This post was in my draft since February 2022 when I started planning to compete in one of the biggest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) events in the world. As a reader of my blog, you guys should already know my passion for BJJ where I train, coach & compete actively. It is always my dream to be competing in one of the biggest events in the world. Over my few years of traveling, I have always linked my travel with BJJ competitions or training where I will travel, compete & train. It is my usual travel routine. Since the pandemic started, all my travel plans have been halted & this year is the year where I travel to compete in countries such as Thailand & Japan.

In the world of BJJ, the 2 biggest events to compete is in the UAE & also the USA where they are hosting the world BJJ championship where all the best competitors in the world gather to compete. Since it was my dream, I have decided to take a chance to compete in Abu Dhabi with a dream that I could win the world championship & be the first competitor that win the world championship from Penang. Currently, there are already a few BJJ world champions in Malaysia but they are all not from Penang. It is my goal to put the state that I love on the map with my winning.

Since BJJ is not part of the Olympics, the best 2 organizations that run BJJ tournaments at the world level are IBJJF (USA) & AJP (Abu Dhabi). I have decided to travel to Abu Dhabi to compete. Since it is self-funded, all the expenses are 100% borne by me including my flight, food, hotel & local transportation. Thanks to my BJJ gear sponsor Hyperfly Asia, I can save some money for all my BJJ gear which is essential to get me the best possible gear for the events.

Below is the breakdown of my expenses:

Based on the expenses, the event registration has one of the highest registration fees aside from the flight. But with the professionalism & quality event setup, it is worth every single penny. For my flight expenses, I opted for Etihad Airline over a slightly cheaper option due to their airline quality. To be honest, it is one of the best airlines I’ve been in. I have actually placed a bid for business class but it was not approved. Guess my bid is lower than other bidders.

Aside from winning Silver Medal in the event, one of the best highlights of the trip was that I got to meet 2 really good friends who hosted my coach & me during our stay there. It made the trip so much better as we got to visit the other parts of Abu Dhabi where we enjoyed some of the best cuisines & coffee. Their hosting made us feel at home. I have also met up with my former coach who drove 2 hours from his location to catch up with me. It was a memorable experience overall & I will definitely do this again hopefully next year.

OSS!