The AJP Tour Abu Dhabi Grand Slam will land for the first time in Dallas, Texas, and expectations for the competition are increasingly high. Renowned names in the sport, such as black-belts Uanderson Ferreira and Jonnatas Gracie, have confirmed their participation in the tournament scheduled for September 28 and 29. André Carepa, local organizer of AJP USA, gave an interview to the VF Comunica team about the logistics and the growth of the UAE federation in the United States.
According to André Carepa, hosting the tournament in Texas was a decision to facilitate access for athletes. Dallas is a strategic region that allows athletes from different parts of the United States to come without incurring higher costs.
“We have high expectations for this event, especially as it’s our first time hosting in Dallas. This was a logistical decision to facilitate participation from athletes across the USA, as Dallas is strategically located and accessible with direct flights from most major cities. AJP promotes at least one event in the US every month. We’ve noticed that non-major cities often lack events, forcing athletes to travel to bigger cities to compete. We focus on organizing events in cities with a strong Jiu-Jitsu scene but few competition options, allowing athletes to compete without extensive travel.”.
ADGS Dallas to pioneer inclusion of Youth and Para Jiu-Jitsu divisions in AJP USA competition
This will be the first AJP Grand Slam in the United States to include the Youth and Para Jiu-Jitsu categories, a structural evolution of the federation in the United States after a full year of operation in the country.
“We are excited about this first AJP Para Jiu-Jitsu competition in the USA. As many know, other organizations have already promoted and made it possible for disabled athletes to train and benefit from Jiu-Jitsu. We are setting up a stage for these athletes to showcase their skills and inspire others to do the same.”.
Known for its elite structure, the AJP is working to maintain the highest standards at the Dallas Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. It is no coincidence that the competition is a priority for the sport’s biggest names. The attractions are diverse, with athletes receiving prize money, an environment with attention to detail, and strict schedules.
“The Grand Slam already boasts many prominent names in the Jiu-Jitsu world. Our focus is always on delivering a high-quality production without compromising on essential aspects like the refereeing team, scheduling, and other factors crucial for participants and their coaches.”.
