Abu Dhabi: UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s CEO Fahad Ali Al Shamsi felt that finding a quality MMA fighter from the enormous talent pool of Jiu-Jitsu shouldn’t take too long.
“We now have top-class facilities and top-class coaches. The interest in Jiu-Jitsu has grown to an unimaginable level and so I feel it’s just a matter of time that we will have our own MMF fighter as well,” asserted Al Shamsi.
“There is so much work being done at the grassroot level and almost every school in the UAE is promoting or linked with Jiu-Jitsu in some way or the other and that’s a good sign,” added Al Shamsi.
UAE’s blue eyed boy Faisal Al Ketbi has graduated to the black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and many have tipped him to make that transition. However, Ketbi felt that his focus, as of now, is on Jiu-Jitsu and he was not thinking about MMA anytime soon.
“There is still a long way for me to go. I don’t want to shift my focus away from Jiu-Jitsu to MMA. We will see how it goes but as of now, not rushing into anything and the sole focus will be to do best in the Jiu-Jitsu events lined up,” said Ketbi.
Brazilian coach Jose Junior, who has been in the UAE for more than six years and started as an instructor in the Abu Dhabi Education Council’s Jiu-Jitsu school programme before being promoted to extra-curricular activities manager, echoed the same words as Al Shamsi.
“When I came here, we had around 3,000 boys training and now it is 47,000 and that speaks volumes. The approach of the community towards the sport has changed and I would say from the nation team you will see someone move up the ranks to the MMA. Someone who is already a black belt holder may make the move to MMA,” felt Junior, who clinched a double gold in winning the 94-plus kilogramme weight and the absolute class in the recently concluded Al Ain championships.
“Parents are the key and if they are behind nothing is impossible. They have realised that Jiu-Jitsu can discipline their child. Even the children are keen to learn and as far as MMA goes, the interest is more among the youngsters. It’s early for them but the signs are good,” revealed Junior, who felt that UAE will soon overtake Brazil in terms of popularity of Jiu-Jitsu and its success.
“There are 500 plus black belt coaches here and that shows everyone want to come to UAE. So I don’t have doubts that UAE will overtake Brazil and become the No 1 country for the sport,” asserted Junior.
