The Al-Najjar family has captured the local and international spotlight with its active contribution to the tradition of Emirati jiu-jitsu, winning gold medals in international forums. Its most recent mark was the national junior team player, Hamdan Mohammed Al-Najjar, being named the best emerging Emirati player at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Award for the year 2024.
The family – the sons of the two brothers Muhammad and Muwafaq Al-Najjar – includes promising stars in jiu-jitsu who received technical praise from the coach of the national junior team and the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, Ibrahim Al Hosani, who sees the family as a model sporting project that has borne fruit in major tournaments and served Emirati sports by climbing to the podium. Global.
Al Hosani told Emirates Today: “The Al-Najjar family is a very persistent and distinguished athlete in jiu-jitsu, and I deal with their champions as they are my family, and this is one of the most prominent gains of practicing jiu-jitsu,” adding that “the player Hamdan Al-Najjar is part of a project that was launched 10 years ago.” To create distinguished champions in jiu-jitsu through a sports study prepared in this regard.”
For his part, Hamdan Muhammad Al-Najjar, one of the promising members of the family, said: “I was introduced to the sport of jiu-jitsu and learned a lot in it through the support of my uncle Muwafaq. I practiced jiu-jitsu with my cousins Abdul Rahman and Ali, my brothers Ali and Mahmoud, and others from our family, all of whom are medalists locally and internationally. The Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club helped us in this to win many medals as it is a model sports environment, so we can be called (a family). Champion-style jiu-jitsu.
He added: “My brother Ali won two gold medals at the World Championships and a bronze medal, in addition to a silver medal at the Asian Championships, while my brother Mahmoud (nine years old) won two silver medals in his age group at the World Championships as well.”
He explained: “I am proud of winning my first medal in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, at the age of 14, which was held in Abu Dhabi, especially since the tournament draw on that day put me in front of three world champions from Brazil, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and these countries are very advanced in jiu-jitsu, but thanks to my technical readiness and ambition, I am… The UAE flag is high on the platforms. I worked hard and won them all. My ambition is to obtain a black belt in jiu-jitsu and win the professional championship in the future. The road is long, but I am continuing with the efforts of coach Ibrahim Al Hosani, my role model for sporting excellence.”
He continued: “I won 23 colored medals, including 12 gold, throughout the past seasons, but I am very happy to achieve five gold medals in the current season, which led me to win the title of best emerging Emirati player at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Award, as I won it in the UAE Championship, the Vice President’s Cup, and in the Khalid Championship.” Bin Mohammed bin Zayed for Jiu-Jitsu, the World Championship in Greece, and the World Championship for Professional Jiu-Jitsu in Abu Dhabi, in addition to the silver medal in the Asian Championship.”
He continued: “I was confident of winning the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Award in the junior category because of technical stability, presenting consistent levels, winning tournaments, and the support of my coaches, fellow players, and my family. I thank the Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the Sharjah Sports Council, the club family, and my family, which was the reason for my winning titles.”
Memories of the most important medal
Hamdan Al-Najjar said that the first gold medal he won was with the national team at the World Championship in Greece, and he described it as “the most important and most difficult,” when it defeated the champions of Italy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Canada.
He added: “But there are moments to forget, which were during my participation with the national team in the 2023 World Championship in Kazakhstan when I lost the opportunity to win in the last 40 seconds, which led to me not qualifying for the final and losing the opportunity to climb the podium.”
Mwafaq Al-Najjar: Our goal is for them to be “professional world champions”
Mwafaq Al-Najjar, the uncle of the hero Hamdan, confirmed that the sport of jiu-jitsu has developed greatly thanks to the great support of the wise leadership. He told Emirates Al-Youm: “I am keen to take care of my children and my brother’s children to continue practicing jiu-jitsu, especially since they are making continuous achievements,” adding: “ My goal is to see them all become world champions in the professional category and represent the Emirates in international forums in a distinguished manner, so I make sure that they continue to win by ensuring the best means of sustainability in practicing Jiu-Jitsu. I extend my thanks to their coach Al Hosani and the club family.”
Ibrahim Al Hosani:
. Hamdan Al-Najjar is part of a project that was launched 10 years ago to create distinguished champions in jiu-jitsu.
Hamdan Al-Najjar:
. I am proud to have won my first medal in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships at the age of 14.
. .
