Jiu-Jitsu World #16 - Homecoming Stars

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Jiu-Jitsu World #16

WHAT’S INSIDE 34

Days of Battle and Glory Black belt division lives up to the tradition of excellence as the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour returns to the sport’s capital

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Fresh New Start After a tough 2018, Gabriel Arges kicks off the new year with an imposing performance to climb to the top of the middleweight bracket in the Abu Dhabi King of Mats

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Yearly Celebration Abu Dhabi welcomes the Grand Slam for another occasion for a powerful display of Jiu-Jitsu’s strength to bring people together

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Around the Globe Jiu-Jitsu takes over the world

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Greetings

His Excellency Abdulmunam Al Hashemi

Editorial

Final Step to Glory

Interview

Hard earned Success

Get Social

Celebration in Abu Dhabi

Know your way to the top

Understanding the UAEJJF athletes ranking

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Light but mighty powerful

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My Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

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Know better who are the ten beasts who will compete in the Abu Dhabi King of Mats lightweight bracket in London

Finally at the Top

UAE News & Opinion An unlikely King of Mats is crowned in Abu Dhabi

2019 ADWPJJC Agenda

Get ready for the big show

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Lifestyle Tips Are you drinking enough water?

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Greetings

Unstoppable Movement

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The Chairman of the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation, His Excellency Abdulmunam Al Hashemi shares his views on the groundbreaking work that is being done by the Federation to incentive the sport in the country and around the world. Following the vision and intelligent leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAEJJF is working tirelessly for a greater future for Jiu-Jitsu.

For three days in January, the world of Jiu-Jitsu turned once again its attention to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi welcomed the fourth stage of the 2018/2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour. The Mubadala Arena had packed stands for the duration of the event, with locals and foreigners sharing their passion for the sport. Abu Dhabi once again showed the world why it is the true world capital of Jiu-Jitsu.

Competitors of all ages and skill levels gave their best on the mats to represent their clubs and their countries. From the upcoming talents in the color belts to the international stars in the black belt division, they all presented themselves with honor and respect. They were all worthy of the stage they were offered to compete in.

The 2019 edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour in Abu Dhabi also featured a elite level competition in the Abu Dhabi King of Mats. Ten of the most talented athletes in the world awed the crowd as they competed for the ultimate glory.

Jiu-Jitsu’s growth is unstoppable. The UAEJJF will continue to work relentlessly to make it possible for our sport to keep growing and changing the lives of people all over the world. As we near the end of another season, we can only praise the achievements and prepare for even bigger challenges.

We once again would like to express our gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, for his continuous support of Jiu-Jitsu. His Highness has always been a source of inspiration for us and we are fortunate to have him on our side.

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Editorial #16

Chairman: H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi CEO: Fahad Al Shamsi Executive Manager: Rodrigo Valerio Editor in Chief: Ivan Trindade Editor: Ane Nunes Design: Henrique Diniz Editorial Production: Gentle Art Media Advertising Director: Ane Nunes Newsroom: news@jiujitsuworldmag.com Advertise with us: marketing@jiujitsuworldmag.com Customer Care: info@jiujitsuworldmag.com

Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine - Head Office: Capital Tower, 17th Floor 33rd St - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates PO BOX 110004

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Photo by Ane Nunes Artwork by Henrique Diniz

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Final Step to Glory As

we reach the final stages of the 2018/2019 season, we look back on all the work done in the past 12 months. All the miles travelled, all the hours worked, shooting, writing, editing, designing.

Publishing a magazine is no easy task, but thankfully, Jiu-Jitsu World has a dedicated and competent team that fulfills all the needs the publication needs. On every single issue, they work hard to bring you the best content possible.

Jiu-Jitsu World #16 is no different. As usual, you’ll be treated with thrilling images of a eventful weekend in Abu Dhabi, as the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour and the Abu Dhabi King of Mats landed in the UAE for some high level matches. Our reporters camped out mat side to bring you all the thrills and the drama of a weekend that became historic right away.

You’ll be able to read all about how each champion in the black belt division made their way to the top of the podium at the ADGS Abu Dhabi. The event is already consolidated as one of the most important in the season and the 2019 edition did not disappoint.

On Saturday, January 12, ten of the best middleweights in the world fought hard to win the US$10,000 reserved for the Abu Dhabi King of Mats

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champion. Get pumped to follow Gabriel Arges’ route to the ultimate glory.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam is not the only event that deserves our attention. As usual, we embarked on a trip Around the Globe to report on all the places Jiu-Jitsu is making it big. From the USA to Mongolia, from Slovenia to Angola, there are events popping up everywhere and we have the images and results to prove it.

A magazine has to keep one eye on the past to report the highlights of what happened, but also one eye in what’s coming ahead. As we prepare for the final leg of the 2018/2019 ADGS season, in London, England, on March 9-10, we gear up to prepare you for the thrills to come. The 2019 ADGS London will not only feature the usual action in each weight class in each color belt of each age bracket, but it will also feature another Abu Dhabi King of Mats competition, this time for the lightweights. Huge names are being announced as the event’s date gets closer.

After we launch every single issue, we get butterflies in our stomachs. The anxiety towards how the reception will be is always tough to deal with. Fortunately, JiuJitsu World has been well received since issue #1. We hope you enjoy our newest issue and we hope you keep making this magazine a part of your Jiu-Jitsu journey.

See you on the next one. Stay on the mats!

Ivan Trindade

Editor in Chief

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INTERVIEW

Hard earned Success Thamara Silva paid her duties in the UAEJJF circuit. She’s been one of the most active competitors in the women’s brown/black belt 70kg division and had to endure a series of setbacks before reaching the top in the last three ADGS events, in Los Angeles, Rio and Abu Dhabi. Still a brown belt, Thamara reveals in this exclusive interview how she began her journey on the mats and what she learned so far. She also has a lot to teach those who want to have a career as successful as the one she’s having.

Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes

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Jiu-Jitsu World: For those who don’t know you so well, can you tell us how you began training Jiu-Jitsu and when did you decided to make it your profession?

Who were the most important people in your Jiu-Jitsu journey up to this point? What were the most valuable lessons they have taught you so far?

THAMARA SILVA: I started training late, while I was already in College. I had no team, only a space for people to roll. After a few months, I joined Barbosa Jiu-Jitsu, in São Paulo. That’s when I got my blue belt. At this point I started seeing Jiu-Jitsu as a way of making a living. I knew it would be very hard to make real money at once, but I was in no hurry. I never was in a hurry.

During all this time I had a lot of friends and people who boost me up, but the main help came from my family and my friend Graciele, who trained with me at Barbosa JJ. Nowadays, my boyfriend Hiago George (black belt and ADWPJJC and ADGS champion) is the person who teaches me the most. He made me see that I am the sole responsible for every result I get,

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You need to believe in yourself over all else. You need to keep walking forward with patience and take advantage of tough times to evolve your game and your mindset.

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Thamara Silva

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Thamara waged war in epic battles against Samantha Cook in the 70kg division this season

Despite the fierce rivalry, Thamara and Samantha are great example of sportswomanship on the mats

good or bad. He has helped me turn into a more patient, dedicated and controlled person.

You have been very successful in the 2018/2019 season competing against black belt athletes despite still being a brown belt yourself. What are your secrets to maintain such a high level of performance?

I don’t think I do anything special. I do what every other athlete does. I train the right way, surrounded by the right people. I try not to abuse on my body and I try to surround myself with people who are humble and focused on their goals. All of that really helps me to have the balance to achieve my goals.

Competitors who stand out like you do often become role models for younger athletes just starting their own JiuJitsu journeys. What kind of advice would you give to a young white belt who aims to reach the heights you have achieved in the sport?

My advice is to have deaf ears to those who are only willing to over criticize you. You need to believe in yourself over all else. You need to keep walking forward with patience and take advantage of tough times to evolve your game and your mindset. Even when you win, you need to be able to know what you need to improve. The only difference between a world champion and an athlete that has not won yet is opportunity. It will come for all of us and you need to be able to take it when it comes for you.

Calm and focus are two of Thamara’s weapons to achieve success at the highest level of competition

The UAEJJF competition circuit has become a stronghold for athletes for awarding them with hefty money prizes. In your opinion, what is the importance for a professional athlete to have their efforts and results rewarded with monetary prizes?

It’s the season I give priority to in my annual calendar. It’s not an accident that I have been present in almost all of them.

It’s a big deal for the sport and we owe a lot to the UAEJJF for the work they have done to give athletes the value they deserve. With the money I win in one tournament I am able to pay for the expenses of the next one. Huge thanks to the UAEJJF for the support to our wonderful sport.

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With boyfriend and fellow competitor Hiago George, who taught Samantha to take responsibility for her results

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PRIVATE BEACH LIVING

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ACCESS FROM SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD

GATED ISLAND

MARINA LIFESTYLE

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GET SOCIAL

Celebration in

Abu Dhabi Competitors and fans flood social media to tell the world about their adventures during the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour in the UAE Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Instagram

For a few days a year the city gets a special vibe. A slightly odd crowd is seen walking the streets and the shopping centers in flip flops and tank tops. It’s the Jiu-Jitsu people once again taking over the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. It happened last on January 10-12, when the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour landed on the Mubadala Arena for three days of awesome action. The effects of such gathering can be seen on social media, as athletes and fans flood their timelines with posts celebrating their adventures and achievements. Here are a few of those posts to give you an idea of what kind of vibe we are talking about. We hope to see you in London, next March for the final stage of the 2018/2019 season of the ADGS. Use the hashtags #adgslondon and #abudhabigrandslamlondon and we just might feature one of your posts here.

Follow us on the social media /jiujitsuworldmag @jiujitsuworldmag @jitsuworldmag www.jiujitsuworldmag.com

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UAEJJF Athlete’s Ranking

Know your way to the top Understanding the UAEJJF athletes ranking Words: Rodrigo Valério, Ivan Trindade | Image: Ane Nunes

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The New UAEJJF World Ranking Format Based on rules of the Olympic Charter, the Qualification System aims to ensure that the principles of universality, performance, country, representation and gender equity, remain the focus for the UAEJJF participation. In addition, a number of other technical principles and rules have been established to provide a basis for the development of the UAEJJF Qualification System.

The ranking is the most fair way of awarding the effort and the talent of each athlete that signs up to one of the UAEJJF tournaments throughout the year. It is also a great incentive for more and more athletes to take part in as many events as they can. The next pages will explain how the ranking works and the new changes. Have a good read, put on your gi and go out there to add points right away.

How does the ranking work and what are the main changes?

The ranking period will be in general for 24 months.

The Seven (7) best results during next season (12 months’ period) will count + one extra (8th) result from the Continental Pro + the result of Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship, starting from 1st May 2018.

The points for each individual tournament will expire as follows: • From May 1st, 2018 to April 30th, 2019 the points will count 100%.

• After May 1st, 2019 the points will be reduced to 50%.

• After May 1st, 2020 the points will be reduced to 0 and not count anymore.

The dividing line is the first week of May 2019.

Example: If tournament is held in first week of May 2018, the points are reduced to half on the first week on May 2019 and expired in the first week of May 2020.

How to add points in the ranking?

You add points in the ranking by at least participating in one of the events of the UAEJJF calendar (the current calendar started on May 1, 2018 and ends on April 30, 2019). There are six kinds of events in terms of how many points you’ll get: 1 - ADWPJJC – 6 stars; 2 - Abu Dhabi Grand Slam – 5 stars; 3 - Continental Pro – 5 stars; 4 - National Pro – 4 stars; 5 - International Pro – 3 stars; 6 - Regional Tournament – 2 stars.

Here are the number of points athletes will earn on each event depending on their performance.

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Here are a few examples of how to count an athlete’s points.

How many rankings are there?

The UAEJJF has divided the ranking in several categories. You can say that the two most important are male adult black belt and female adult brown/black belt. Each belt has its own ranking starting with white belts.

You also have a ranking in the male master division, an academy ranking, continental and country rankings.

There are also No-Gi rankings.

For what else is the ranking used for by the UAEJJF? The Federation will use the ranking to decide your position on the bracket of the ADWPJJC. It will also use the ranking to invite athletes to compete in the ADWPJJC. In addition the ranking will be used to select fighters for the new Abu Dhabi King of Mats through Continental Ranking and Grand Slam Placements.

What are the prizes for ranking leaders?

After all the effort, it is natural that ranking leaders at the end of the season receive proper rewards. The tables bellow show the main prizes for both the Gi and No-Gi rankings.

The male adult Gi black belt division alone will award US$40,000, while the female Gi brown/black belt division will award US$18,000. That’s the same amount reserved for the male adult brown belt ranking leaders and the master 1 male black belt division.

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What else do you need to know about the ranking?

Yes. There are a few details you need to know about the ranking. If you are alone in a division, you won’t earn points in the ranking. If you change belts during the season, you lose the points from the previous belt. The same happens if you change age divisions during the calendar. Due to the academies ranking, the UAEJJF will not change an athlete’s team during the same season. Another features to be implemented are that athletes will get points for not only placements, but also for each matches won. For example, athletes can get a certain point for a gold medal, but will also earn extra points for each win. So if athletes win a really large bracket that could lead award more points than smaller brackets. On top on that athletes will be awarded even extra points for different type of wins, for example winning by advantage or by submissions.

Are there any more novelties in the ranking for the 2018-2019 season?

In case of equality of total RANK points, the higher ranking will be decided by: 1. The highest sum of the current points from World Pro. 2. The highest sum of the current points from all Grand Slams.

3. The highest sum of the current points from all Continental Pro, followed by National Pro, International Pro and Regional Championships.

4. The highest current points from one single event, then, if needed, the second highest, and so on.

5. If the competitors are still equal the decision will be taken by the number of matches done by the fighter through the season, followed by the fastest submission(s) or who made more points during the matches in case of World Pro Qualification.

Scan here for more info

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ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM TOUR ABU DHABI

Days of Battle and Glory Black belt division lives up to the tradition of excellence as the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour returns to the sport’s capital Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes, Ivan Trindade

A strange kind of silence goes around the Mubadala Arena when it’s time for the black belt division. The fans on the stands know they are about to witness something great. On January 11, 2019, greatness was once again present in Abu Dhabi. Talented competitors from places near and far like the UK, Brazil, Australia, Poland and the UAE tested their skills on the mats in search of the ultimate glory. Champions or not, each one of them taught us valuable lessons about sacrifice and perseverance. Here are their stories.

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Adult Male Black Belt

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Face the war ahead, no matter how bad it is. We are soldiers and survivors to the end

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Bebeto Oliveira

56 kg Back to Back Bebeto Carlos Alberto de Oliveira is still on the top. Bebeto fought twice in Abu Dhabi to claim his second gold medal of the season. He first choked Frederico Guimarães from the back to reach the final, where his opponent would be Massaki Todokoro. The Japanese beat Jorge Nakamura 2-1 on advantages. In the final, Bebeto imposed his game on Todokoro to build a 10-0 lead and take the title home.

Podium

1st – Carlos Alberto da Silva (GF Team) 2nd – Massaki Todokoro (Paraestra Tokyo) 3rd – Frederico Guimarães (USK)

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62 kg Hiago Strong Hiago George fought three times to win the gold medal. His debut was a tough 2-1 win on advantages over Pedro Clementino. In the semifinals, a bow and arrow choke finished Gabriel Frenhan. On the other side of the bracket, João Miyao fought once to beat Russia’s Isa Karasanov 2-0. In the final, after a 8-8 tie on points, Hiago took gold with a narrow 1-0 lead on advantages.

Podium

1st – Hiago George (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 2nd – João Miyao (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 3rd – Pedro Clementino (Cantagalo International)

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On every step I will withstand the hardships of life because I am never alone. God is with me

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Hiago Geroge

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69 kg Paulo Miyao is back. He fought three times to claim the gold medal in Abu Dhabi. His debut was against Jordan’s Abdullah Nabas, beat with a 11-2 lead. In the semifinal, Miyao caught Daniel Santana with a choke from the back. On the other side, Tiago Bravo had the perfect strategy to make his way to the final. In two matches, he beat Hilton Silva via referee decision and João Gabriel Sousa by one penalty. In the gold medal match, Miyao picked up the pace to reach the back and sink a bow and arrow choke that left Tiago with no other option than to tap.

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I always look in the mirror to remind myself that the source of my problems is also the solution to my problems

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Irresistible Miyao

Paulo Miyao

Podium

1st – Paulo Miyao (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 2nd – Tiago Bravo (UAEJJ Team - Al Ain) 3rd – João Gabriel Sousa (ZR Team Association)

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It wasn’t easy to win this title. I had to diet, to give up my vacations and to deal with being away from those I love, but in the end I reached my goal

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Diego Ramalho

77 kg Ramalho’s Return After winning in Tokyo in the season opener, Diego Ramalho is back on top. In three matches, he first beat Italy’s Alexandre Molinaro 2-0 and then outscored Marcos Paulo Costa 3-2 on advantages in the semifinal.

Australia’s Levi Jones-Leary was the surprise factor in the bracket.

He first beat Adriano Araujo 6-2 and then took Roberto Satoshi’s back to win 4-0. In the final, Ramalho was able to put the breaks on Levi to win with a 2-1 lead on advantages.

Podium

1st – Diego Ramalho (ZR Team Association) 2nd – Levi Jones-Leary (Unity Jiu-Jitsu) 3rd – Roberto Satoshi (Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu Japan)

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There’s no room for harmful negative thoughts when your mind is focused on looking for things to be grateful for

Lucas Barbosa

85 kg Hardworking Hulk Lucas Barbosa worked hard in the most crowded division of the day.

He debuted with a 2-0 win over Igor Sousa to meet Manuel Ribamar in the semifinal. A narrow 1-0 lead on advantages was enough to put Barbosa in the final. Rudson Mateus had no rest in Abu Dhabi. He debuted against no other than Gabriel Arges, making it through with a 2-1 lead on advantages. In the semifinal, Rudson found an armbar to finish Bradley Hill.

The final was a very tactical match that ended with a 0-0 tie. Barbosa took the title home via split referees decision.

Podium

1st – Lucas Barbosa (Atos Jiu-Jitsu) 2nd – Rudson Mateus (Brasa CTA) 3rd – Igor Sousa (AFNT)

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94 kg Finally gold for Adam Wardzinski. One of the most active competitors in the ADGS circuit, the Polish black belt seemed to always come up short of the gold medal. Not this time. In three matches, Adam first finished Matheus Godoy from the back, then beat Zayed Al Kaabi via WO in the semifinal. The last challenge would be Renato Cardoso, who made it to the final with a 20-0 win over Oriones Netto and then a 2-0 lead on Helton Junior in the semifinal. The gold medal match was close, but Adam made his game work and built a 2-1 lead on advantages to take the gold medal home.

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The universe fulfills your wishes. All you need to do is ask and back up your wishes with hard work

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Adam’s Reward

Adam Wardzinski

Podium

1st – Adam Wardzinski (Checkmat) 2nd – Renato Cardoso (Commando Group) 3rd – Matheus Godoy (Palms Sports JJ Team)

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110 kg Trifecta for Erberth Third gold medal for Erberth Santos in the 2018/2019 season. A fan favorite in Abu Dhabi, Erberth first beat Paulo Pinto 2-0 with a takedown. The opponent in the final would be well-known rival Ricardo Evangelista, who beat Rodrigo Ribeiro by referee decision. In the final, a narrow 1-0 lead on advantages put Erberth on the highest step on the podium.

Podium

1st – Erberth Santos (Esquadrão de JJB) 2nd – Ricardo Evangelista (GF Team) 3rd – Rodrigo Ribeiro (Palms Sports JJ Team)

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You can also be rock-solid, but that’s a gift only you can give yourself

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Erberth Santos

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ADULT FEMALE BROWN/BLACK BELT

55 kg Ariadne’s Day Ariadne Oliveira fought twice to claim the gold medal. She first caught Sayuri Toledo with a foot lock to make it to the final. On the other side of the bracket, Mayssa Caldas moved up from the 49kg division to beat Amal Anjahid 6-0 and make it to the final. The gold medal match, was decided by one sweep and a 2-0 lead for Ariadne.

Podium

1st – Ariadne Oliveira (Palm Sports JJ Team) 2nd – Mayssa Bastos (GF Team) 3rd – Amal Anjahid (CENS Academy)

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Give balance when facing hardship. Give me will power when facing setbacksf

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Ariadne Oliveira

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62 kg Two matches and two submissions for Bianca Basílio to keep the crown in the weight class. She first caught Hope Douglas with a foot lock. Dayane Bazzoni made it to the final with a submission on Sabryne Cruz. In the final, Bianca worked her way to Dayane’s back to sink a bow and arrow choke.

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Be better. Search deeper inside yourself. Improve yourself, practice more. Fear not to follow your dreams

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Killer Bianca

Bianca Basílio

Podium

1st – Bianca Basílio (Atos JJ) 2nd – Dayane Bazzoni (Leão Dourado) 3rd – Hope Douglas (PSLPB Cicero Costha)

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70 kg

Thrill-seeking ThamarA

Three strikes for Thamara. The brown belt debuted in the division with a armbar finish on Poland’s Magdalena Loska in the semifinal.

Samantha Cook also made to the final, but with a 7-0 win over Venezuela’s Veronica Macedo. The final was a thrilling match. Behind 2-0 on the scoreboard, Thamara went for a last second back take to turn the score to a 4-2 lead and take the gold medal home.

Podium

1st – Thamara Silva (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 2nd – Samantha Cook (Checkmat) 3rd – Yara Kakish (Team Nogueira Dubai)

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I have my eyes open in middle of the caos. My body is protected from all evil. Keep the faith on what you don’t see and follow your path

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Thamara Silva

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Thank God for having such special people beside me both on good and bad times. Thanks to all of you for each training session

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Gabrieli Pessanha

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Perfect Pessanha

With three athletes, both Gabrieli Pessanha and Nathiely de Jesus finished Marcelle Cantanhede to reach the final. The gold medal match was very close and Gabrieli won her fourth title in the season with a 1-0 lead on advantages after a 4-4 tie on points.

Podium

1st – Gabrieli Pessanha (Infight Japan) 2nd – Nathiely de Jesus (PSLPB Cicero Costha) 3rd – Marcelle Cantanhede (Al Ain JJ Club)

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TEAMS

Local Control Jiu-Jitsu is a passion of the Emirati people. The sport has taken the country by storm and the results of wide spread practice in schools, military bases, colleges and private academies is showing in competitions in all levels. The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour Abu Dhabi was yet another example of how strong the country is on the mats.

Nine local Jiu-Jitsu clubs finished in the first 10 spots in the overall teams competition. Here is the final podium.

Podium

1st – Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Club (UAE) – 10248pts 2nd – AFNT (UAE) – 8900pts 3rd – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club (UAE) – 8540pts

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ABU DHABI KING OF MATS

Fresh New Start After a tough 2018, Gabriel Arges kicks off the new year with an imposing performance to climb to the top of the middleweight bracket in the Abu Dhabi King of Mats Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes

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Overcoming adversities is what makes you a real champion

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Every high performance competitor needs to know how to deal with a bad season, a year when things just don’t seem to go their way. The year of 2018 was that year for the talented Gabriel Arges. “It’s been a tough year in the competition scene for me. After absolute domination on my first two years as a black belt, winning all the titles I dreamt of, I had a really poor 2018 for my standards,” wrote Arges on his social media channels.

That’s why the Gracie Barra black belt under Romulo Barral entered the middleweight bracket in the Abu Dhabi King of Mats, on January 12, at the Mubadala Arena, with a killer instinct and the notion that he needed a fresh start in the new year. After six very tough matches, he shouted to the world mission accomplished: “If there’s one thing I learnt from my mentor Romulo Barral is that overcoming adversities is what makes you a real champion. I finally understand the true meaning of it. Nothing better to build yourself back to where you belong.” In the next pages, see how Arges made his way to the top of the podium.

Gabriel Arges

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Back on Group A, Rudson Mateus took little time to finish Caio Caetano with an armbar from the 50/50 guard.

Isaque Bahiense and Roberto Satoshi were the first on the mat on Group B. One sweep was enough for Bahiense to beat Satoshi 2-0.

Closing the round on Group B, Manuel Ribamar debuted with style, finishing Diego Ramalho with an armbar.

Lucas Barbosa debuted on Group A with a guard pass to beat Gabriel Arges 3-0.

DJ Jackson made his first appearance on Group B with a wrist lock finish on Roberto Satoshi.

Espen Mathiesen recovered from his first loss on Group A with a choke from the back on Caio Caetano.

Group B’s round 2 completed with Isaque Bahiense winning his second match via referee decision over Manuel Ribamar after a 0-0 tie on points.

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Round 2

Round 1

Gabriel Arges opened Group A with a tough battle against Norway’s Espen Mathiesen. Arges eventually found an opening to take Espen’s back and finish with a choke.

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Gabriel Arges returned to his third match on Group A and beat Caio Caetano via referees decision after a 0-0 tie on points.

Rudson Mateus and Espen Mathiesen opened round 4 on Group A and two sweeps secured Rudson the win with a 4-0 lead.

DJ was back on the mat on Group B to beat Diego Ramalho 1-0 on advantages in a very tough match.

Isaque Bahiense opened round 4 on Group B on fire, catching Diego Ramalho with a beautiful bow and arrow choke.

Round 4

Round 3

The third round opened with an all out war between Rudson Mateus and Lucas Barbosa on Group A. Mateus won via referees decision following a 0-0 tie on points.

The round completed on Group B with Manuel Ribamar taking Jackson’s back and on his way to build a 9-0 lead.

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Round 5 The final round on Group A opened with Arges beating Rudson Mateus by a narrow 1-0 lead on advantages to secure his spot in the semifinals.

Isaque Bahiense secured his fourth win on Group B with a referees decision victory over DJ Jackson after a 0-0 tie on points. With this results, Isaque and Manuel Ribamar advanced to the semifinals.

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Espen Mathiesen was able to beat Lucas Barbosa in the final match of Group A with a 2-1 lead on advantages but it was too late for both to make it to the semifinals. Rudson Mateus took the second spot.

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SEMIFINALS

Gabriel Arges vs. Manuel Ribamar

In the first of the two semifinals, Gabriel Arges used his guard game against Manuel Ribamar for a spot in the gold medal match.

In very tough six minutes, Arges was able to sweep two times against one by Ribamar. The 4-2 score was enough to secure Gabriel a chance to fight for the title.

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Isaque Bahiense vs. Rudson Mateus

SEMIFINALS

In the second semifinal, Isaque Bahiense and Rudson Mateus gave all they had to advance to the final.

A 1-0 lead on advantages following a 2-2 tie on points was the edge that took Isaque to the gold medal match.

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FINAL

Gabriel Arges vs. Isaque Bahiense

There was not a dull moment in the entire six minutes of match.

Arges eventually was able to score a takedown and put Bahiense on the bottom.

The battle for the gold medal was thrilling from beginning to end. Both competitors showed a lot of respect for their opponent but also a lot of drive to win.

Gabriel was then able to secure a back mount to score 4 points and build a 6-2 lead over Bahiense.

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Arges stayed on top and tried to work a choke in, but as the clock ran out the win was secured.

After a tough 2018, the new year could not have begun better for Arges.

The middleweight king wants his crown.

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After all the effort, the final podium was complete with champion Arges, Bahiense (2nd) and Ribamar (3rd)

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MASTERS / ADGS ABU DHABI

Yearly Celebration

Abu Dhabi welcomes the Grand Slam for another occasion for a powerful display of Jiu-Jitsu’s strength to bring people together

Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour never disappoints those who wait a whole year to be a part of a big Jiu-Jitsu celebration. Abu Dhabi hosted the event on January 10-12, 2019 and once again athletes of all ages, skills levels and origins came together to compete and test their skills on the mats of the Mubadala Arena.

From white belts to black belts, from juveniles to masters, every single competitor gave their best to take home one of the medals up for

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grabs. As always, the para-athletes gave a touching demonstration of how it’s possible to overcome any limitation when you have the will power to keep on moving and getting better every day.

In the master 1 black belt division, seasoned heroes did great while competing in front of their pupils and taught by example that a true warrior never gives up. In the next pages, you’ll be able to relive the thrills experienced by each person that went through the doors of the arena at the Zayed Sports City. Enjoy and let the countdown for 2020 begin.

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Master 1 Black Belt

Leandro Martins secured the gold medal in the 62kg division with a 2-0 lead on points over Juan Lopes

With a sweep, Marcos Tinoco beat Rafael Carvalho by a 2-0 lead to remain the champion in the 85kg division

Sergio Pichilinga won the 77kg division title with a 2-0 lead over Adriano Lima in the final match

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Thiago Barreto became the 69kg division champion with a triangle finish on Taoufick Serbout

Igor Silva beat Antonio Junior 6-0 after a back take to win the 110kg division gold medal

Celso Campos made it to the top of the 94kg division with a 2-1 lead on advantages over Pablo AragĂŁo

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Color Belts AND Para Jiu-Jitsu

The white belts meant business in Abu Dhabi

The para-athletes inspired the crowd with their example of dedication to Jiu-Jitsu

The women’s division was as thrilling as always

The action in the purple belt division was nonstop, both on land and air 68

Blue Belts gave their best on the mats

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The crowd went wild with the performances of their teammates and friends on the mats

The countdown to be back at the Mubadala Arena in 2020 is already on

No obstacle is big enough for those who really want to get things done

The body of referees worked really hard for three days of non-stopping matches

The medal on the podium is the reward every hard working athlete is after

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As usual, the UAEJJF gave top level treatment to athletes, with every procedure like the weigh-ins on time and well managed 69

ABU DHABI KING OF MATS

Light but mighty powerful Know better who are the ten beasts who will compete in the Abu Dhabi King of Mats lightweight bracket in London Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes

Gianni Grippo USA Training out of Marcelo Garcia’s academy in NYC, Grippo is one of the most fierce and talented black belts in his generation.

A 2X black belt ADWPJJC champion, he’s right up there as a favorite to nab the winner’s trophy.

Paulo Miyao BRA Also training in NYC, Miyao has already secured his place as one of the greatest athletes of all times in his weight class. Also a black belt ADWPJJC champion, Paulo has to be seen as a big favorite for the title.

Hiago George BRA

One time ADWPJJC champion and a gold medal collector in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour, Hiago will bring his versatile and submission-driven Jiu-Jitsu to the bracket. He’s without a doubt one of the favorites to make it to the semifinals at least.

Isaac Doederlein USA

A black belt under Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles with plenty of experience in competitions against the best athletes of his generation, Isaac is known for his dangerous guard game and fast attacks. Isaac is a 2015 ADWPJJC champion as a brown belt. His career as a black belt is filled with great results as well.

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Carlos Alberto da Silva BRA

Bebeto was a brown belt as recently as the 2018 ADWPJJC, where he won the gold medal in his division. Promoted to the black belt, Bebeto sustained the high level of performance and results. He has two gold medals in the 2018/2019 ADGS season and enters the bracket decided to make his presence felt.

João Gabriel de Sousa BRA

The youngest of all the competitors, João Gabriel has the energy and the skill level necessary to be in the mix. Gold medalist in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour LA in the present season, João Gabriel should not be overlooked.

Nobuhiro Sawada JPN

Japan is well known for producing great competitors in the lighter weight classes. That’s why it’s only natural to have a Japanese competitor in the bracket. Nobuhiro Sawada is a gold medalist in the ADGS Tokyo this season. He’ll be a tough opponent to any competitor in the bracket for sure.

Lee Ting

AUS Training since 2005, Lee Ting quickly became one of the most successful competitors coming out of Australia. Now a 1st degree black belt, he’s been very active in the competition circuit. An Abu Dhabi Grand Slam champion after snatching the gold medal in the 69kg division at this season’s opening event in Tokyo, Lee arrives in London to rock the bracket in search of the most important title of his career.

João Gonçalves BRA

Another talented competitor coming out of Brazil, João won the gold medal in the 2017 ADGS Rio. He is known for always looking for the submission. Back in 2017, he won the title with three submissions in four matches in the 69kg division.

Tiago Bravo

BRA

Teaching Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE, Bravo has kept very active in the competition circuit. Just recently he made it to the final against Paulo Miyao in the 2019 ADGS Abu Dhabi. Tiago is known for never giving up and always being a handful to all his opponents.

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MY ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM

Finally at the Top Adam Wardzinski tells you the story of how he won his first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Slam gold medal as a black belt Words: Adam Wardzinski* | Images: Ane Nunes

Since I became a black belt the beginning of the month of January always means for me a trip to the UAE for the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. For me, its always a good way to start another year with a stacked competition and for the second year in a row I was looking to add more points to my ranking position.

Right after the New Years Eve, I started preparations for that one in my home country of Poland. I alway train hard and stay in shape so it was just a matter of adding more sparring and some specific rounds. First week I spend in my home gym – Checkmat Poznań, training with my students and usual sparring partners. Second week we moved preparations to the Olympic Preparations Center, in western Poland. There was a huge sparring camp happening there with more than 130 Jiu-Jitsu athletes, including some top level competitors from around the Europe and my professor Alan “Finfou” Nascimento. The place was located in the middle of the polish woods so there was no other option than focusing on hard training and proper recovery.

Shortly after the camp it was time to travel to the UAE. For all European athletes the best thing about the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi is that the flight is not so long especially when we compare to events in Tokyo, Rio or Los Angeles and the time difference is also not big. Last but not least it’s really good to move for couple of days from the cold and snowy eastern Europe to a much warmer place.

When the weigh-in day came I felt fresh and strong. I made the weigh limit with no problem so my full focus was about analyzing my opponents and setting a right strategy for each 72

fight. From the beginning I had a good feeling about this event.

Next day the arena looked amazing. The place reminded me a lot of the Abu Dhabi World Pro. The UAEJJF organisation is always on point and when you fight those big events you feel that you take part in something important.

In my first fight I met very tough Matheus Godoy. I knew I have to be sharp for this one so I warmed up really good with some speed drills I usually use for that. After a couple minutes of the match I was able to take the back and submit my opponent and move on to the next round. In my second fight I got a walk over as my next opponent got injured so I went straight to the final against Renato Cardoso. After a tough fight I was able to take the win for the very first time at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. The feeling was amazing of course and it was even better because on previous years there was always something missing and I was always ending up in second place. It showed me that sometimes you just go and win but sometimes you need to show persistence. Show up after every loss with new motivation and try again until you win. In Jiu-Jitsu, the feeling of fulfillment doesn’t last long as we always look ahead for new challenges but it was amazing to feel it for a few moments holding that golden hawk statue.

The journey continues and shortly it’s time to perform again, this time in London. Cant wait for that one!

*Adam Wardzinski, 27, is a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Alan “Finfou” Nascimento. Born and raised in Poland, Adam is widely regarded as one of the top competitors in his generation, both in Europe nad in the world. In the 2017/2018 season, Adam received the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Award for finishing as the number 1 athlete in Europe.

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AROUND THE GLOBE Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: UAEJJF

Zagreb Croatia December 8, 2018

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Croatia National Pro The city of Zagreb hosted the Jiu-Jitsu movement on December 8 as the Croatia National Pro hit the Dom Odbojke Bojan Stranic. Some of the best competitors in the region came together to test their skills and please the crowd with the highest level of Jiu-Jitsu. In the black belt division, champions were: Adult Male - 94kg – El;dar Rafigaev; Open – Eldar Rafigaev; Master 1 Male – 94kg – Stefano Meneguzzo. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Mladost – Alliance Bd 1540pts; 2nd – Roger Gracie Austria 770pts; 3rd – Gracie Barra Ljubljana 765pts.

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Colombia

December 8-9, 2018

Bogotá

Colombia National Pro South America is one of the continents where Jiu-Jitsu is showing the biggest growth in the world. The Colombia National Pro, in Bogota, on December 8-9, 2018, was yet another proof of how strong the sport is in the region. Hundreds of athletes gave their best on the mats to secure their spots on the podium. In the black belt division, champions were: Adult Male – 69kg – Yijad Moussa; 77kg – Alexandre Molinaro; 85kg – Kevin Cuervo; Master 2 Male – 110kg – Timothy Ewing; Female Adult – 62kg – Madeline Choconta. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Team FCJJ Colombia 2665pts; 2nd – Gracie Colombia 810pts; 3rd – Mas De La Riva 670pts.

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Tokyo

Japan

January 19, 2019

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Japan National Pro The Saturday, January 19, was all about Jiu-Jitsu in Tokyo. The Japan National Pro welcomed some of the best competitors in the region for an awesome day of matches. In the adult black belt division, champions were: 77kg - Robson Tanno; 94kg - Youngham Noh. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Axis JJ 1390pts; 2nd – DCBS 930pts; 3rd – Infight Japan 500pts.

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Mongolia

January 19-20, 2019

Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia National Pro The Mongolia National Pro hosted hundreds of athletes in Ulaanbaatar for a whole weekend of matches on January 19-20. In the black belt division, Battsetseg Tsog-Ochir finished Buyandelger Battsogt for the female 70kg divison title. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Shine Badrakh 4930pts; 2nd – Ikh Shavi Dojo 3640pts; 3rd – Garuda 3590pts.

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Kissimmee USA

January 26, 2019

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USA National Pro The city of Kissimmee, Florida, was all about Jiu-Jitsu on January 26. The USA National Pro gathered the best competitors in the area for a full day of matches. In the black belt division, champions were: MALE – 62kg – Suraj Budhram; 69kg – Rodrigo Dias, 77kg – Alexandre Molinaro. FEMALE – 55kg – Bruna Burns; 62kg – Vanessa Arango. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – American Top Team 2740pts; 2nd – Fabin Rosa BJJ 2105pts; 3rd – Gracie Barra Kissimmee 1725pts.

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Brazil

January 27, 2019

Guarapari

Guarapari International Pro In the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil, the Guarapari International Pro, on January 27, was yet another opportunity for the country’s talent to show up on the mats. It did not disappoint. In the black belt division, champions were: Female – 55kg – Mariana Rolszt; 62kg – Juliana Costa; 70kg – Dayana Almeida, Open – Dayana Almeida. Male – 69kg – Ermilio Lima; 77kg – Luan Alves; 85kg – João Oliveira; 94kg – Gerard Labinski; 110kg – Mario Netto. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Atos JJ 1365pts; 2nd – GA Fight – 1360pts; 3rd – GF Team 1345pts.

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Mexico City

Mexico

February 2, 2019

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Mexico National Pro Jiu-Jitsu was the talk of the town in Mexico City. The Mexico National Pro brought together the best competitors in the region for a full day of thrills on February 2. In the black belt division, champions were: Female- 62kg - Itzel Aguilar. Male - 77kg - Santiago Farina; 94kg - Diego da Silva. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Renzo Gracie Mexico 2250pts; 2nd - Bujutsu 1360pts; 3rd - Zenith BJJ 820pts.

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Slovenia

February 2, 2019

Ljubljana

Slovenia National Pro The Slovenia National Pro was a hit on February 2, in Ljubljana. Some of the best athletes in the continent gathered to compete for valuable points in the UAEJJF ranking. In the black belt division, champions were: MALE - 77kg - Aleksandar Milicevic; 94kg - Adam Wardzinski; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista. In the teams competition, results were: 1st - Mladost -Alliance 2150pts; 2nd Gracie Barra Ljubljana 2030pts; 3rd - Pound for Pound Team - 1265pts.

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Luanda

Angola

February 3, 2019

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Angola National Pro Jiu-Jitsu gets stronger everyday in Africa. The Angola National Pro brought the community together on February 3, in beautiful Luanda. In the black belt division, champions were: FEMALE- 70kg - Delfina Francisco; MALE - 69kg - Ricardo Ximenes; 77kg - William dos Santos; 110kg - Ruben Lemos; MASTER 1, 77kg - Pedro Godinho; 85kg - Jose Santana; 94kg - Sergio Lopes.

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Netherlands

February 10, 2019

Almere

Netherlands National Pro Some big names showed up to compete this Sunday, February 10, in Almere, near Amsterdam.

The Netherlands National Pro was a hit with hundreds of athletes testing their skills on the mats. In the adult black belt division, champions were: Male - 69kg Wojciech Piekut; 77kg - Pedro Ramalho; 85kg - DJ Jackson; 94kg – Adam Wardzinski; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista; Female - 55kg – Mayssa Bastos; 62kg -Ffiona Davies; 70kg – Samantha Cook; 90kg - Marta Szarecka.

In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Checkmat 1980pts; 2nd - PSLPB Cicero Costha 850pts; 3rd – Atos JJ 735pts.

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London

UK

February 16, 2019

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British National Pro Less than a month before the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour London, the Jiu-Jitsu community in the UK tested their skills at the British National Pro, on February 16. Big names flocked in to compete and warm their games for the main even on March 9-10. In the black belt division, champions were: MALE – 77kg – Oliver Lovell; 94kg – Charles Santos, Open - Fabricio Barbarotti. FEMALE – 70kg - Samantha Cook.

In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Checkmat International 3310pts; 2nd – Roger Gracie Academy 2115pts; Gracie Barra Nottingham 1460pts.

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Switzerland

February 16, 2019

Zurich

Switzerland National Pro Jiu-Jitsu heat up the Alps as the Switzerland National Pro hit Zurich on February 16. Hundreds of the best athletes in the area gathered for a full day of matches. The event feature some important names in the sport. In the black belt division, champions were: MALE – 77kg – Jan Basso; 85kg – Philippe Pomaski; 94kg – Ruben Lemos; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista.

FEMALE – 70kg – Larissa Paes. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – BJJ Team Basel 2460pts; 2nd – Roots BJJ 2010pts; 3rd – Carlson Gracie Zurich 1950pts.

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Curitiba

Brazil

February 17, 2019

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Brazil National Pro Brazil’s elite competitors converged to Curitiba on February 17 for the Brazil National Pro. Hundreds of athletes tested their skills and once again proved why the sport is a fan favorite in the country. Big names competed in the adult black belt division. Champions were: MALE – 55kg – Ana Rodrigues; 62kg – Bianca Basilio; 70kg – Ericka Almeida; 90kg – Mayara Oshi; Open - Mayara Oshi. MALE – 62kg – Cleber Fernandes; 69kg – Lucas Galbusera; 77kg – Edson Junior; 85kg – Manoel Junior; 94kg – Gerard Labinski; 110kg – Luiz Neves. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Gracie Barra 6970pts; 2nd – GF Team 1945pts; 3rd – BJJ 1350pts.

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USA

February 17, 2019

New York

North America Continental Pro Sunday, February 17, was a big day for Jiu-Jitsu in New York. The North America Continental Pro brought hundreds of athletes to the city to compete for the ultimate glory. The event featured some big names in the sport giving all they had on the mats. In the black belt division, champions were: FEMALE – 55kg - Mayssa Bastos; 70kg – Vedha Toscano; 90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha. MALE – 56kg – Andres Poveda; 69kg – João Gabriel de Sousa; 77kg – Gianni Grippo; 110kg – Diego Ramalho. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Marcelo Garcia JJ 1720pts; Vitor Shaolin BJJ 1300pts; Renzo Gracie NY 970pts.

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Malaga

Spain

February 23, 2019

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Europe Continental Pro The astonishing seaside city of Malaga, in Spain, hosted the Europe Continental Pro on February 23. The event was a hit with hundreds of athletes coming together to test their game and celebrate their passion for Jiu-Jitsu. The event featured some huge names in the adult black belt division.

Champions were: MALE – 69kg – Hiago George; 77kg – Pedro Ramalho; 85kg – Diego Ramalho; 94kg – Adam Wardzinski; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista. FEMALE – 55kg – Mayssa Caldas; 70kg – Samantha Cook.

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LIFESTYLE TIPS

Are you drinking

enough water?

How to avoid chronic dehydration in Athletes Words: Sophia McDermott*

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Chronic dehydration is much more prevalent that we would think and it affect athletes and non athletes alike.

In fact the majority of clients who come my way for personalized plans in order to feel better, look better and to perform better are suffering from mild chronic dehydration and they don’t even know it.

Physically demanding exercise like Jiu-Jitsu or other full contact sports can cause us to lose up to 1 liter an hour of water through sweat. So for athletes just like us who train often and sometimes multiple times a day, it is easy to see how over a period of time we could become dehydrated. But dehydration is not just cased by the training and this is why so many of us are dehydrated without knowing it. Remember that by the time we feel thirsty or have a dry mouth, we are already dehydrated.

This is how it usually happens...

We may start the day off by drinking a coffee, with breakfast which might be some sort of dry processed cereal. Lunch and snacks might consist of a sandwich, crackers, granola bars and other dry foods. For a pick me up we might have another coffee, tea or soda. And then there is the pre and post training protein shake!

After training we will drink water but definitely not enough to replace all the fluids lost from the training session or from the day.

What a lot of people don’t know is that coffee, tea and sodas are a diuretic and stimulate the body to release water. Dry foods such as carb based breakfast bars or cereals pull water from the body in order to be digested and they hold water in order to be stored as glycogen.

If fact, 2.7 grams of water are stored for every gram of carbohydrate stored. Products high in protein require water for the kidneys to filter out excess nitrogen from the breakdown of amino acids in the protein. These foods and drinks all require water in order to be processed so they actually contribute to dehydration just by consuming them.

Let’s add an intense sweaty session of BJJ or a workout onto that where we may lose ½ a gallon of fluid through sweat! BUT fluid loss doesn’t end there! During sleep we can lose one to two pounds of water through respiration, sweating, and biological processes such as digestion and eliminating waste products. In the morning we wake up most certainly dehydrated and then we repeat this daily routine all over again. This is how we end up being in a mild, chronic dehydrated state.

Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration Muscular Cramps - Often athletes who are dehydrated experience

muscular cramps that could be due to an imbalance of electrolytes.

Water is the transporter of electrolytes that perform a cellular balancing act by allowing nutrients into the cell while excreting waste products.

Certain elements such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium play a primary role in muscular contraction and nerve impulse transmission. It is at the cell membrane where these electrolytes conduct electrical currents similar to nerve impulses. If the delicate balancing act of electrolyte transport into and out of the cells is affected, then this can have a detrimental effect on our muscles and therefore our training.

Sore Joints - Sore joints, especially the fingers for BJJ athletes can often be caused by dehydration. The cartilage in your joints is composed mainly of water. Cartilage surfaces glide over one another and can become worn over time. Water is needed to transport the nutrients required for maintenance and repair, whereby new cartilage is produced to replace the damaged cartilage cells. Dehydration may increase the abrasive damage and slow down the repair, resulting in joint pain and long term serious injury.

Lethargy and Fatigue - Poor concentration, lethargy, brain fog and

headaches are all symptoms of dehydration also. Often when that 3pm afternoon slump hits, it’s because of dehydration. Fluid losses of if as little as 1-2% of your body weight can significantly affect performance.

How to Stay Hydrated - If you think this might be you there are ways you can start adding water and fluids to start replenishing and hydrating your body. Start the day by drinking between one to two cups of water every morning before a decent breakfast such as eggs and fruit, which contains water and can aid in digestion. Throughout the day eat foods that have a high water content such as fruits, vegetables, and opt for proteins such as fish or fermented tofu instead of powders. Carry a water bottle around with you as a reminder to drink and as a way to measure your daily intake. Sip on herbal teas and water with chopped cucumbers or lemons for some additional flavor.

Avoid diuretic foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, sodas, and dense, dry carbohydrates such as crackers or cereals and also protein bars that suck the water from your body in order to process them.

If you think you suffer from any of the conditions caused by chronic dehydration, such as fatigue, sore joints, poor digestion or lethargy and headaches, and you have trouble losing weight, be meticulous about drinking adequate amounts of water and replacing your fluids. Chronic dehydration means you have been in that state for a long time so drinking a gallon for one day won’t necessarily heal you or reduce your symptoms right away. However, after a few weeks of practicing a consistent hydration habit, you should notice a difference to your digestion, joint pain, and muscle recovery and weight and you should start to feel amazing again!

Sophia McDermott (Drysdale) is a Jiu-Jitsu black belt and coach, personal trainer and mother of two. Sophia is certified with National Academy of Sports Medicine, NASM CPT (USA) and specializes in functional training for athletes as well as nutrition. She runs seminars and camps about BJJ, nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Sophia is the first Australian female BJJ black belt. World Champion, 2X no Gi World Champion, 4X Pan Am Champion. Sophia also competes in Figure shows and holds the distinction of being the Overall Unlimited Figure winner for 2015 for NPC. For more information on Sophia, scan here.

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UAE NEWS & OPINION

An Unlikely King of Mats is Crowned in Abu Dhabi!

In arguably, the most memorable King of Mats competition so far, Gabriel Arges shocks the Jiu-Jitsu world with a stunning performance after a disappointing run in the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam the night before, and a slow start on the day of the competition.

For Jiu-Jitsu fans watching the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam’s (ADGS) 4th leg all over the world, Gabriel Arges’ early exit from the Black Belt -85KG weight class seemed like another disappointing event for the Gracie Barra competitor this season. It was only a few months ago that Arges competed in the 2nd edition of the Abu Dhabi King of Mats, even though he was outweighed by all the competitors given it was a Heavyweight competition. He won one match and lost three in that competition, but the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) appreciated his participation so much that they invited him again for the 3rd edition, and this time within his weight category: Middleweight.

What transpired was one of the most impressive performances in Gabriel’s career. An opening win over the 2018 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Champion, Norwegian Espen Mathiesen, was followed by a defeat against a man that was considered to be one of the favorites to win the title, Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa.

A defeat that, to most observers, meant a devastating blow to Gabriel’s ambitions in the same event, yet again. A following win against Group A’s weakest link, Caio Soares, rekindled hopes, but more importantly, his win over Rudson Mateus, the same competitor that beat him the day before, gave us an indication of how a competitor can get back up after a loss minutes before and qualify to the KO rounds of the tournament, which is also testament to the exclusivity of the King of Mats ruleset.

In the semi-finals, it was a tough showdown with the dark horse 94

Mohammed Al Hosani Jiu-Jitsu Analyst/Commentator

of the tournament, Manuel Ribamar, who is another competitor deserving credit for an excellent performance in this tournament.

Dare I say, a star-making performance that might elevate him into further success at the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in April. Watch out for him!

The Final was set between Gabriel Arges and Isaque Bahiense, another 2018 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Champion and no.1 favorite to win this tournament. What transpired was the most dramatic ending to a King of Mats final in this event’s short tenure as one of the most premiere invitation-only events in the sport. A championship performance that will live on in Gabriel Arges’ storied career as a Jiu-Jitsu competitor for years to come.

The stage is now set for the last King of Mats event in London, which will pit 10 of the best Lightweights in the World against each other for the last spot in the trio of Super Fights in April against the “Original King of Mats” winners. In addition to that event, we look forward to the final Abu Dhabi Grand Slam of the season as top seeds try to gather as much points as possible before the big event in April. The ADGS in London is always an interesting one for me because it is the final major event in the UAEJJF calendar before the World Pro. We all hope to see the top-ranked competitors on the mats in London, and some could very well guarantee their position for the season depending on the results by the event’s end.

See you all in London!

Jiu-Jitsu World

Fujairah International Pro Fujairah, UAE January 18-19, 2019

For two days in January, Furaijah became the UAE Jiu-Jitsu’s capital. The Furaijah International Pro brought together hundreds of athletes both from the UAE and foreigners for a true celebration of the sport.

Competitors of all ages made their coaches and fans proud with inspired performances on the mats. The event was a powerful proof of how strong the sport is in the country. In the black belt division, champions were: Adult Female – 62kg – Nadia Melo; 90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha; Adult Male - 62kg – Vitor Junior; 69kg – Diego Marinho; 110kg – Ricardo Evangelista. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Commando Group 4351pts; 2nd – Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Academy 2475pts; 3rd – AFNT 2221pts.

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Challenge Jiu-Jitsu Championship Under 18

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Abu Dhabi, UAE February 7-9, 2019

Hundreds of athletes under 18 years old gathered at the Mubadala Arena, in Abu Dhabi, on February 7-9, 2019 to celebrate the growth of the sport in the UAE. The competition was fierce in all age brackets and fans were awed with the skill level displayed on the mats. After a lot of effort in each fight, the athletes were able to raise their teams to the podium. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club 1274pts; 2nd – Ajman Jiu-Jitsu Club 1264pts; 3rd – Al Wahda Jiu-Jitsu Academy 1152pts.

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Ras Al Khaimah International Pro Ras Al Khaimah, UAE February 22-23, 2019

The Ras Al Khaimah Sports Hall hosted hundreds of athletes for two days on February 22-23 to showcase Jiu-Jitsu strength in the country. The event open to competitors of all belts, ages and nationalities saw both locals and foreigners display high level technique on the mats. In the teams competition, results were: 1st – Al Ain JiuJitsu Club 2160pts; 2nd – AFNT – 1810pts; 3rd – Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy 1650pts.

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2019 ADWPJJC

Get Ready for the big show Here’s all you need to know to be a part of the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the season grand finale this April, in Abu Dhabi Words: Ivan Trindade | Images: Ane Nunes

The time for greatness is coming once again. As April approaches, the Jiu-Jitsu world gets ready to converge to the United Arab Emirates for the annual edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC). The 11th edition of the ADWPJJC will be a portentous event as usual, with competition for athletes of all ages and

skill levels, including the always inspiring Para-Athletes.

From April 20 to April 26, the best Jiu-Jitsu competitors in the world will turn Abu Dhabi in the world capital of the gentle art. Jiu-Jitsu World Magazine wants you to be a part of it. So we put together this quick guide to make things easier for everyone willing to be a part of the glorious ADWPJJC history.

2019 ADWPJJC EVENTS

April 20

Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival & ParaJiu-Jitsu

Age Divisions

Registration Deadline

Registration Fee

Kids - 4yo to 9yo (White Belt and Grey Belt) Adult & Master 1 (White Belt) ParaJiu-Jitsu (All Belts)

April 16, 2019

Boys and Girls – US$35 ParaJiu-Jitsu – US$0 Adult and Masters – US$65

11AM - 7PM

April 21-22 12AM - 7PM

Mubadala Arena

Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship Mubadala Arena

Age Divisions

Registration Deadline

Registration Fee

Kids and Juveniles - 10yo to 17yo (All Belts except White Belt)

April 16, 2019

Boys and Girls – US$35 Juvenile - US$35

April 23 1PM - 8PM

Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship Mubadala Arena

Age Divisions

Registration Deadline

Registration Fee

Masters - 30+yo (All Belts except White Belt)

April 16, 2019

Male Gi – US$90 Female - US$90

April 24 1PM - 8PM April 25 2PM - 7PM April 26 5PM - 7:30PM

AbuDhabi Dhabi World World Professional Professional Jiu-Jitsu Abu Jiu-Jitsu Championship Championship MubadalaArena Arena Mubadala

Age Divisions

Registration Deadline

Registration Fee

Adult – 18+yo (All Belts except White Belt)

April 16, 2019

Male Gi – US$100 Female - US$100

April 27 6PM - 9PM

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Scan here for More Info

Scan here for More Info

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Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards Emirates Palace Hotel

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