12 Men to the Middle East
Carlao hires black belts to teach Jiu-Jitsu in the Emirates
At the entrance way to a flat in Ipanema, near where the writer and journalist Nelsinho Motta catches a cab, to go catch a bite somewhere, Adriano Ornellas still celebrates.
Former security to Brazilian musicians Zeze de Camargo, Luciano and Scheilla Carvalho, the BTT black belt was champion in the senior 1 black belt category yesterday, but this Monday he's happy for other reasons. He will be one of the Brazilians to, starting this September 10, move to Abu Dhabi to teach Jiu-Jitsu to children between the ages of 10 and 14, in 12 schools throughout the capital of the United Arab Emirates. "I always dreamed of making a living off Jiu-Jitsu. Now I have everything I need to fulfill this dream," says Ornellas.
The team, completed yesterday's afternoon and officially introduced to GRACIEMAG.com, is made up of Paulo Ricardo “Paulito”, Uira Sul, Ricardo Neira, Marcinho Lívio, Bernardo Cruz, Marcelo da Silva, Julio Cesar Gomes, Pedro Lott, Mohammad Jehad, Tiego Fernandes and Leandro Polônio – who will join up with Olavo Abreu, Suyan Queiroz, Ricardinho Brandão, Marcelo Motta and Sid Jacintho, who already live there.
The project was put together throught the partnership between Carlos Santos and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, brother to Sheikh Tahnoon and leader of the Emirates. "This 'School-Jitsu' partnership will be installed in the schools of the Abu Dhabi, with Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense classes, showing their educational, sporting and cultural qualities, with the aim of making Jiu-Jitsu a national sport in the country," says Carlao, leader of Emirates Team.
"We would like not only good athletes, but honest and proper instructors. We did some research and came up with these 12 names, who today signed a contract to teach class over there for two years, with a health care package for their families and decent salaries. They now are employees of the state - of Abu Dhabi. We want to work on making it to all the schools in the country, and Sheikh Mohammad even asked me to take three female black belt, to teach class to the girls. It's a project for 2009, I believe."
A Palestinian nationalized Brazilian, instructor Mohammad Jehad is the only one already with experience in teaching children in the Middle East: "Some of the customs are different, but kids are kids. This project is typical of a visionary statesman like Sheikh Mohammad, in the end Jiu-Jitsu will mold and influence the character of the youths for ever. And ten years from now we will reap the fruits in championships too."
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