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Renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete Jackson Sousa has lauded the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation for its revolutionary impact on the sport. Sousa, a prolific gold medalist, commenced his first full campaign on the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour with a victory in the Masters 94kg division in Istanbul.

Sousa, supported by UAE-based tech venture company Scalo Technologies, expressed his admiration for the UAE’s contribution to jiu-jitsu. “What the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation has done for our sport is nothing short of a paradigm change. They have opened up our beautiful, gentle art to people and places that weren't on the map before. They have shown real leadership and innovation by valuing the sport and the athletes, both men and women, in a way that other jiu-jitsu federations don't,” said Sousa.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour, featuring ten rounds in countries including Brazil, the USA, China, Japan, Australia, the UK, Italy, the UAE, and Russia, is seen as a pinnacle of the sport. “All the UAE jiu-jitsu events are beautifully designed, impeccably organized, and it's a real honor to be part of them. Without the Federation’s support, some of the top athletes who compete in Abu Dhabi’s World Pro event, many of them young talents, would never make it,” added Sousa.

Sousa’s journey from the favelas of Brazil to the global stage is marked by perseverance and excellence. “Every time I get on a plane, I tell my family and my students that I will try to bring home the gold,” says Sousa, who runs training programs at his London gym. He won at the last two Grand Slam events of the 2023-24 World Tour in Rome and Abu Dhabi.

Reflecting on his upbringing, Sousa said, “I grew up in a favela. There were times in my childhood where we didn't have a roof over our head or food on the table. But despite the poverty, my mum instilled in me that I had to strive for excellence. Just competing to participate wasn't enough. She expected me to win, and I still carry this fire within me. I’m very excited to do the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour for the first time.”

Sousa started jiu-jitsu at the age of 10 in Brazil, overcoming financial and visa challenges to win numerous tournaments. His breakthrough came in 2012 with a gold medal at the European Championship in Portugal. In 2013, he secured three world titles in the US, earned a black belt, and became one of the top athletes in the sport.

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