The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Championship concluded in Shanghai on October 18, 2026, with the UAE’s Commando Group claiming second place among academies, according to a dispatch from the Emirates News Agency. China topped the overall national standings with 784,000 points while Russia placed second with 156,800 points and Kazakhstan came third with 90,600 points, the official platform published by organisers showed. The two-day tournament formed part of the 2026-2027 season organised by the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Association and sponsored by EDGE.
WAM reported that Bushido China led the academy rankings with 86,700 points, followed by Commando Group with 55,400 points and Shanghai BJJ Academy in third with 37,500 points. The competition featured divisions for kids, juniors, youth, masters, amateurs and professionals, with the final day dedicated to purple, brown and black belt bouts for men and women. Approximately 1,300 athletes from 50 nationalities participated, including around 150 black belts, a scale that Big News Network data placed as one of the stronger Asian legs in the series.
The Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro Association has positioned the Grand Slam tour as a key ranking opportunity, building toward the annual World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the UAE capital. Commando Group has maintained a strong presence across AJP events, topping professional divisions at the Asia Continental Championship in 2025 with 42,100 points, Gulf News records from prior coverage show. This latest runner-up finish in Shanghai continues the academy’s pattern of high placements against international fields.
Organisers structured the event with the opening day covering younger and masters categories before shifting to elite adult divisions, allowing broad participation while maintaining competitive intensity. Points accumulated in Shanghai contribute directly to world rankings that determine seeding and qualification for subsequent major tournaments. The growing Asian footprint of the tour reflects jiu-jitsu’s expansion beyond its traditional bases, with China emerging as a rising force in the standings.
Shanghai BJJ Academy’s third-place academy finish with 37,500 points highlighted local strength on home mats, yet Commando Group’s total demonstrated the depth of UAE training systems that have produced consistent results across weight classes. The event concluded without reported major incidents, underscoring the professional standards applied in organisation and refereeing. Further legs of the Grand Slam series are scheduled as part of the ongoing 2026-2027 calendar.
