Gyms and sports facilities are closed across the UAE as the country’s leadership urges people to exercise social distancing to help stem the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that isn’t stopping members of one sporting community from pursuing its quest for progress.
The Emirates’ leading jiu-jitsu athletes may be following government guidelines to stay at home, but they aren’t letting it affect their training, swapping the gym for the living room in a bid to stay sharp for when the season does resume.
In light of the recent disruptions, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation have launched a campaign urging the people to join them to ‘Stay Safe and Stay Fit at Home’, with a series of fitness videos led by jiu-jitsu star Faisal Al Ketbi.
The Abu Dhabi native is the poster boy for the sport in UAE, having sealed four out of the last five world championships in the 94kg category. At 32, he continues to purr with class, confidence and motivation.
However, with uncertainty as to when his season will re-commence, Al Ketbi is continuing to train hard at home in the capital as he eyes a fifth world title later this year. While others have slowed down, he is still pushing the limits.
“We are doing our best to keep in shape at the moment. Ramon (Lemos), the coach of the national team, is preparing a schedule for us to keep fit and sharp. We usually do an hour of mobility and flexibility. Then, we do some fitness training and a bit of power and core work to keep our muscles awake until the season resumes,” he told Sport360.
“During Ramadan, in a few weeks’ time, it will be a bit different and we always cool down then. Hopefully in August and September, we can prepare for the world championships.”
One world title is difficult to come by for any sports star. It takes years of practice, experience, set-backs, dedication. Even with that commitment and a bit of luck along the way, it may not be enough to stand atop the podium.
However Al Ketbi, the first Emirati black belt and the country’s longest serving member, has remarkable talents and has always set himself apart from the chasing pack.
Since clinching his first world title in Thailand in 2015, he has tasted world success in Poland and Colombia, before lifting his most recent crown in front of his home fans in Abu Dhabi last November. A titan of the local sports scene.
For any young star coming through the ranks, they only need to look as far as Al Ketbi for inspiration. Yet, even with all the medals adorning his mantlepiece, he is still motivated by further glory. Always aiming higher. Always looking for that edge to make it difficult for his peers to catch him.
“Looking back (on my career so far), this is what is pushing me, when I go to my room and see the medals and records. I say ‘ok what is the next, how will I make it harder for the people behind me.’ I keep the goals higher and higher,” he said.
“I see it as a motivation to push harder, to make sure we present our country in the right way, to push the limit higher and make it harder for the next generation. We worked very hard for it. I would like to push our next generation to do more to keep our glory high and to keep our expectations higher.”
Travelling and experiencing life has helped shape the person he is today. He reckons he has spent two-three years in total in the USA and Brazil. Learning different styles, different concepts, different ideas. Some he has taken on board, others he hasn’t, but he has always shown that willingness to learn. Always looking for that edge.
“Doing what I do in the best way and in a good way is most important to me. We live on the mat. I’m living jiu-jitsu. This is what makes me happy. That and representing the UAE as much as I can, because I really enjoy it,” he said.
“I would like to be the face of the Federation for a very long time. I will push and fight for it. I will fight everybody for it. I would like everyone to fight for it because we are representing the UAE and I want the best to be there.”
With men like Al Ketbi and four-time world champion Omar Al Fadhli, Asian Games 2018 silver medallist Mahra Al Hinaai, and under-18 world champion Hazza Al Qubaisi at the fore, the strength of local jiu-jitsu is continuing to grow.
However, it wasn’t always like this. There weren’t always medals dripping from the mantlepiece. Rewind 11 years and it was only the first time UAE athletes competed on the international stage.
It was all thanks to Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan – son of Sheikh Zayed. In 1998, he returned from his studies in California and introduced the craft to his friends. It started with the Brazilian grappling style and grew from there. Faisal was 11 at the time. A passion was born.
“We all trained together in Abu Dhabi. He (Sheikh Tahnoon) saw that we had some naughty powers,” he laughs. “He wanted to point the sport in the right direction. He introduced martial arts sport to us. Since then, we started to train wrestling, jiu-jitsu, but jiu-jitsu in particular. In 2009, we started competing at world level.”
Being on the world stage for the first time was impressive. It was faster and more physical competition. More challenging. He had to think on his feet more. He had to dig deeper. It was where he belonged.
“We wanted to see our level, to see if we could compete and represent the UAE at the highest level. We had the opportunity and had some great success. We raised the UAE flag up and showed we were ready,” he said.
“We wanted to impress everyone on a local level because people didn’t know what jiu-jitsu was in the Emirates. Nobody thought we were capable of winning. It was a shock for everyone. Nobody knew we started it in 1998.”
Success at his job keeps his satisfaction high. He is achieving medals but those crowning moments are not as easy as they look. Plenty of blood, sweat and tears have gone into those countless hours on the mat. All those obstacles make it more challenging. That’s what he relishes. Doing his best for the UAE makes him work harder.
With Al Ketbi’s success in the grappling scene setting the tone for the next generation of UAE stars, jiu-jitsu is only going to get better. At present, the younger age groups are winning titles in world competitions.
“There are a lot of ambitious and hungry people who want to achieve what I’ve achieved. People want to see Sheikh Mohammed and want to tell him this medal is because we want to give it to you and achieve for the country. I see people want to be part of the glory. I see a bright future,” he said.
“Our international federation are pushing the game to the Olympics. Hopefully it will be there. This is a dream for every player. We have to make it a reality for all the players. We have to prepare them for now to be ready for the Olympics. They are excited, learning from the best coaches and athletes.”
