On the mat of the Abu Dhabi Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship… Roger Mayer gives a lesson in will and the challenge of a lifetime
Abu Dhabi, 18 November / WAM / Roger Mayer, coming from Australia, made a quiet appearance at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025, but he left a deep impression on the minds of those who knew his story.
His name was not among the bright stars and the spotlight was not chasing him, but he proved from the moment he stepped onto the championship mat that passion knows no age, and that a strong presence may precede fame.
Mayer participated in the Masters category, brown belt, weighing 94 kg, and he stood with great confidence, a present heart, and a solid will, with which he faced his Russian opponent, Gassan Jamalutdinov, who was twenty years younger than him and stronger. However, Mayer came out of the fight with a satisfied smile, after the confrontation ended with a difference of one point, and said: “I turned sixty-nine last October, and my opponent was forty-nine and possessed clear physical strength, but I was happy because he was not able to knock me down or finish me.” The fight, with my surrender, I held on until the end and lost by a point. For me, this is enough to consider it a successful experience.”
His presence in Abu Dhabi was not an ordinary event for him; He spoke about the experience as if it was a long-awaited trip, and said: “It is a wonderful experience in all its details, and the people here are wonderful. I loved the precise organization of the tournament, and the players are highly professional. They are strong during the fight and friendly after the fight, and this leaves a beautiful impact… I really enjoyed my stay in Abu Dhabi.”
Mayer’s journey with jiu-jitsu began as he grew older, after his retirement, where he spent 35 years working as a full-time policeman. He said: “My work was taking up all my time, and did not leave me an opportunity to train. After retirement ten years ago, I started practicing jiu-jitsu, and I started going to training almost daily.”
Mayer lives near Wollongong, south of Sydney, and his relationship with martial arts was ancient and began at the age of ten, but he confirms that jiu-jitsu is his favorite sport today. He said: “Jiu-jitsu is a strong sport that satisfies my aspirations, and at the same time it depends a lot on intelligence and mental skill.”
Perhaps Roger Mayer is not a person who seeks to win medals, but rather a person who found in jiu-jitsu a way to maintain his physical fitness and give him the motivation to continue despite his advanced age.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter
