AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship begins Friday in Dubai

ABU DHABI, SEPTEMBER 4, 2023: The AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023, organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation in partnership with Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), will be held at Shabab Al Ahli Club in Dubai, UAE, from September 8 -10. Hundreds of athletes from various clubs and academies will engage in intense mat fights over the course of two days, competing for attractive prize money and points in the annual AJP ranking.

The three-day championship holds significant importance in the Federation’s season calendar and attracts top-ranked players from around the world, competing in youth, amateurs, professionals, and masters categories. The championship will also help preparing the athletes for the fifteenth edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which will kick off in less than two months.

Fahad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 showcases another collaboration between the UAEJJF and AJP, providing a fresh opportunity for players in the UAE to compete with the world’s best athletes and enhance their skills. This aligns with the Federation's strategic vision to not only develop talent in the country, but also consolidate Abu Dhabi's position as the largest developer of jiu-jitsu in the world and the global capital of combat sports – a premier destination for present and future champions.

“We are weeks away from the launch of the fifteenth edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Participants in next week’s competitions are eagerly anticipating reaching the highest levels of readiness to compete at bigger event November.”

Tariq Al Bahri, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), said, “The Asian Jiu-Jitsu Professional Championship is the focus of attention for elite players worldwide due to its timing and its direct impact on player rankings. The high turnout rates for participating in its competitions speak for themselves, especially since it awards the first-place winners in various categories 1,400 classification points. This enhances their score and their chances of winning the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Award at the end of the season.”

Brazilian player Catriel Fernandez, a black belt from the GF Team Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, competing in the 94 kg professional category, said, “The AJP championships hold special importance for Brazilian players aiming to enhance their rankings. We are eager to be compete in the capital, Abu Dhabi, at this particular time, with the fifteenth edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, getting underway in a few weeks.”

The first day of the tournament will feature the competition of the junior and youth categories, followed by the competitions of the amateur and masters categories on the next day, with the third day hosting the competitions of the professional category.