Marcos Oliveira teaching class in Abu Dhabi. Photo: publicity.
Marcos Oliveira is a finalist in the Abu Dhabi ADFC event to pay out one million dirhams to the champion. Despite the promise of spoils in MMA, the black belt is still at it in his gi, helping out with the “School-Jitsu” program installing the gentle art in fifty schools around the Middle Eastern nation.
The program directed by Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan started off with fourteen participating schools last year. Such was its success that eighty teachers now attend to the increasing demand.
The “School-Jitsu” program’s objective is to teach proper self-defense techniques and to discover talent to bolster the Emirates’ national team. The goal is also to turn out professional fighters to represent the country in international competition.
For his success in the ADCF event, Marcos Oliveira is one of the better known teachers. The fighter was a hit among the kids when he taught the introductory class held at the local Al Qurum school. He also handed out autographed posters to the youths in attendance.
Now Marcos turns his attention to his next opponent, Russia’s Shamil Abdurahimov, for their March 11 showdown defining the winner of the ADCF open weight GP.