The inaugural Jiu Jitsu championship for schools took place barely six months after the sport was introduced in schools by the Abu Dhabi Education Zone. Courtesy Emirates Jiu Jitsu team
Kicking up a storm on mat
Amith Passela
ABU DHABI // The inaugural Brazilian Jiu Jitsu school championship drew an enthusiastic response from the children because of the simple fact that they were were able to take part in a competition barely six months since it was introduced in to the curriculum by the Abu Dhabi Education Zone.
The schools from Al Ain dominated proceedings. Malik bin Anas School topped the overall points table followed by the Tahnoun bin Mohammed and Al Ghaith schools in the finals at the Secondary School auditorium in the capital city on Monday.
Carlos Santos, the head coach and event manager said: “The children have taken to the sport very well and this is fantastic. We only started in 12 boys’ schools and the demand is for more. We are already working on a bigger coaching staff and are ready to go as far as possible in the development stage in all the schools.”
According to Santos, a three-times former world champion, more than 2,500 children in grades six and seven are in training in 14 schools including a couple of girls’ schools.
On the mat, the students showed a lot of promise.
Eleven-year-old Fared Khalifa of Malik bin Anas School became the youngest winner and he was already looking forward to advancing in the sport.
“I was very keen to learn when it was first introduced to the school,” he said.
“I use to play a lot of football and my interest was on that game until I found Jiu Jitsu to be more interesting. I didn’t have to wait so long to win my first competition.”
His schoolmate Khalfan Hamed had the same opinion after claiming the super-heavyweight division. “Jiu Jitsu was new and I liked it from the very first training session I attended,” he said.
“It was not difficult to learn and winning my first medallion in a sport I had only started four months ago has encouraged me to continue. I hear there are bigger events planned so I want to train harder from now on.”
After a successful first competition, Santos is already gearing up for the next event with double the participation anticipitated.
“We had 12 schools in this inaugural competition and the next will see 24,” said Santos.
“This number will keep growing until we reach every school under the Abu Dhabi Educational Council. And then we will start moving into the other emirates. There is absolutely no limit to get more schools involved.
“I am sure some of these students will graduate from the nurseries and become champions in the higher categories. And more importantly, they will certainly become fitter children and those who don’t want to be in the competitions can still keep training as a fitness sport.”
Results: Category: Roster 28kgs and under: Winner: Fared Khalifa (Malik bin Anas). Runner up: Hadif Khamis (Tahnoun bin Mohammed). Super Feather 31kgs: Mohammad Khalfan (Tahnoun bin Mohammed). Abdul Haman (Al Gazali, Abu Dhabi). Feather 34kgs: Khalid Saber (Al Ghaith). Mohammed Ali (Tahnoon bin Mohamad). Light 37kgs: Hazza al Shamsi (Malik bin Anas). Hazza Payeerio (Al Ghaith). Middle 40kgs: Sultan Khoori (Abu Dhabi). Khalifa Saeed (Al Zaher, Al Ain). Medium Heavy 43kgs: Nasey Mohammed (Kaab bin Malik, Madinat Zayed, Abu Dhabi). Mohammed Rashed (Malik bin Anas). Heavy 46kgs: Mohammed Fahad (Al Tamayez). Raghaa Al Ahbabi (Tahnoun bin Mohammed). Super Heavy 49kgs: Khalfan Hamed (Malik bin Anas). Maneh al Shamsi (Tahnoon bin Mohamed). Super Heavy 52kgs: Omar Zayed (Malik bin Anas). Hamad Abdul Haman (Al Ghaith). Extra Heavy 52kgs and over: Mohammed Abdulla (Tahnoun bin Mohammed). Mohammed Ali (Abu Dhabi).
Overall schools standings: 1. Malik bin Anas. 2. Tahnoun bin Mohammed. 3. Al Ghaith. 4. Al Zaher. 5. Abu Dhabi.
apassela@thenational.ae
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