AJP have just announced that they will be taking a huge step forward by opening up their very first Para Jiu-Jitsu divisions at their Abu Dhabi Grand Slam event. The first of their tournaments to use these new divisions will be in Dallas, Texas on September 28th and 29th, 2024. Unfortunately there are still very few opportunities for Para Jiu-Jitsu competitors to actually face one another outside training, but such a big promotion taking this step setts an important precedent. Now there’s a decent chance that other major competition organisers like ADCC and the IBJJF might follow in AJP’s footsteps by creating these divisions.
AJP Para Jiu-Jitsu Divisions For Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
Although they will separate by gender, belt level, and weight; AJP have also announced the full list of classes for the Para Jiu-Jitsu divisions at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam:
- CLASS A – Lower limb amputee.
- CLASS B1 – Total blindness: from no perception in both eyes to the perception of light with inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or direction.
- CLASS B2 – Fighters who have the perception of shapes, with the ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to visual acuity of 2/60 or visual field of less than five degrees.
- CLASS B3 – Fighters can define images. Visual acuity of 2/60 to 6/60 or visual field between five and 20 degrees.
- CLASS C – Amputee and proximal lower limb amputation.
- CLASS D – Upper limb amputee.
- CLASS E – Amputee and proximal bi-amputee of upper limb.
- CLASS F – Sequel of severe poliomyelitis of the upper and lower limbs.
- CLASS G – Amputated and bi-amputated knee down.
- CLASS H – Amputated and bi-amputated from the elbow down.
- CLASS I – Non-severe polio seminalis of the lower and upper limbs.
- CLASS J – Sequel of severe poliomyelitis of the lower and upper limbs.
- CLASS K – Spinal cord injury (paraplegic).
- CLASS L – Sequelados of AVC / AVE that have mobility of at least 2 members and are able to remain posturally erect in the position seated without aid.
- CLASS M – Nanism.
- CLASS N – Les autres (includes all Paratletas with some motor deficiency and that do not fit in the other groups). Subject to prior analysis by the National Department of Functional Classification of the AJP.
- CLASS O – Intellectual Disabilities, (Down Syndrome – Mild and Moderate Diagnosis).
- CLASS P – Hearing Impaired (Hearing Impaired).
AJP announced the news that they were going to include new Para Jiu-Jitsu divisions at Abu Dhabi Grand Slam events in a recent post to their official USA Instagram account, and more information can be found here.
