ABU DHABI: Faisal Al-Ketbi, one of the most decorated jiu-jitsu athletes in the UAE, Asia and the world, is not resting on his laurels and wants to achieve more in the martial arts discipline.
His most recent feat was winning gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Al-Ketbi successfully defended his title by defeating Korea’s Kim Heeseoung by advantage points in the men’s 85 kg final.
After his historic performance, he lauded the UAE’s leaders for supporting him and other athletes in the country.
“The support I had from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser, is the primary reason for whatever little I have achieved in these years,” Al-Ketbi said in a statement.
The 35-year-old also credited Abdel Moneim Al-Hashemi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, president of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and senior vice-president of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, for his remarkable journey in the sport.
“The close care and attention from His Excellency Abdel Moneim Al-Hashemi and the trust he placed in me throughout my career, was an incredible factor that kept me moving forward.”
Al-Ketbi is still eyeing more, despite achieving so much.
“The constant drive to become No. 1, the passion to be the best, and the fact that I always wanted to shine, and hard work, are factors that keep me close to jiu-jitsu and something that makes me not want to leave the sport.”
Al-Ketbi feels that the sport of jiu-jitsu helps him approach life realistically, and humbly.
“Jiu-jitsu helps me learn new things, be kind to everyone, and try to exchange experiences,” said the Emirati star. “I always listen to coaches, friends, and people around me in general who have more experience in the sport or jiu-jitsu. The sport teaches me to deal with ups and downs; when I lose, I take lessons and move on, and it helps me become smarter in everything. These are all the secrets that kept me going.”
Al-Ketbi, a 20-year veteran of the discipline, said he does not keep count of medals.
“To be honest, I don’t distinguish between a gold or a silver medal; every achievement holds a special place in my heart as a cherished memory, each one representing a step towards glory. I genuinely enjoyed the entire journey. The number of steps I had to take never mattered to me; I never counted the medals. My thirst for more kept me going. Whether it’s a victory or a defeat, I savor the experience and learn from every mistake.”
His first podium in jiu-jitsu was in 2007, at the Asian Super Cup held in Abu Dhabi. He won second place, and he still keeps the framed medal in his office.
Before switching to jiu-jitsu, Al-Ketbi had tried his hand at other sports.
“I’m also an Asian wrestling champion with a collection of medals from various ranks, in addition to triathlon and endurance horse racing accolades. My journey has taken me through a variety of sports, each rewarding me with medals. But in 2007, I fully switched to jiu-jitsu, and you know what happened afterwards.”
