Three thousand athletes will compete at Mubadala Arena this week when Round 5 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship takes place in Abu Dhabi.
The Gi division event runs from June 26 to 28 and will feature men and women from clubs and academies across the UAE.
The round comes at an important stage of the domestic season, with clubs still fighting for position in the overall standings.
Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club lead the Gi standings after Round 4. Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club sit second, with Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club in third.
That leaves little margin for error in Abu Dhabi, where each bout can affect the title race.
The opening day will feature the Under-18, Adult and Masters divisions. Boys’ and girls’ youth categories will compete on the second day. The final day is set aside for the Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16 divisions.
Round 5 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, said the championship had become a useful measure of club progress across the country.
“The fifth round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship reflects the maturity of the competitive structure that the Federation has established within the domestic season,” Al Dhaheri said.
“The championship has become an important benchmark for measuring club development and their success in building strong athlete pathways across different age groups.”
“The participation of nearly 3,000 athletes highlights the remarkable growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE and reflects the efforts of clubs and academies in attracting and developing talent.”
Al Dhaheri also said family attendance would add to the event, in line with the UAE’s Year of the Family.
The Gi format gives athletes a different test from no-Gi competition. It places more weight on grip control, patience, timing and match awareness.
Zayed Al Kaabi, coach of Al Ain Club, said his side had spent recent weeks reviewing earlier rounds as they try to close the gap on Baniyas.
“This stage requires maximum concentration in every match because small details can have a major impact on the club standings,” Al Kaabi said.
“Our coaching staff has spent recent weeks analysing performances from previous rounds, focusing on improving match management, technical transitions and athletes’ ability to adapt to different styles of competition.”
“Our goal is to reduce the gap to the leaders and secure as many points as possible as we continue our push through to the end of the season.”
