Samantha Cook has said more European jiu-jitsu fighters will head to the UAE following her success at Grand Slam Abu Dhabi over the weekend.
The Englishwoman, along with Germany’s Charlotte von Baumgarten, broke the stranglehold Brazilians have over the martial art in the capital when they clinched gold medals at the two-day event, which concluded on Saturday at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.
Cook and Von Baumgarten won the women’s 90-kilogram and 62kg weight divisions, respectively - feats the former said would open the doors for more fighters, particularly from the United Kingdom.
“It’s incredible feeling to come here for only the second time and return with a gold medal,” Cook said after victory over the Brazilian Thamara Silva by submission in the final gave the Londoner her first title outside the UK.
“I have been here for the Abu Dhabi World Pro in 2015 after qualifying through the trials in the UK but couldn’t make it to the medal rounds," she added.
"I thought I’ll make another trip and very glad I did."
Cook pointed out the competitions in Abu Dhabi were beginning to reveal they were not necessarily dominated by the Brazilians.
“People from Europe are trying to come over because they know this is the best place to come, as it brings the top competitors from around the world to compete,” she said.
“Now the balance is tipped [after her gold], and hopefully more people from Europe will be coming in to compete here.”
Cook is not a full-time fighter but she finds the time to train from her day job as a physiotherapist.
“I have been in jiu-jitsu for nine years,” she said. “I started in judo as a young kid and then switched to showjumping competitively before taking up jiu-jitsu, which I want to pursue as long as possible."
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Cook said even though she was 30, she felt she could go on for at least two more years with the help of some rigorous training to remain competitive at this level.
"I’m still happy to fight girls who are 10 years younger to me," she added. “My body will tell me when to quit, but at the moment and with the success I have just had at Grand Slam Abu Dhabi, I want to enjoy it a bit more.
"Perhaps, coaching is another option.”
Cook also said she saw jiu-jitsu as a fast-growing sport that was increasingly popular in the UK.
“I’m based in London and I see quite a lot of jiu-jitsu schools,” she continued. “It’s still a part-time culture at the moment with not many pursuing it full time. But it’s growing."
Grand Slam London in March is one of the most popular jiu-jitsu events in the UK, and Cook said it would serve as a roadshow for the Abu Dhabi World Pro.
“The competitions like the Grand Slams are encouraging us to take the sport more seriously and find us the time to take part in competitions outside the UK,” she said.
“I have only taken part in the last two Grand Slams in London, and my preparation begins for a third appearance when I return to base.
“It’s hard to find the time when you have a day job but when you have the discipline you will find the time. It also means lots of sacrifices but that’s the joy in sports, preparing for competitions.”
Von Baumgarten stunned Larissa Paes, the Brazilian world No 1, by points 5-0 in the semi-finals. She then went on to take the gold medal from a second Brazilian - world No 10 Nadia Melo - on advantage points following a scoreless deadlock in the six-minute final.
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
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Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
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UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
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Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
