The Abu Dhabi World Para Jiu Jitsu Championship registration is open, and it will take place on November 01, 2023, in Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, allowing para Jiu Jitsu athletes to compete at the biggest stage possible in an event put together by the UAEJJF with special rules and classifications to ensure the utmost competitive experience.
A Short History Of Para Jiu Jitsu
Para athletes are a big part of sports worldwide, and with Jiu Jitsu being one the most practiced sports in the world, it was just a question of time before a specialized para Jiu Jitsu competition of a world scale would arise.
The roots of the Abu Dhabi World Para Jiu Jitsu Championship go back to 2014, when a Brazilian para-athlete named Elcirley Luiz Silva participated in a conventional Jiu Jitsu competition, defining himself as a para Jiu Jitsu athlete, which was a first in the sport.
Silva, who lost his leg in a car accident, was encouraged to continue training Jiu Jitsu after his injury, and as he did, he met a black belt para-athlete Mario “Cowboy” Edson. Edson already competed in conventional Jiu Jitsu and “mentored:’ Silva in doing the same.
After their public showings, it did not take long for an organization for para Jiu Jitsu athletes, the Federação Brasileira de Jiu Jitsu Paradesportivo (FBJJP) to formin Brazil, in an attempt to enable the sport to reach and accommodate as many para-athletes as possible.
In 2015, Edson learned about the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC) through Facebook and enlisted himself and Silva.
Both fighters had impressive performances and were generously received by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
Over the next few months, the UAEJJF worked on beginning Para Jiu Jitsu on the world stage, developing the system of rules and division that would make it possible.
The end result was the first Abu Dhabi World Para Jiu Jitsu Championship, which took place in 2017.
The event brought a powerful message of union, bringing together competitors from 5 continents and over 25 countries.
Apart from allowing athletes with different disabilities to compete in a rule set that makes the competition fair, para Jiu Jitsu helps with rehabilitation, particularly in cases of recovering quadriplegics, much more than any other form of physical therapy.
The Abu World Para Jiu Jitsu Championship 2022
On November 11, 2022, The UAEJJF organized the biggest world Para Jiu Jitsu Championship. 42 para-athletes stepped on the mats in the Abu Dhabi Mubadala Arena, showcasing to the world what the Gentle Art is all about.
We got to see para-athletes on the biggest Jiu Jitsu stage again, competing in 15 different functional classifications that include physical, visual, hearing, and intellectual disabilities. You can check them out in detail here.
42 para-athletes from around the world took part in the competition, demonstrating incredible Jiu Jitsu and conveying a message of inspiration, union, and the power of Jiu Jitsu to the world
Emirati brown belt Hamad Alblooshi is just one example of a para Jiu Jitsu athlete who stole the show, beating an opponent 40 kg (~90lb) heavier than him to win the championship.
Closing Thoughts
A caption on the official ADWPJJC Instagram profile describes the event best:
“A real hero is just an ordinary individual who finds the strength to endure in spite of any overwhelming obstacles.”
We saw many heroes on the mats last November, and we’re certain this message of encouragement will reach far and bring about even more para-athletes to the mats this year.
Ogi is a black belt that does Jiu Jitsu full time and is very passionate about anything grappling-related.
He is also the head coach of Enso Jiu Jitsu in Macedonia and an aspiring Globetrotter.