Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
By profession, Amin Soltani, 44, is a producer and director of mostly commercials which are short in nature while delivering concise messages.
But when he got a reality check on his health, a chance encounter with a client led him to a hard, long road of getting fit through the sport of jiu-jitsu while also relishing his new-found passion.
The fighting spirit in him has seen the British-born and raised creative professional bring down his weight from a whopping high 181 kilogrammes to under 120 in about two years.
Besides, he has managed to win medals in jiu-jitsu with a 100% strike rate on the big stages within a year of taking up the sport.
Soltani took a bronze at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam during the summer on his first foray into competition mode after a few months of training.
Last week the amateur claimed the Men's Gi gold medal in the 120kg, white-division category at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the Mubadala Arena.
In doing so, in the final, he outclassed his Canadian opponent who came from one of the branches under the famed Brazilian Renzo Garcia banner.
"I was told I had an 80% chance of having a heart attack within three to five years if I didn't change my lifestyle," says Amin, who has been living in Dubai since 2007.
Late working hours and an unhealthy routine in life meant that he put on weight gradually even though his wife for eight years is a personal trainer.
"At 160kg, I tried to cut down my weight, but then COVID-19 happened, and I ballooned to 180+, in fact. I worked late working hours and had an unhealthy routine in life. During a shoot for Under Armour brand, I was filming this woman jiu-jitsu athlete, who put me on to a reference at the Falcon Mixed Martial Arts Academy. I booked an hour with the coach and at the end, I was like 'wow, this is so cool' and then I saw my coaches compete at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Professional Championship (AD World Pro). I have wanted to compete there since then."
"I also have been doing standup comedy for two years, and that means late hours again so my wife said, 'this is not going to work' and so we worked on our diet while I worked on the sport, too," said Soltani, who only played as a football goalkeeper when he was in his early 20s.
His desire took just over six months and in May, he competed and took a podium finish straightaway.
"That was my first fighting competition, and I learned a lot from the nerves and the atmosphere," he shares.
"Competitions at the AD World Pro are on another level," Amin said, describing the intense atmosphere.
"The energy, the fans, it's like being in a football stadium. Hearing the fans chanting is a completely different experience. This event is much bigger and much better, and I'm proud to be part of it."
Looking ahead, Amin is determined to continue his journey.
"This is just the beginning for me. I'm already setting my sights on more competitions," he says.
"I've learned that no matter how hard it gets, the key is to keep pushing forward."
"To win a gold medal here makes it even more special. I'm just so happy and humbled to have had this opportunity. Every step of this journey, every challenge, has been worth it."
