Yuki Nakai

Yuki Nakai, born on 18 August 1970, is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist who now teaches Shootfighting and Brazilian jiu-jitsu and is president of the Japanese Confederation of Jiu-Jitsu. He began in judo and wrestling at Hokkaido Sapporo North high school, trained under Kodokan master Kanae Hirata at Hokkaido University and, as a black belt, led his university to victory at the Nanatei Judo championship in 1992. He joined Shooto as a professional, won the Shooto World Welterweight Championship, and at Vale Tudo Japan 1995 reached the final despite a severe eye injury in his first bout, losing there to Rickson Gracie. After retiring from MMA he took up Brazilian jiu-jitsu, learning it from Enson Inoue and a year later entering his first jiu-jitsu tournament, the Gracie Honolulu Open. He founded the Paraestra Shooto Gym, whose students include Shinya Aoki.