Registration closes for Day 1 at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour in Rio

ABU DHABI: The organising committee of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour – Rio de Janeiro has announced that registration for the first day of competition has officially reached full capacity ahead of the event, which will take place on 11 and 12 July as the second round of the 2026–2027 season, sponsored by Edge.

The announcement follows the successful season opener in Istanbul and reflects the strong demand witnessed since the launch of the new season.

The first day of competition will feature Kids, Youth, Junior and Masters divisions for purple, brown and black belts.

Registration for these categories has now closed after reaching maximum capacity. Registration remains open for the second day, which will include Amateur white and blue belt divisions, alongside Professional purple, brown and black belt categories, with entries continuing to be accepted until the official registration deadline.

The Rio de Janeiro round holds a special place within the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam series as it takes place in Brazil, the birthplace of modern jiu-jitsu and the country that played a pivotal role in the sport’s development and global expansion. This gives the event significant technical and competitive importance, with leading athletes and academies from around the world expected to compete.

While Brazil is recognised as the historical home of jiu-jitsu, Abu Dhabi has established itself as the global capital of the sport through years of developing a comprehensive international competition system, setting the highest standards in event organisation, officiating and competition management, and creating a world-class tournament series that attracts elite athletes from across the globe. Today, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam is regarded as one of the sport’s premier international events and a key stop for athletes seeking valuable ranking points in the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro rankings.

Tariq Al Bahri, General Manager of International Vision Sports Management (IVSM), said: “Brazil holds a special place in the hearts of everyone involved in jiu-jitsu because it is the country most closely associated with the sport’s history and evolution. Hosting an Abu Dhabi Grand Slam event there adds tremendous value to the series. The exceptional response to registration, with the first day’s divisions reaching full capacity ahead of schedule, reflects the confidence that athletes and academies have in the tournament and reinforces its status as one of the world’s leading competitive platforms for jiu-jitsu.

“Registration remains open for both amateur and professional competitors in the second day’s divisions, and we expect an outstanding level of competition that reflects both Brazil’s rich jiu-jitsu heritage and the prestige of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam.”

He added that the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam continues to strengthen its global presence by staging events according to the highest international standards in some of the world’s leading jiu-jitsu destinations, contributing to the sport’s continued development, raising the technical level of competition and providing a global platform that brings together elite athletes from every continent.

Following the conclusion of the Rio de Janeiro event, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam will head to Moscow to host the third round of the 2026–2027 season, continuing its mission to expand the global reach of jiu-jitsu and further strengthen the sport’s international presence.