ABU DHABI: The opening day of the eighth and final round of the second edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship began on Friday at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, with Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club taking top spot on the leaderboard.

Friday’s action featured record participation from dozens of athletes representing clubs and academies across the UAE. Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club finished the day in second place, followed by M.O.D UAE in third.

The opening day saw matches in the under-18 adults and masters divisions in the Gi category.

The championship concludes on Sunday with the crowning of the overall season champions. The No-Gi competitions wrapped up in the previous round and Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club clinched the title.

Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The opening day perfectly showcases how far jiu-jitsu has come in the UAE. The level of skill, preparation, and dedication from the athletes, coaches, and clubs highlights how this championship has grown into a key stage for developing future champions.

“Spreading the championship across three days gives every age group the chance to compete at their highest level. It also helps build consistency and technical growth among athletes, which remains one of our main priorities each season.”

Mohammed Al-Ketbi, from Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the adults under-62 kg division, said: “I’ve taken part in every round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in both Gi and No-Gi. I now have six golds and two silvers. The level of competition was intense, as expected, so our training was very focused, with three sessions a day — two on the mats and one for strength and conditioning.”

The championship continues on Saturday with the under-14 and under-16 categories before concluding on Sunday with the under-12 and children’s divisions.