What better way to spend the weekend than watching interesting high level fights, cheering for your team mates fighting, and going out there and competing?
That is how Jordanian BJJ athletes spent the weekend on the 12th and 13th of September. Contestants from around the country got together in a very friendly but yet competitive environment, bringing their best on the mats.
Jordan has become home for some of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu clubs in the region. The country is packed with accomplished athletes who proved themselves in the most prestigious tournaments around the world.
One of the major obstacles facing new and seasoned competitors alike is the lack of local tournaments. Regular local tournament is the best way for athletes to gain competition experience, which is very important and critical to stay sharp and in top shape around the year.
Taher Hamdan, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt and one of the two organizers of the tournament said to ARABSMMA:
“We started this tournament because Jordan is one of the best, if not the best Country in BJJ in the Middle East. Yet we lack competitions. This is holding our fighters back. We are going to put all our efforts to make this tournament spread through all the Middle East region and hopefully one day become the next ADCC.”
The tournament was definitely a success. Fighters on white, blue and purple belt levels showed high level skill. Brown belt division, black belt division and the whole female division were cancelled though, due to the limited number of registered athletes. The tournament will be held once every two months and the organizers are hoping to fill these categories in coming events.
Desert Force contender Thabet Agha, the second organizer for the event mentioned to ArabsMMA:
“We have many good athletes here in Jordan and the competition being held every two months allow those athletes to have the opportunity to improve and to develop their skills and to take the game to a whole new level.
The idea wasn’t that new, we always held such tournaments, but not schedules frequent ones. However, such an event will motivate Jordanian fighters to keep on track and training.
Our first try was successful, but we need more fighters from different clubs to attend the upcoming events so it will become bigger.And I hope competitors from all clubs in the Middle East will participate. That will improve the tournament.”
At the end of the event, all medallists received their medals from 4 dan black belt master Samy Aljamal, the highest ranked Arab Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner. In addition to Master Aljamal, other familiar faces attended the event, such as Haider Rasheed, Yanal Shahzadah, Zeid Garandouka, Rana Qubbaj and Lama Qubbaj. In addition to those BJJ fighters, high profile MMA fighters also attended the event. Hashim Arkhaga, YazanJaneb and Najem Mamkegh.
Check out the full photo galleries and results of JJJC Gi & No Gi in our photos section.
