Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club topped the first day of the eighth and final round of the second edition of the Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, hosted by Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City. This came amid a record participation of more than 2,500 male and female players from the country’s clubs and academies.
Al Jazira came in second, while M.O.D Academy finished third. This followed strong battles in the Under-18, Senior, and Masters categories in the Gi category. The winning clubs in the overall season standings will be crowned on Sunday, when the tournament concludes. The No-Gi competition concluded in the previous round, with Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club winning the title.
Key platform
His Excellency Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the technical level and organizational commitment. He emphasized that the championship has become a key platform for creating champions. He added that spreading the competitions over three days gives each age group a full opportunity. This promotes continued development.
For his part, Bani Yas player Mohammed Al Ketbi—the under-62kg adult champion—expressed his happiness at winning six gold medals and two silver medals during the season. He had participated in both the two-suit and non-suit rounds. He noted an intensive training program of three sessions per day, including jiu-jitsu and bodybuilding.
The stands witnessed a remarkable audience turnout and widespread support from families and fans of the game. They presented ongoing entertainment and interactive activities. This was done in cooperation with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. It enhanced the overall experience for the fans and kept pace with the competitive momentum on the mat.
The competitions will continue tomorrow (Saturday) for the under-14 and under-16 categories. They will conclude on Sunday with the under-12 age group competitions. The clubs that finish first in the overall standings for the season will be crowned.
