Bahraini martial arts star Ali Monfaradi added to his ever-growing medals tally by winning two gold medals at the Abu Dhabi Jiu Jitsu Pro (AJP) Tour’s Croatia National Pro tournament yesterday.
“I’m very happy,” Monfaradi, 28, told the GDN by phone from the Croatian capital, Zagreb. “Having to fight in different weight divisions than the one I usually compete in was a different kind of challenge. But I’ve always trained for this kind of situation.”
Monfaradi has always competed in the 77kg division in both the GI and NO-GI categories on his way to winning – he estimates – about 180 medals (half of them, gold) in various competitions around the world since earning his black belt in 2017.
But this time, he was slotted in the 85kg division in the GI category because no one else had registered in the 77kg division and opted to fight in the 120kg division in the NO-GI category when he discovered, again, that he had no opponents in that category’s 77kg division either.
“It didn’t bother me in the least,” Monfaradi laughed. “I train with bigger, heavier people at my academy all the time. That was always the plan: to compete and perform! We can’t control things such as no one else signing up in my weight division. One has to be prepared for these situations.”
Monfaradi’s four matches – two in each category – took place within the span of a few hours. But he was unbothered by the short rest afforded to him between bouts.
“By the time I fought in the 120kg division, I had already broken a sweat earlier in the 85kg fight,” he explained. “So there were no pre-match jitters, no nerves at play. It was just a question, in all four matches, of staying true to my technique. As one’s opponents get heavier and stronger, the most important factor in winning your matches is technique.”
That, incidentally, is what Monfaradi will conduct a seminar on today before heading back to Bahrain and staying focused on the upcoming World Games, scheduled to be held in Alabama, in early July.
“There is a trip to Fujairah before that, where 12 members of my jiu jitsu academy will be competing in a competition,” Monfaradi said. “The intelligent thing, for me, would be to not take part in that tournament – although I will accompany my team – and stay focused on my training. I need to be in the best possible shape when I leave for the United States.”