certified with National Academy of Sports Medicine, NASM CPT (USA) and specializes in functional training for athletes as well as nutrition. She runs seminars and camps about BJJ, nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Sophia is the first Australian female BJJ black belt. World Champion, 2X no Gi World Champion, 4X Pan Am Champion. Sophia also competes in Figure shows and holds the distinction of being the Overall Unlimited Figure winner for 2015 for NPC.
112
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
113
114
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
115
116
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
117
118
Jiu-Jitsu World
Number 18 - 2019
119
120
Jiu-Jitsu World