Hello Muamer, can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Muamer Nezir, I’m 36 years old. I’m from Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’ve been practicing BJJ since 2012 and I’m a brown belt. I’ve competed and won several medals in Gi, No-Gi, and grappling competitions.
Is it your first time participating in Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship?
No. I competed in 2019 as a purple belt but unfortunately before the competition I got sick and because of that I feel I didn’t perform the way I was supposed to, but despite of that I was happy with the overall experience.
The whole tournament was a experience that I will treasure my whole life. Just being in the same place with all of the BJJ stars and being able to participate at the biggest BJJ event in the world was unforgettable. Even though I didn’t secure a medal, I learned a lot from every fight and that has changed me as a fighter and motivated me to work harder every day.
How did the sport of Jiu Jitsu impact you on a personal level?
The sport of Jiu Jitsu has influenced me on many levels but the most important thing is that it brought discipline to my life and made me a part of community where I’ve met most of my friends. It made me a better version of myself, it eliminated many flaws and bad habits from my life and it gave me motivation to try being a better version of myself every single day. It made me more confident, taught me how to deal with adversity in life, strengthened my character, gave me leadership skills, and many other things.
How is your training going leading up to the ADWPJJC?
The whole training process is going according to the plan. I train twice a day, six days a week, but the most important thing for me is that I have no serious injuries this time. In the mornings I do strength, conditioning and plyometrics while in the evenings I do standard BJJ training and sparring.
How do you see Abu Dhabi hosting global Jiu Jitsu championships and giving the chance for athletes to compete against the best in the world?
For me personally, this is the best organized BJJ competition in the world. Athletes from all over the world prepare the whole year for the opportunity to shine in Abu Dhabi. It’s also great because it gives the opportunity to relatively unknown fighters to compete with the best in the world, promote themselves, showcase their skills and position themselves in the larger BJJ community. It’s a dream come true for every BJJ practitioner to compete in Abu Dhabi.
Who influenced you the most in developing your BJJ game?
My trainer, 2x gold medalist in Abu Dhabi, Prof. Almir Kapic has probably influenced me the most on a personal level. On broader scale, there are many people who I admire and look up to, such as Buchecha, Andre Galvao, Roger and Rickson Gracie, Rodolfo Viera, Leandro Lo, the Mendes brothers, etc.
Would you like to give any advice to our readers that would help them either on the mat or in their lives?
In my opinion, the key to success in BJJ or in any other life situation, is not intensity but consistency. Always try to learn, always look to improve yourself, be smart, keep working hard and success is inevitable. Also, don’t forget to enjoy the process.
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