Faisal Al Ketbi: Blazing a trail for UAE’s Jiu-Jitsu future

Denzil Pinto 16:56 13/03/2014
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  • Only gold on the mind: Al Ketbi will be back in Abu Dhabi defending his title.

    As a youngster, Faisal Al Ketbi swapped wrestling for jiu-jitsu and he hasn’t looked back since.

    At 26, the UAE national is already the proud owner of a gold medal in the 100kg category at the 2013 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and recently triumphed in the same category at the Copa Podio 2014 in Brazil last month.

    The brown belt is currently preparing for when the World Championship returns to the UAE capital next month and has set his sights on winning another gold in his own backyard. 

    Speaking at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Al Ketbi explains how he prepares for competitions, his goals in the sport and whether he has any plans to coach in the future.

    How did you get into jiu-jitsu?

    It was back in 1999 when I was 11-years-old where I first started to take an interest in jiu- jitsu. I stopped in 2000 and came back to take up the sport professionally in 2009. During that gap I used compete in wrestling and judo and this helped me a lot by improving on the skills which were needed to be good at jiu-jitsu.

    What did you like about jiu-jitsu in your early days?

    I would say I was an energetic guy. Jiu-jitsu gave me that release of tension – it gave me the potential to put my strengths and power in a sport which helped me divert my attention from school. The sport taught me how to compete and fight within the rules in safe conditions and showed me how to behave.

    What made you take the sport seriously?

    It was in 2009 when I saw HH General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, supporting the sport and I felt that I wanted to do something big in the game.

    I want to achieve something big while Sheikh Mohammed is still supporting the sport.

    You won a gold medal (100kg) recently at Copa Podio in Brazil, how will this victory help you in your preparations for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship next month?

    Every victory means something. I went to Brazil for a training camp where they had this tournament. It will give me a good feeling and will provide me with a big boost of confidence.

    I will be able to participate knowing that I can achieve something. Whenever I take part in a competition outside the UAE, I have to deal with the time difference, climate and a lot of changes.

    Whenever I come back to the UAE (from overseas competitions) all those issues are gone. When you go there (to a competition) and win in very hard conditions it gives you the confidence to come back and do well in front of your own fans here in UAE.

    How big was your achievement when you won gold in Abu Dhabi in 2013?

    It was amazing to win. It means as a sporting federation that we are on the right track. We were lucky that Sheikh Mohammed was in the crowd that day watching my match. I felt I did something big for the country.

    It wasn’t easy getting the gold medal, especially given the small pool of players that the UAE can choose from as opposed to Russia who are a bigger country geographically.

    Do you feel there is much pressure on you to win gold in Abu Dhabi again?

    There is always pressure. I’m used to this and I will give my best. I want to win gold but I’m sure even if I lose I know that I will have given it my best shot.

    Tell us about your training schedule?

    I train twice a day for a combined four hours which is a usual training routine for me. When a competition is approaching, I will spend around six hours training – two hours of jiu-jitsu training in the morning and four hours of running and other physical exercises.

    Mentally how do you prepare for a match?

    Now I’ve competed in a lot of competitions, I feel it is now easier. Usually I will sit and think of what tactics I will use during the match. Before the match, I will watch videos of the opponents and work out how to stop them.

    Normally three or four days before a competition, I will just relax and do something different maybe go to the cinema or for a meal.

    What are the goals you want to achieve in the future?

    I want to be world champion in the black belt. I would like to be a good role model for the UAE kids and be remembered for what I have achieved in jiu-jitsu.

    Do you see yourself coaching?

    I still feel I can give a lot as a competitor to the country. I’m still young – I’m 26. It’s not about my age – I can give classes if I want to. Whenever you start thinking of being a coach in the future you stop thinking as a player. I would like to coach some kids one day in the future.

    How much has the sport improved in the UAE when you first took it up?

    The sport is improving day by day and now there are plenty of clubs in the country – we have a federation in charge of the sport and a new venue (First Gulf Bank Arena at Zayed Sports City). We have more than 60 schools doing jiu-jitsu. I see kids learning jiu-jitsu and they love it. The sport isn’t about just fighting. It’s a lifestyle. We want this sport to change people’s lives. The game is improving with a mix of locals and expats.

    What do you think is the future of the sport in the UAE?

    It’s now growing very fast. We are now the capital of jiu-jitsu in the world. I would like to see it in the Olympic Games and Asian Games. The UAE has very big plans but it will take a lot of time because it’s a relatively new game in the country.

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