Nine of the UAE's top jiu-jitsu clubs and academies will converge on Dubai this weekend for the Vice President's Jiu-Jitsu Cup, one of the most anticipated fixtures on the local martial arts calendar.
Organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the championship runs from 2 to 3 May at Shabab Al Ahli Club, with preliminary rounds on Saturday and finals on Sunday.
The competition carries a prize pool exceeding AED1 million, to be shared among the top three clubs across all divisions. Four age categories are in play — adults, under-18, under-16, and under-14 — with formats ranging from best-of-three matchups to round-robin stages, depending on the number of clubs in each division.
Last year's edition saw four clubs share the titles. Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club won the under-14 category, Al Ain took the under-16, Al Jazira claimed the under-18, and Baniyas lifted the adult title — a spread that underlined the depth of competition across the country.
"The Vice President's Jiu-Jitsu Cup is a key fixture in the local season,"
said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the federation. He added that domestic competitions play a central role in broadening participation and strengthening the development pathways that ultimately feed into national teams competing at continental and international levels.
Ribamar Santiago, Head Coach of defending adult champions Baniyas, noted that team formats demand a different level of tactical discipline.
"That requires careful management of each contest within the overall team strategy,"
he said, adding that this year's edition will be more demanding given the improved preparation across clubs.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
