ABU DHABI // Regardless of how much one excels in sport, an academic qualification remains the top priority in the Al Kaabi household.
Humaid Al Kaabi, 17, has excelled in jiu-jitsu. He represents the UAE national age-group teams, where he has enjoyed great success, and has been earmarked as a potential future medal winner when he graduates to the senior national team.
However, life for him is a balancing act between jiu-jitsu with his studies, a pre-requisite and trend in the household.
Humaid’s father Yasir, a colonel in the army, and mother Shaikha Al Nuaimi are both civil engineers, his two older sisters are medical doctors, and his two older brothers are studying for engineering degrees.
__________________________________
Read more
■ Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Masters: Lenir Tavares rolls back the years
■ Abu Dhabi World Para Championship: Al Balooshi dedicates gold to his mother
__________________________________
“I will be out of school next summer and plan to do my degree in mechanical engineering in California,” Humaid says.
“I want to balance my studies with jiu-jitsu. I have already discussed with my parents and jiu-jitsu coach [Ramon Lemos]. There are some good jiu-jitsu academies in California which my coach is going to help me in enrol in.”
“These plans are fluid, though. I may have to join the National Service once I’m out of school but I prefer to continue with my university education without a break in between. I can do the national services when I’m done with my degree. This is the plan for now.”
Humaid is the fifth child in a family of six girls and three boys. He says sports is encouraged in the family if it does not hamper their academics.
“My sisters and brothers did sport but they didn’t pursue full time,” he says. “I started with judo and rose to the blue belt rank from 2009 to 2014. I took up jiu-jitsu when it was introduced in the school curriculum.
“My judo helped me to pick up jiu-jitsu faster than the others. I love this sport and want to continue as long as possible.”
Humaid’s immediate goal is to win a gold medal in Monday’s Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Youth Championship; the next is to represent the senior national team in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, when the sport makes its debut.
“I won many competitions in judo,” he says. “The last time I competed in the sport was in December 2014 and since then my focus has only been on jiu-jitsu with the long-term objective to reach black belt and be a world champion.”
Humaid has been in top form this season. He returned with a gold and bronze from the World Youth Championship in Madrid earlier this year and gold in the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation’s World Championship for Juniors and Aspirants in Athens last month.
Two weeks after returning from Athens, Humaid was on the podium again, winning another gold and helping his teammates at the Al Ain Club win the inaugural President’s Cup.
“It has been a good season for me so far, and the objective has always been the season-ending World Youth,” he says.
“I feel confident. The first four months of the season has been good for me. This will be my last chance to win gold in the World Youth as I have to move on to the adult division next year.
“I had to settle for a bronze last year after suffering an injury in the semi-finals. I must compete in one of the strongest divisions [blue belt 66kg]. I have seen the entries and it has more competitors and from Brazil, the USA, Canada and Australia.
“I have completed four-week camp. The preparation has been good. I have won three golds in the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival, in the 58kg yellow, 62kg yellow and orange 65kg. It was bronze last year in the World Youth.
“The competition in Athens was good. I had to go through five fights and all of them were opponents I never seen. The World Youth is going to be tougher but I’ll do my best to get gold.”
SCHEDULE
Sunday:
11am to 5pm: Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship (girls)
Monday:
11am to 5pm: Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship (boys)
Tuesday to Saturday:
11am to 6pm: Ninth Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport