Khalifa Murad Lal Nassrati and his professor, with the medal. Photo: Disclosed
Jiu-Jitsu constantly surprises and thrills us. In Abu Dhabi, a young orange belt with a disability in his hand understood what to be special really means.
In the fifth edition of WPJJC held last week, Khalifa Murad Nassrati Lal, 13, was the tournament champion after winning his four fights – three by submission. The four fingers missing on his hand weren’t a problem.
The student of Pedro Damasceno, black belt from BTT, had already won the WPJJC last year and begins to be recognized by peers and authorities of the country.
With nearly four years of Jiu-Jitsu training, Khalifa trains every day in the morning and afternoon with Professor Pedro at his school in the city of Al Ain, in Abu Dhabi.
Pedro recalls that early in his career in Jiu-Jitsu, the boy got a little discouraged until the black belt had an idea to motivate him:
“One day, I showed Khalifa a video of (professor and ADCC champion) Jean Jacques Machado, and he was very impressed to see that there was a great fighter with a reality like his,” he recalls.
“After seeing the video, he told me, “Professor, I will continue to train every day to become a black belt and become a great champion like Jean Jacques. And my nickname may be ‘Little Jean Jacques’,” says Pedro Damasceno.
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