Accra:Abu Dhabi The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP) is set to organize three international championships in Romania, South Africa, and Russia on the 24th and 25th of October. These events aim to expand the sport's global reach and bolster Abu Dhabi's status as a leading international jiu-jitsu hub.
According to Wam, the championships are part of AJP's extensive global calendar, which includes over 280 events annually across various continents. This initiative is part of a strategy to promote jiu-jitsu, expand its practitioner base, discover new talent, develop champions, and enhance the framework for professionalism and international competition.
The upcoming events include the AJP Tour Targu Mures International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026 in Romania, scheduled for Friday, and the AJP Tour South Africa National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026, along with the AJP Tour Saint Petersburg International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2026 in Russia, both set for Saturday. These championships will feature both Gi and No-Gi competitions and are open to participants of all nationalities, belt levels, and age groups.
The Targu Mures International Championship and the Saint Petersburg International Championship will each award 600 points to the first-place winners in AJP's annual world rankings. Meanwhile, the South Africa National Championship, recognized as an official national championship, will award 1,000 ranking points to the champion and offer a special cash prize to the best academy represented by at least 20 athletes.
AJP's world ranking system plays a crucial role in the development of jiu-jitsu by encouraging consistent participation in international championships and rewarding top performers, thus promoting higher technical standards and a culture of professionalism.
Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of AJP, highlighted the strong global participation in AJP championships, reflecting the organization's international standing and the growing confidence in its organizational and technical framework. He emphasized AJP's commitment to promoting jiu-jitsu, identifying talent, and developing champions, as well as providing professional platforms for athletes to progress through various competition levels.
Al Bahri also noted that the success of these championships strengthens Abu Dhabi's position as a global jiu-jitsu hub by attracting leading athletes and academies and expanding the sport's practitioner base worldwide. This success is supported by the strategic vision of Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and other prominent jiu-jitsu organizations, which has established Abu Dhabi as a global reference point for the sport's development.
Through its global calendar, AJP aims to promote professional competition, expand participation, and support the long-term development of jiu-jitsu worldwide.