Over 100,000 Jiu-Jitsu players in the country: UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation

ABU DHABI, 11th April, 2017 (WAM) -- Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, CEO of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, UAEJJF, and Secretary-General of the Asian and International Federations, has revealed that the total number of jiu-jitsu players in the country has currently reached over 100,000, the number targeted by the federation’s plan for 2020, while adding that this large increase in numbers highlights the desire of different sectors of society to practice the sport of jiu-jitsu. In an interview with the Emirates News Agency, WAM, on the sidelines of the launch of yesterday’s competitions of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, ADWPJJC, Al Shamsi stated that the ADWPJJC reflects the UAE’s stature as a global capital of jiu-jitsu and highlighted that the championship attracts players from the age of four years, representing the work of the federation in training young generations to practice this sport and its great demand from different sectors of society. Al Shamsi expressed his sincere appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his constant support for jiu-jitsu, and His Highness’s sponsorship of the ADWPJJC, which became an international sporting event that established its regional and international stature. He added that, regarding its accomplishments in jiu-jitsu, the UAE has teams with high levels of ability and managed to be on victory platforms in different regional and international events, as part of a long and continuous preparation programme by the federation to achieve consecutive accomplishments in this sport. Regarding the activities of the international championship, he further added that the UAEJJF strives, through this major sporting event, to establish social responsibility in line with the goals of the Year of Giving by launching initiatives during the course of the championship, including cultural, artistic and community workshops that cover important topics on the sidelines of the event. The championship also promotes many national initiatives such as the Jasadak Amana and the UAE Food Bank, showing that the championship is not only about jiu-jitsu but is also a comprehensive event for everyone from different age groups. He stressed that there is a system of values listed within the goals of practising jiu-jitsu, including health values to counter many modern diseases, as well as social values such as the exchange of knowledge and the gaining of expertise and discipline. http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302607935