On September 28, the AJP League's ABU DHABI GRAND SLAM WORLD TOUR Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship was held in Dallas, Texas. This tournament is notable for bringing together a fairly competitive category of para-athletes - fighters with amputees and various disability groups.
Three Ukrainian veterans and representatives of the TMS HUB team received an invitation to compete at this championship. Artem Grot, Vasyl Oksentyuk and Alexander D. accepted the challenge and represented Ukraine with dignity. Vasyl and Alexander became champions of their categories, Artem had to fight in a heavier weight category, where he won silver.
In total, 7 countries were represented at the tournament in Dallas in the para-category. TMS HUB team made history - it was the first time Ukraine became a part of such a large-scale competition in para jiu-jitsu. Also our guys were the only military with amputations at this tournament.
According to veterans, the battles were quite powerful and competitive. The athletes were divided by mobility classes, but there was no weight distribution. Therefore, some of their opponents were from heavier weight classes.
"We came to these competitions not just to fight, but to show the Ukrainian school and prove that para jiu-jitsu really saves lives. All the veterans who come to our gym once thought that after amputation their life is over. But look at us - we are in America, raising the Ukrainian flag at the most prestigious Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions," says Artem Grot, founder of the TMS HUB project.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is considered the most adapted martial art, which can be practiced by a person with almost any disability group. The Ukrainian project TMS HUB is a gym from BJJ, where military and veterans with amputations and wounds can learn this martial art for free, train and rehabilitate themselves through the sport.
