Viewers of the second day of the 2016 Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championships may have noticed the large number of Colombians competing in the Masters (over 30 years of age) white belt divisions. 

The answer lies in the fact that former Colombian soldiers are employed by the United Arab Emirates to boost their military power. 

Training of jiu-jitsu is mandatory for both school children and the military in the United Arab Emirates, and many Brazilian coaches have been hired to teach the martial art in schools and on army bases. 

The UAE has enlisted thousands of troops as part of anti-terrorist and special forces operations. Colombian soldiers are seen as experienced and well-trained, and some figures report that they make over half of all Colombians who live in the UAE. 

Many of the Colombian competitors at the 2016 Abu Dhabi World Pro wore gis with UAE military patches and their team was listed as 'Commando Group BJJ'.