The World Martial Arts Video

At least 100 Arab martial artists converged in Abu Dhabi on 20 September to take part in the first Jiu Jitsu Arab Open Cup. Jiu jitsu has gained many followers in the UAE and across the Arab states recently. It is even practiced in some high schools in Abu Dhabi. “Many schools in Abu Dhabi are doing jiu jitsu and this event is to promote them to make them more exited and engaged, to make them improve and to reach the international level”, said the director of the event, Juce Juniour. Abu Dhabi officials plan to take jiu jitsu to universities. The biggest and most respected martial arts schools in the country such as al-Jazira, al-Ain, al-Wahda and al-Wasl have also started jiu jitsu courses. Muhammad al-Ballushi, one of the competitors, says jiu jitsu makes him feel confident and strong. “I started doing jiu jitsu because I liked the sport itself. Then I realized that it also makes me stronger mentally. Now I am sure I can defend myself.” “This kind of sport teaches y...

Yoga for Mixed Martial Arts is a Russian project uniting yoga techniques with jujitsu and could soon be used to help professional competitors. Igor Lunyakov, Y4MMA founder (speaking Russian): “This is the Y4MMA project, Yoga for Mixed Martial Arts. It was created to help people who do martial arts – sambo, judo, jujitsu, boxing or karate – to help them get a better feel for their body, make it more mobile.”  Alexander Dida Brazilian jujitsu trainer (speaking English): “Actually in Brazil we don’t hear much about sambo. Of course we’ve heard something but we don’t have much access to video or information about sambo, just like some people here do not know about Brazilian jujitsu.” Tatiana Illarionova, yoga trainer (speaking Russian): “There are not just two poles – plus and minus, no. A sportsman is ready when he is calm. He can be tumultuous on the outside but quiet inside. This is what we’re working on, on the calmness inside. In this case adrenalin doesn’t get going wit...