Abu Dhabi World Pro - Day 1

In case you didn’t know, the Abu Dhabi World Pro is under way. This event is put on by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation. After hosting several qualifiers earlier this year all over the globe, the best jiu-jitsu fighters flew to the United Arab Emirates to grapple among the best.

The youth divisions competed today. I was taken by surprise by two things. The first being the sheer number of competitors in the youth division. These athletes are primarily from the UAE, but there were several from all over the world.

The second thing I notice is the sheer production value of just about everything. For whatever reason I could hear John Hammond from Jurassic Park saying “spared no expense.” The venue lighting is unreal. As a photographer, it provides many creative opportunities. The red carpet and velvet ropes only enhance the experience further.