Ashraf Adham Shishani, an ethnic Chechen from the old diaspora in Jordan, has become the first Chechen Jiu Jitsu Black belt holder.

On Thursday July 26, 2012, Ashraf Adham Shishani became the first Chechen in the world to hold a “Black Belt” in Brazilian “Jiu Jitsu”. Ashraf, who had a long career in martial arts, received his black belt after 8 years of practicing and teaching the sport.

He now works with the “Ultimate MMA Academy” in Amman, Jordan, a highly esteemed Mixed Martial arts training center, where he trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA and Submission Wrestling. He also works with “Desert Force Championship” which is the first Mixed Martial Arts championship in Jordan and the strongest in the Middle East. He is also training a number of Chechen youths in Jordan to become the best athletes in the Martial Arts scene in the country and soon in the region.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting. It is known as more than just a system of fighting. Since its inception in 1914, its parent art of judo was separated from older systems of Japanese jujutsu by an important difference that was passed on to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: it is not solely a martial art: it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical fitness and building character in young people; it is ultimately also a way of life.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco