Post by : Maya Rahman

On Sunday, the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards 2025 was held at the Mubadala Arena, honoring 20 exceptional champions from various facets of the sport. This event marked the conclusion of the 17th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, which spanned eleven days and attracted over 10,000 athletes from more than 130 nations. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the championship showcased a remarkable display of talent.

Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohammed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from the UAE's leadership. He emphasized that this assistance has transformed jiu-jitsu into a thriving sporting ecosystem in the UAE, imparting core values like discipline, patience, confidence, and resilience to the youth.

The event commenced with accolades for the top Emirati athletes of the 2025 season. In the Under 16 category, Sara Farook earned the title of Best Emirati Female Athlete, while Hazza Alkaabi was recognized as the Best Emirati Male Athlete. In the Under 18 bracket, Aysha Aljneibi claimed Best Emirati Female Athlete, with Obaid Alketbi named Best Emirati Male Athlete. In the adult category, Shamma Al Kalbani and Saeed Alkubaisi were honored as the best Emirati athletes, respectively, illustrating their remarkable skill and dedication.

Following her award, Aysha Aljneibi expressed her joy and noted that her hard work throughout the season had culminated in this recognition. She added that the award inspires her to train harder and aspire for top honors in future competitions, thanking her federation, coach, and family for their unwavering support.

The ceremony then shifted to honoring international academies, with Gracie Barra International named Best International Academy in the youth category. A historic moment unfolded as the Commando Group took home three awards in one season, recognized as Best International Academy across the Amateur, Masters, and Professionals divisions.

The awards highlighted continental champions globally. In Africa, Ahmed Al Oraibi was named Best Athlete. Oceania's award went to Nikki Lloyd Griffith, while Laurie de Oliveira secured the title for Europe. Thiago Macedo was recognized in North and Central America, and Yara Nascimento claimed the South America title. Nurzhan Batyrbekov was honored as Best Athlete in Asia, showcasing the sport's global competitiveness.

In international categories, David Fernandes was named Best Rookie Athlete, while Thiago Marques received the Best Athlete award in the Masters division. Yara Nascimento was recognized as Best Female Athlete in the Brown/Black Belt division, with Lucas Protásio earning the title of Best Male Athlete Black Belt, reflecting his strong performance during the 2025 season. In total, the ceremony presented 20 awards across various divisions.

Yara Nascimento expressed pride in her achievements, attributing her success to a season of dedication and learning, and extended gratitude to her coach and team for their consistent support. She aspires to continue her growth and reach even greater heights in future competitions.

Lucas Protásio shared that each season offers new insights and experiences that contribute to an athlete's growth. Grateful for the support he received, he took pride in concluding the year with such an esteemed recognition.

Additionally, the event featured the Humanity Award, granted to Advance Ambulance Services for their significant contributions to athlete health and safety, embodying the true essence of sportsmanship and care.

The evening concluded with a recognition of essential partners and support organizations that played a role in strengthening jiu-jitsu locally and internationally, ensuring the championship's success.

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