UAE-founded digital platform Ujitsu has launched with the aim of providing a unified digital ecosystem for the global jiu-jitsu community, according to the company, The platform is designed to bring together athletes, coaches, academies, and event organisers within a single digital environment, addressing what the company describes as fragmentation across the sport’s global landscape.
As participation in jiu-jitsu continues to expand globally, including increased involvement from women across the Middle East, the platform is positioned as a tool intended to make engagement with the sport more structured and accessible. Ujitsu says its use of verified profiles, academy discovery features, and event listings is designed to offer clearer pathways for athletes and fans to navigate the sport both locally and internationally.
A Growing Global Sport With Limited Digital Infrastructure
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has evolved from a niche martial art into a global sport and lifestyle, with an estimated 20 million practitioners worldwide across more than 100 countries. Despite this scale, the sport has largely operated without a centralised digital infrastructure capable of connecting practitioners, coaches, academies, and competitions in a consistent way.
For its part, the UAE has established itself as a key hub for jiu-jitsu development. The country is home to more than 125,000 practitioners and hosts major international events such as the Abu Dhabi World Pro and the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, supported by government-backed initiatives and elite training centres. Ujitsu’s founders have positioned the UAE as a natural base from which to launch a platform intended to serve the sport on a global scale.
Built Around How the Sport Is Lived
According to the company, Ujitsu has been developed around how jiu-jitsu is practised day to day. The platform allows users to discover academies worldwide, connect with coaches and training partners, maintain athlete profiles, and track events and competitions.
Ujitsu also states that the platform supports practitioners at every stage of their journey. Beginners can find their first academy, competitors can stay connected while travelling for tournaments, and coaches can manage day-to-day training more efficiently. At the same time, athletes are able to log training sessions, track long-term progress, set goals, and record milestones such as belt promotions and competition results, creating a living record of their development on and off the mat.
Technology That Supports Performance, Not Replaces It
While grounded in community values, Ujitsu also integrates smart, AI-driven tools which Ujitsu says are designed to enhance, not replace the discipline of training. Features such as Find and Invite Sparring Partners help practitioners locate training partners locally or while travelling, encouraging real-world connection and collaboration.
Meanwhile, integrated tools including Coach AI, Nutrition AI, and Body AI provide personalised insights across technique development, nutrition planning, recovery, and physical conditioning. Together, these features support a balanced and sustainable approach to training that reflects the core principles of jiu-jitsu: consistency, respect, and long-term growth.
Long-Term Infrastructure for a Global Sport
Founded in the UAE in 2023 by technology entrepreneur and jiu-jitsu practitioner Merdan Gurbanov., the platform was conceived after he identified challenges in discovering academies, tracking progress, and maintaining connections while travelling for training and competition.
Rooted in the UAE’s jiu-jitsu ecosystem, Ujitsu says the platform will continue to evolve based on feedback from practitioners, coaches, and academies worldwide with plans to expand into Europe and the United States.
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