40
years ago, Abu Dhabi was nothing more than a fishing village. Four
decades on, the capital of the United Arab Emirates could be called the
new jewel of Arabia. Oil money brought with it development that meshed
perfectly with Middle Eastern tradition. The harmony prevalent in the
UAE is also the result of a royal family illuminated and attentive to
what best the world has to offer without forsaking traditional customs.
Among
these benefices is Jiu-Jitsu, introduced to the country in 1997. In
2009, we reach the pinnacle. During the first two days of May, the
first World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup took place in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s a dream come true,” in the words of
the event’s organizer, Carlao Santos, a black belt who seven
years ago went to teach the royal family and now leads an unprecedented
endeavor to spread Jiu-Jitsu to the masses, with class taught to over
three thousand children in schools, for example.
GRACIEMAG
disembarked in Abu Dhabi along with a cast of notable aces of world
Jiu-Jitsu. There were Marcelo Garcia, Rafael Lovato Jr., Fabio Gurgel,
Alexandre de Souza, Rubens Charles “Cobrinha”,
Braulio Estima, Rafael and Guilherme Mendes and many others. After the
disputes were all done, though, it was Tarsis Humphreys who shone the
most, with gold in the absolute black belt category, in his category
and 14 thousand dollars in his pocket. But the WPJJC was much more than
just that. It was held at a first-rate venue where tennis stars Federer
and Nadal once performed; present was Sheikh Mohammed, prince of Abu
Dhabi, in the pulpit of honor and lots of emotions from the Middle
Eastern champions. All that you will find in over 15 illustrated pages
with a battery of images of the bouts as well as beautiful Abu Dhabi
and its unique mix of Middle Eastern tradition and ultra-modernity.
Meanwhile,
in the United States two events shook up the Jiu-Jitsu calendar. In
Manhattan and Los Angeles, the NY Open and the American Cup proved
there’s no greater program than to grab a gi and hit a
competition. It doesn’t matter what belt or age the
practitioner. In the Big Apple, Lucas Lepri and Gregor Gracie took the
spotlight. In California, the number of unknowns at the party proves
just how Jiu-Jitsu is gaining ground at all four corners of the globe
with every day.
During
a stop-through in Rio de Janeiro, modern Jiu-Jitsu’s
birthplace, we found Hillary Williams, a purple belt from Little Rock,
Arkansas, who like any good American stuck an idea in her head and saw
it out till the end. During a three-week tropical adventure in Brazil,
the valiant gringa toured through nearly every gym in the city. She
learned a lot, had her share of setbacks, questioned what she thought
she knew, but also had a heck of a good time. When she left, she
realized she is living proof of Jiu-Jitsu’s strength in the
lives of those who embrace it. At home, she put it all on paper and
sent it in to GRACIEMAG. Read it and get inspired.
In
the monthly column, Martin Rooney talks of the dead weight we carry
around with us. The physical conditioning coach to some of Jiu-Jitsu
and MMA’s biggest stars shows how there’s a good
deal more stuff holding your development back than you’d
imagine. And he points out how get rid of it.
In
the section dedicated to the GRACIE MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION members, check
out the report from a student who through Jiu-Jitsu overcame great
hardship and even helped his master face down his own challenges. Learn
a sweep from Braulio Estima. Find out about Abu Dhabi’s tiny
warriors. Hear about an associate who was caught off guard by Renzo
Gracie. And check out our associates shining at the NY Open.
And
there’s even Xande Ribeiro winning in MMA in the Intro and
GRACIEMAG recalling in Anthology the early days of Jiu-Jitsu in the
Emirates through the trajectory of Sheikh Tahnoon’s adoptive
sons, who turned champions at the World Cup JJ Pro.
Enjoy your reading till next month’s issue with complete coverage of the Worlds 2009.
