The World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup 2011 is a third annual installment of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event in the world, with combined prize fund of one million US dollars, held in Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emerates.
The main event is open not only to those who qualify at the trials, that are held all over the world in more than 10 countries. However any competitor who can afford to be in Abu Dhabi on the following dates can enter to compete at the main event:
- April 14, 15 and 16, 2011 Gi Tournament (Event with Kimono)
More than 300 athletes from more than 30 countries competed in the event.
Babak Alimoradian (who competed for Team Draculino) of Marbella in the blue belt, -80kg division competed with 70 athletes from all over the world and had to win a total of 6 fights to win the title.
At 36 years old Babak was one of the veterans competing with much younger opponents in the open adult division, the majority of them between 20 and 25 years old.
In his first five matches Babak managed to score 55 points on his opponents and did not give away one single point. The final match against Youssef Lamrani, an olympic judo black belt from Morocco the match was very disputed but he still managed to close the match at 7-4 winning the title.
Babak had been accompanied by his two brothers, father and Brazilian coach from Marbella Thelmo Naranjo who had been enjoying his victory and giving him full moral support.
He has been actively competing in wrestling for more than 20 years starting at the very young age of 7 and just picked up jiu jitsu 1/ ½ years ago already winning the Open European title in Lisabon in January of this year.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. The art was derived from the Japanese martial art of Kodokan judo in the early 20th century.
It teaches that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique—most notably by applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the other person.
Here are some pictures:
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