The IBJJF 2015 European Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship was wrapped up this weekend in Complexo Municipal Esportivo in the Portuguese capital Lisbon. With 3,400 athletes registered, it is now considered the biggest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament of the World.
Proving once again that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the fastest growing sport in the world, and probably growing even faster in the Arab world.
Many Arab BJJ pioneers and champions headed to Lisbon, Portugal to take part of this prestigious event, where they tested their skills, technique and months of preparations, and came back with impressive results and a lot of shining medals.
One of the names highlighted in this tournament was Master Samy Al Jamal, winning a silver medal after a very close and controversial final with Willengton Dias (Megaton). In brown belt, Sanad Armouti from Team Mirza scored a Silver medal in the adult medium heavy division, and Malek Hariri won a Bronze medal in Master 3 heavy division.
Purple belt Christopher “Mohammed” James Doty representing Qatar BJJ snatched the first place in Masters 2 feather division. Doty was then promoted to brown belt by his instructor Fabricio Moreira on the podium.
The rising stars of White belt also didn’t fail to deliver, Mohammed-Nour Alasbahi won Gold in Juvenile 2. Roger Gracie Academy, Lebanon also had its share of victories with Imad Howayek winning a bronze in the adult medium heavy division and Omar Oueini winning a Gold medal in Master 1 feather division.
It is notable to mention that Howayek from Tristar Lebanon had participated in the first ever Amateur MMA world championship under the IMMAF banner and is looking to do the same this year!
In the Female blue belt division and from Team Source, Rana Qubbaj, Lama Qubbaj and Ruba Al Sayegh – who are also teammates and training partners – came back with 5 medals, each winning Gold in her weight class, topped by a gold for Rana Qubbaj and a Bronze for Lama Qubbaj in open weight.
These are just some of the names that have been shining in the BJJ scene in the region, and taking the sport to an international level, God only knows what the future holds, but it looks like these champions are skyrocketing and reaching for stardom.
