8th Annual Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship
The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship unveiled its spectacular plans for the 10-day sporting spectacle in the Capital’s IPIC Arena in Zayed Sports City between 15-24 April.
The signature event will host the finest Jiu-Jitsu names from more than 100 different countries, all coming to the UAE to battle for coveted world titles and the generous prize fund of over AED 2.5m. The 8th Annual Championship is poised to be the biggest ever instalment of the globally acclaimed competition. The Championships will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
While thousands of the world’s best male and female players are expected to showcase their phenomenal skills and athleticism on the mat, the 2016 edition will be fun and accessible for sports enthusiasts of all ages.
Through the inaugural Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival; a new and welcome addition to the programme this year, which is for UAE Nationals only under the age of 18 years old who are members of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and have loyalty cards. The festival is set for the first two days of the 10-day marquee event, and is a major initiative set to break down barriers and foster the sport of Jiu-Jitsu to the wider community.
Following on from the hugely successful introduction of the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Youth Cup in 2014, the next generation of professionals will once again compete in the state-of-the-art IPIC Arena between 17-18 April, as aspiring stars from all over the world gather for two days of inspirational competition and world-class action. As part of the Youth Cup, there will be a variety of workshops, some of which will be advanced workshops tailored for referees and judges as well as an anti-doping workshop. Further workshops will be announced closer to the Championship.
The best youth players will be monitored by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation throughout the competition, offering a select group support and encouragement to develop their skills. The heroes of tomorrow will no doubt be inspired by the world elite set to compete between 19-23 April, featuring the hugely anticipated return of Emirati crowd favorite Faisal Al Ketbi, the Black Belt outsider set to go head to head with a star studded line up from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom and the USA.
The Championship will also welcome legendary and world-renowned, current and retired, players to the capital in a move to bring all the fans of the sport an opportunity to watch these stars roll out the action on April 23rd.
The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2016 will be aired live through Abu Dhabi Sport TV, showcasing the star quality on offer to the world. With more than 1,800 players of all ages competing on the mat, including the reigning Black Belt Open heavyweight World Champion Marcus Almeida and the female open weight Black Belt Champion Mackenzie Dern, sports fans are ready to witness Jiu-Jitsu of the highest order across the upcoming 10 days of action.
As part of this action, fans will experience the ultimate clash of Jiu-Jitsu talent with the new Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Legends on the final day of competition, April 23rd. Alongside the exciting finals for 3rd Place, Black Belt, Youth and Open Weight, the Jiu-Jitsu Legends will feature six players at the top of their sport from across the globe. The closing day of the championship will witness an awards ceremony for sponsors and participating parties who have contributed to the success of the tournament.
Dates:
Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival • Friday, 15th April – Saturday 16th April 2016 (New 2 day tournament)
Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Cup • Sunday, 17th April – Monday 18th April 2016 (2 day tournament)
Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2016 • Tuesday, 19th April – Saturday 23rd April 2016 (Extended 5 day tournament)
Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Legends • Saturday 23rd April 2016 (New programme) • Location: IPIC Arena, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi (with the exception of the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards)
Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards • Sunday 24th April 2016 (celebration of tournament winners) Location: TBC