São Paulo – For the first time the city of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina state, will host the leg of the jiu jitsu world championships sponsored by the United Arab Emirates Jiu Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), with the support of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation. Costão do Santinho, a beach resort at Santinho beach, will welcome hundreds of fighters and viewers on July 8 for fights that will be worth points in the sport’s overall ranking. <\/p>\n
Each season, the UAEJJF International Pro hosts events throughout the world. In Latin America, Brazil is generally the preffered spot, so much so that the current season (2017\/2018) already have scheduled four events in the country: in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, at the end of July; in Brasília, in September; in Curitiba, Paraná state, in November; and Goiânia, Goiás, with the date still uncertain.<\/p>\n
“With these events, the UAE Federation aims to encourage the sport,” explains Cláudio Arrais, who’s responsible for the event’s organization in Florianópolis. He says that, besides the ranking points, the winners will earn registration and air tickets to a bigger event, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in November. “The winner in Rio earns air tickets and registrations to the finals in the United Arab Emirates.” <\/p>\n
Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a great proponent of jiu jitsu, a sport that he himself practices. It was he who spread the practice in the United Arab Emirates, where it’s currently mandatory in schools, armed and police forces. His dream, according to Arrais, is to make jiu jitsu an Olympic sport. <\/p>\n
Since it’s also widely practiced in Brazil, where great fighters come from, professionals go back and forth: Arrais believes there are at least five hundred Brazilian professors throughout the country’s schools. “This is great, since many jiu jitsu fighters ended up going to MMA (mixed martial arts category), which pays cash prizes. Now, they can stay only in jiu jitsu and make money,” he says. <\/p>\n
The Florianópolis leg already confirmed the participation of Brazilians Alexandre Ribeiro and Rodrigo Forjado, plus the local-born Alexandre Souza – who will probably be cheered by the more than 800 people that should go to the arena especially built inside the resort for the event. Athletes from Arab countries and from other South American nations will also compete. <\/p>\n
Registrations are open until Monday (3) on the website of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (http:\/\/www.fbjj.org.br\/<\/a>), until a maximum number of athletes is reached. register, the fighters need to be members of a national federation.<\/p>\n The public that will attend the event, which start Saturday at 9 am, will pay BRL 10 (USD 3.13) for a ticket. Children under 10 years old and elderly people over 60 don’t pay entrance. <\/p>\n Quick facts<\/strong><\/p>\n Florianópolis International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017
Where: Resort Costão do Santinho, Estrada Vereador Onildo Lemos, 2505, Florianópolis (SC)
July 8, from 9 am to 10 pm
Tickets: BRL 10 (USD 3.13) – Children under 10 years old and elderly people over 60 don’t pay entrance
Registrations run until Monday (3) at http:\/\/www.fbjj.org.br\/
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*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani<\/strong><\/p>\n