Hannah Engineer, 17
Jiu-Jitsu Youth Champion
Hannah’s advent into the world of martial arts was entirely serendipitous. At the age of 11, a family friend recommended that she join the children’s Jiu-Jitsu program at the UFC Gym in JBR. Impressed by her natural talent, her UFC coach Raphael Barbosa encouraged her to pursue it as a competitive sport.
During the summer break of 2018, Hannah attended a martial arts training camp at Team Nogueira Dubai, which not only honed her skills but also solidified her passion for competing. By October of that year, she participated in her first tournament under TND and proudly took home her first gold medal.
Her first stint at International competition came in April 2019 at the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship, where she secured a silver medal after a hard-fought match against a Kazakh national.
Though disappointed with second place, Hannah used the setback to fuel her determination and discipline in training. Since then, she has achieved remarkable success, winning 10 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze medals in various UAEJJF & International Jiu-Jitsu Championships, including the prestigious AJP Tours held in the UAE.
‘One of the skills an athlete should hone is mental focus,’ explains Hannah. ‘While training with a coach you can hear clear instructions and correct your mistakes. But at a tournament with hundreds of people, escalating noise levels and many matches taking place simultaneously, you really must keep your focus.’ She also emphasizes on the importance of staying hydrated, maintaining composure, and remaining mentally strong throughout the competition.
She devotes at least three hours a day to training, intensifying her efforts as competitions approach. At TND she trains mainly with Coach Ricky Vibhudutta Rout, India’s first Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Beyond the accolades and victories, Hannah says Jiu-Jitsu has taught her valuable life lessons like discipline, diligence, determination, and self-confidence. The sport also played a pivotal role in making her mentally tough and physically fit.
A Year 13 student at Dubai College, she says she was also very clear that her studies should not be affected by her passion for the sport. She credits her time management skills and discipline for her ability to juggle both sports and studies successfully.
