Round 3 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship starts in Fujairah on Saturday, with athletes and clubs chasing points in the season standings.
This stage of the competition will be held under No-Gi rules, which tend to produce quicker contests and place more emphasis on reactions, movement and decision-making. For many athletes, it is a different type of test to the traditional format.
The event has become a regular fixture on the local calendar and remains part of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s wider effort to widen participation and raise standards across the sport. It also gives athletes from different age groups the chance to gain match experience as they work towards national team selection and future international events.
Abdullah Salem Al Zaabi, director of marketing and corporate communication at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the steady rise in participation was a sign that work to grow the sport was having an effect. He said the championship was helping create a stronger competitive environment for athletes to develop.
Theyab Alnuaimi, of Al Ain Club, said the No-Gi format leaves little room for lapses in concentration.
“Athletes need to stay fully focused throughout, as even small mistakes can make a difference,” said Alnuaimi, who competes in the adults 62kg brown belt division. He added that facing a range of opponents through the championship helps sharpen performance and build experience.
As the season moves on, the Fujairah round offers another measure of where athletes stand, and another chance to strengthen their position before the latter stages of the campaign.
