Baniyas top Round 7 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu‑Jitsu Championship
Baniyas Jiu‑Jitsu Club led the standings after Round 7 of the national championship at Mubadala Arena, with Al Jazira second and Al Ain third as younger age groups took centre stage.
Baniyas lead standings as Round 7 concludes in Abu Dhabi
Baniyas Jiu‑Jitsu Club finished top of the leaderboard as Round 7 of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu‑Jitsu Championship concluded on Sunday at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. Al Jazira Jiu‑Jitsu Club were second and Al Ain Jiu‑Jitsu Club took third following three days of competition involving clubs and academies from across the UAE.
The final day concentrated on the younger divisions, with Under‑12, Under‑14 and Under‑16 categories competing for points that contribute to the overall club standings. The turnout from families was strong, reflecting community engagement with grassroots sport during the UAE’s “Year of the Family”, promoted under the theme “Growing in Unity”.
The events were attended by senior figures from the sport, including Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu‑Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, President of the Jiu‑Jitsu Asian Union and Senior Vice President of the Jiu‑Jitsu International Federation, alongside Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the Federation, and representatives of clubs, partners and sponsors.
Mr Al Dhaheri said Round 7 illustrated the championship’s growth, noting the strong participation and competitive matches across age groups. He emphasised that regular competition helps athletes hone their skills and allows clubs and academies to measure progress and prepare talent for higher levels.
Officials highlighted the strategic importance of younger age groups to the sport’s future and the complementary roles played by the Federation, clubs, academies and families in nurturing athletes and instilling values of commitment, discipline and respect.
Support from the private sector was represented by Ahmed Ghanem, Head of Privileged Banking at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, who spoke on the value of backing youth sport. He underlined how structured sporting opportunities help young athletes build confidence, discipline and ambition, and praised the role of parents in their children’s development.
Individual competitors also reflected on the experience. Baniyas athlete Badr Al Zaabi, competing in the Under‑16 Yellow Belt category, said each match offered a chance to gain experience, improve performance and contribute valuable points to his club’s tally.
With Round 7 complete, clubs and academies will now prepare for the championship final, scheduled from 16th to 18th October, as they seek to secure and improve their positions in the overall standings.
Source: WAM