ABU DHABI, UAE — The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), the governing authority for the sport in the Emirates, has entered into a historic collaboration with the International Association of Competitive Jiu-Jitsu In Israel, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the growth of the sport in both countries, elevate the standard of the jiu-jitsu through various knowledge-sharing initiatives, and encourage people-to-people exchanges through competitions and training programmes between the UAE and Israeli jiu-jitsu communities.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the Al Ittihad Jiu-Jitsu Championship held at Abu Dhabi’s Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Saturday with the Chairman of the UAEJJF and JJAU and Senior Vice President of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) Abdul Munam Al Hashemi, signing the agreement with Erez Alroy, chairman, International Association of Competitive Jiu-Jitsu in Israel. Also present at the ceremony were Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, vice president, UAEJJF, Samira Al Rumaithi, board member, UAEJJF, Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, general secretary, UAEJJF, Elisha Poplinger, CEO, International Association of Competitive Jiu-Jitsu Israel.

As part of the agreement, both federations will undertake collective efforts to grow, develop, and nourish the standard of the sport in their respective countries and across the world. Joint training camps for the UAE and Israeli national teams and professional athletes will also be scheduled in addition to special championships organised between the two countries. The partnership will also see the two Federations share technical expertise and hold workshops for referees and administrators.

Al Hashemi said that the collaboration was a productive outcome of the historic peace accord signed between the two countries in September and a confirmation of the growing relationships between both nations across diverse areas.

"We in the UAE are extremely proud of the comprehensive jiu-jitsu culture that we have developed, and we are honoured to share our expertise with our counterparts in Israel. I would like to thank the generous support extended to us by the UAE's visionary leadership in building bridges of trust and cooperation all across the world and I am confident that this agreement will empower a growing number of people in both countries to learn and benefit from the sport," he said.

“We are confident this partnership will bring a lot of advantages for the vibrant jiu-jitsu communities in both countries. The UAE and Israel are countries with a strong standing and a rich history in the world of jiu-jitsu and through this collaboration we are looking forward to harnessing the knowledge, passion, and interest present in both countries for the betterment of the sport and to help accelerate the development of athletes, referees, and administrators through various sporting initiatives,” he said.

Alroy said that the agreement would give the popularity of jiu-jitsu in Israel a distinct fillip. “The UAE is a jiu-jitsu powerhouse, and it is a matter of great pride that through this agreement we will be working with athletes, referees, and administrators who are amongst the best in the world. This partnership has great potential to elevate the level of jiu-jitsu in Israel and also foster greater interaction between the people of our countries. We look forward to absorbing the knowledge that the UAE’s jiu-jitsu community possesses and work together to strengthen this beautiful sport,” he said. — SG