Strong participation of UAE’s leading jiu-jitsu referees swapped the mats for the classroom ahead of the 5thedition of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship, in Abu Dhabi this month.
The officials were put their paces in a Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union examination to upgrade their licences in time for officiating in the continental championship, which runs from 13-16 September at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena.
Organised by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing body for the sport in the Emirates, the process involved the referees attending a webinar taking an online examination. The final stage is a practical evaluation at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship.
Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, chief executive of of the UAEJJF, said: “We are happy with the strong turnout of members who are keen to upgrade their certificate for the 5th edition of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship this month. Refereeing is all about constant learning, whether reading or watching videos of previous bouts, and we are here to help referees improve their competences.”
“The webinar and exam are the first steps, now the referees will have a great chance to do a practical exam at one of the biggest jiu-jitsu championships in the world, seeing how they judge athletes and styles from across Asia. It will be a great experience for them and huge step in their careers.”
Two referees will also be examiners for the assessment to make sure the bouts are judged fairly at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship.
“The growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE is reflected not only by the strong participation of athletes in the championships, but also in the members who are keen to be part of the jiu-jitsu community and become referees. With Abu Dhabi hosting global tournaments such as the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship this year, refereeing is a great opportunity for people to be involved in the biggest championships,” added Al Shamsi.
The 5th edition of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship will be held amid strict precautionary and preventive measures, in accordance with the health protocols approved by UAEJJF in coordination with local health authorities.
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