1,500 athletes ready for Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

ABU DHABI: More than 1,500 athletes are set to take part in the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship Round 3 No Gi, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation has revealed.

The event takes place from om Sept. 27-29 at Al-Bait Metwahed in Sharjah.

During the opening day of the event on Friday, entrants will compete in the adults and masters categories, followed by the U12 and U14 sections on the second day. The final day will see the U16 and youth competitions.

The championship is part of a five-round series held across different emirates throughout the season. It holds special significance as it marks the final No Gi round, with double ranking points awarded.

Khalid Ibrahim Al-Nakhi, a board member of the Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club and jiu-jitsu supervisor, said: “Hosting the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Sharjah is an important step in promoting jiu-jitsu in the emirate. Our club’s training department has fully prepared for the largest participation in our history. We are confident our athletes will compete strongly and win medals.”

He added: “We extend our gratitude to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for its constant support of athletes and clubs across the country. This support has helped develop a strong pool of talented athletes, motivating them to strive for excellence. Our club is determined to compete for the championship title, building on our success in the second round.”

Yasser Al-Qubaisi, technical supervisor at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship — Round 3 No Gi has seen an incredible 50 per cent increase in athlete participation compared to the second round, with 35 academies and clubs taking part. This shows the rising importance of No Gi competitions across different categories. No Gi requires advanced technical skills, quick movement, and strategic flexibility, making it a unique challenge.”