Fujairah, United Arab Emirates – Second round Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed’s Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Gi) officially started on Friday at Zayed Sports Sophisticated IN Fujairahbringing together a enormous share of athletes competing in youth, adult and senior categories.

The opening day was full of intense action, during which clubs fought for the first points in the general classification. Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club after the first day of the competition, he emerged as the leader, however MOD United Arab Emirates secured second place and Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club closed the top three.

The championships continue to play a key role in expanding the sport around the world Arab Emiratesfocusing on athlete development and creating competitive opportunities for practitioners at all levels.

Yousef Abdullah Al BatranMember of the Management Board of sp United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federationhighlighted the growing influence of this sport throughout the country.

“What we see in this round reflects the continued advancement of jiu-jitsu in the UAE,” Al Batran said. “Competition is not narrow to the mat. Clubs, athletes and families play an significant role in building a forceful sports culture. The forceful family presence here shows how connected the community has become to sports.”

Al Batran also highlighted the variety of levels of competition present in the tournament.

“Juvenile athletes are developing rapidly, adult athletes are highly disciplined, and the champion categories bring valuable experience. This combination adds depth to the championships and strengthens the development path of athletes at every stage.”

Ribamar Santiagocoach Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Clubsaid this round is a key test for teams preparing for the rest of the season.

“This round allows us to assess how prepared the athletes are,” Santiago explained. “It’s not just about results, but about measuring performance and how well competitors adapt to different challenges. Organizing the championship in rounds encourages long-term planning because success depends on consistent performance throughout the season.”

The standout athletes of the day included: Zayed Al Shamsi With MOD Academywho won gold in brown belt for adults in the 56 kg category.

“Every match came down to petite details,” Al Shamsi said. “The final was all about time and control. This championship rewards consistency, so we are focused on maintaining performance and continuing to improve in each round.”

Organizers expect that the crowds will be even larger over the next two days, which will be partly due to, among others, “Award for supporting the family” initiative introduced by United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation as part World Jiu-Jitsu Awards in Abu Dhabi and Year of the Family campaign.

The initiative encourages families to attend events and support athletes throughout the season, and participation can be tracked via a QR code during the championships.