Ruba Al Sayegh

After receiving my diploma as a Computer Engineer from the University of Jordan in 2005, I worked in both Management Information Systems (MIS) and Project Management for about 6 years. In an effort to stay healthy, with a full-time desk job, I enrolled into fitness kickboxing (KickFit) at the Source MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), and it was there that I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) for the first time. I instantly fell in love with both KickFit and BJJ, and it wasn’t long before I knew a shift in my career path was underway.

I trained vigorously on a daily basis for a full year while simultaneously maintaining my full time job and teaching KickFit classes for beginners, until finally I made a permanent change to a career in sports, first by becoming a KickFit instructor followed by taking part in BJJ competitions, under the supervision of 5 Dan Black Belt Master Samy Al Jamal. Today, I continue to train 3-5 hours a day, 6 days a week, covering both my usual Jiu Jitsu training, as well as, CrossFit at CrossFit QuickSand.

Accomplishments:

Gold Medal : Jiu Jitsu Thailand Open Grand Slam 2017, Bangkok –Thailand

Gold Medal : European Open Jiu Jitsu Championship, (same weight category and open weight) January 2016, Lisbon - Portugal

Gold Medal : Long Beach Interational Open Jiu Jitsu Championship, October 2014, California - USA

Gold Medal : Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship April 2012, Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates

Rana Qubbaj

I am a business continuity analyst and hold a BCs in electronics engineering. I have been training in Jiu Jitsu since 2010 in the same academy as Ruba Sayegh under Coach Sammy Al Jamal. I am a Jiu Jitsu national team member and the first arab woman to ever win an international BJJ championship. I train in Jiu jitsu because I find it extremely captivating and more like a form of art instead of a combat sport. Anyone can learn a technique and perfect it but the real deal is encompassing those techniques into your own style of moves, one that your opponent will find tough to solve or counteract.

I am a strong believer in changing community mindsets through sport and an activist in empowering women and children through martial arts. My sister and I run a project whereby we train young orphans in Jabal Nuzha and Hussein camp. We have some of the finest and most promising juveniles and kids in the country now, with our own competition team winning many national titles. 

Accomplishments:

Gold Medal: World Jiu Jitsu masters Championship 2016, 2015, 2014 weight and open weight, Las Vegas - USA

Gold Medal: International Jiu jitsu masters 2016, 2014 weight and open weight  Rio – Brazil

Gold Medal: Olympic 5th Asian beach games 2016 – Vietnam

Gold Medal: Europe International open 2015 weight and open weight, 2012 , Lisbon - Portugal

Natasha Valentine

I woke up one day back in Jan 2014 and took a hard long look at myself, I decided I wanted to do something for myself and become a better of version of the person staring back in the mirror, one that I would be proud of. I always loved the idea of being disciplined in a martial art so I joined the nearest mma gym and tried all the classes they had, self-defense, boxing, kick boxing, I even tried Zumba! It’s safe to say it definitely wasn’t for me. I finally got round to BJJ after weeks of my coach insisting I give it a go and during my first class something clicked, I was totally scared and out of my element but at the same time the adrenaline and fear of the unknown made it the best challenge I could ever give myself, a wakeup call , I had no idea what I was doing but I suddenly realized that I found something I wanted to do and grow better in.

 I started competing within a year of training and got my silver medal at the Abu Dhabi World Pro Championships back in 2014, shortly after, I got my first gold medal at Boston Summer International. Aramex has been extremely supportive of my growth in Jiu Jitsu and I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity to travel and compete in a sport that has literally changed my life for the better.  I am also a member of Girls Who Roll, a UAE based community project encouraging and supporting women in learning Jiu Jitsu. Let the learning continue. 

Accomplishments:

Silver Medal:  Asian International Championships 2016, Tokyo – Japan

Silver Medal: Melbourne International 2016, Melbourne – Sydney

Bronze Medal: Zurich Open International 2016, Zurich – Switzerland

Gold Medal: Boston International Open 2015, Boston

Henry Saliba

I started mountaineering 12 years ago, fulfilling a subconscious childhood dream of adventure and exploration. I say subconscious because I always knew it was there, I just never really acted on it until that day. Since Then, I have climbed in the Alps, Peru, Morocco, and New Zealand. To me, there is no environment like the alpine one - its beauty, purity, and wildness intrigue and frighten me simultaneously. It is without doubt a place one can feel close to whatever creator they believe in. 

Mountaineering as a sport represents  core values that I wholeheartedly believe in - respect, humility, perseverance, comradeship - it is an opportunity for one to pit their will, determination, and perseverance against a worthy opponent. It is also a rare chance to be part of the earth itself. It is not without its dangers and risks - but without those it would not be the same. 

Accomplishments

- Mt Cook (3724m), Mt Blanc (4810m), Matterhorn (4478m), Alpamayo (5947m), Artesonraju (6025m), Huascaran (6768m), Ishinca (5530m), Gran Paradiso (4061m), Tour Ronde (3792m) , Mt Blanc Du Tacul (4248m)