Egan Inoue ( ja, イーゲン井上, born June 4, 1965) is a

Brazilian jiu-jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ; pt, jiu-jitsu brasileiro ) is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting (ne-waza) and submission holds. BJJ focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, control ...

practitioner, former

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

and

racquetball Racquetball is a racquet sport and a team sport played with a hollow rubber ball on an indoor or outdoor court. Joseph Sobek invented the modern sport of racquetball in 1950, adding a stringed racquet to paddleball in order to increase velo ...

competitor. A two-time International Racquetball Federation (IRF)

World Champion A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

, Inoue is a two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion in colored belts, the first non-Brazilian to win a gold medal at the World Jiu Jitsu Championship.

Early life

Egan Inoue was born on 4 June 1965, in

Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island o ...

, in a family of Japanese descent. He started practicing

Shotokan Karate is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945). Gichin Funakoshi was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing "karate do" throug ...

from a young age taught by his grandfather. He would later take up

Wing Chun Kung Fu Wing Chun (Chinese: 詠春 or 咏春, lit. "singing spring"), sometimes spelled Ving Tsun, is a concept-based fighting art, form of Southern Chinese kung fu and close-quarters system of self-defense. In Mandarin, it is pronounced "Yong Chun. ...

Taekwondo ''Taekwondo'', ''Tae Kwon Do'' or ''Taekwon-Do'' (; ko, 태권도/跆拳道 ) is a Korean form of martial arts involving punching and kicking techniques, with emphasis on head-height kicks, spinning jump kicks, and fast kicking techniques. T ...

Judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...

Hapkido Hapkido ( , , also spelled ''hap ki do'' or ''hapki-do''; from Korean 합기도 ''hapgido'' ) is a hybrid Korean martial art. It is a form of self-defense that employs joint locks, grappling, throwing techniques, kicks, punches, and other stri ...

, and

Jujutsu Jujutsu ( ; ja, link=no, 柔術 , ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu, is a family of Japanese martial arts and a system of close combat (unarmed or with a minor weapon) that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdu ...

. At 16 he started practicing

becoming state champion by the time he turned 18.

Racquetball career

Inoue played professional racquetball on the

International Racquetball Tour The International Racquetball Tour (IRT) is the leading professional racquetball organization for men's competition. It was founded in 1991 and is the successor to previous iterations of the tour by different names. Professional Men's racquetbal ...

, winning two tournaments, and finishing in the top 10 ranked players four times: 1986–87 to 1988–89 and 1990–91. His record on the IRT is 84–63. Inoue briefly ascended to be the #1 ranked player on tour in December 1990 before finishing the season ranked 6th. But Inoue's racquetball career is highlighted by two

World Championships A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...

. His first came in 1986 in

Orlando, Florida Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County, Florida, Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Greater Orlando, Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, acco ...

, when he defeated Canadian Roger Harripersad in the final, 15–2, 7–15, and 15–7. Four years later, in 1990, Inoue defeated fellow American Tim Doyle in the final, 13–15, 15–13, 15–5, to win his second World Championship. In 1989, Inoue had a 50 percent ownership in

E-Force Eric Forrest (born 1970) is a Canadian heavy metal musician. Active since 1988, Forrest is best known for playing in a number of metal bands, including Voivod, E-Force, and Project Failing Flesh. Career During the late 1980s and early 1990s, ...

, a racquetball equipment company. In 1993, he sold his stake in E-Force and returned to jiu jitsu.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu career

Inoue started training

(BJJ) in the late 1980s at Relson Gracie's academy in the late 1980s before joining the Machado academy where he earned his purple and brown belts. In 1996, Inoue won the

World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship The World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship (commonly known as the Worlds or Mundials) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament held once every year by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. It is widely considered to be the most important and ...

in the blue belt division. He was the first American to win the title. He then returned to Brazil in 1997 and won the

in the absolute

purple belt Purple Belt may refer to the following: *Purple belt, a rank in martial arts (see Kyū) **Purple belt (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), a level in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking system *A road in the Allegheny County belt system#Purple_Belt, Allegheny County ...

division. Inoue later joined John Lewis academy where he was promoted to black belt. Inoue holds a 4th degree black belt in Jiu Jitsu.

Mixed martial arts career

Inoue went on to fight professionally in MMA. He retired in 2003 but came out of retirement on May 5, 2008, beating Hans Marrero by TKO at a X-1 – Legends, an MMA show held at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center in

. Inoue's MMA record is 13 wins with 8 losses. He has opened up three MMA training schools in the state of

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

. Inoue's MMA career led him to fights in Pride, Shooto, Superbrawl and Luminex Cup. He enjoyed a successful career with five world championship titles. His younger brother

Enson Inoue Enson Shoji Inoue (; born April 15, 1967) is a Japanese-American jiu-jitsu practitioner and retired professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1995 until 2010, he fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, the UFC, Shoot ...

went on to become the first ever Heavyweight Champion of

Shooto Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the ''Shooto Association'' and the ''International Shooto Commission''. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 198 ...

Instructor lineage

Kano Jigoro Kano may refer to: Places *Kano State, a state in Northern Nigeria *Kano (city), a city in Nigeria, and the capital of Kano State **Kingdom of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between the 10th and 14th centuries ** Sultanate of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between ...

→ Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda →

Carlos Gracie Carlos Gracie (September 14, 1902October 7, 1994) was a Brazilian martial artist who is credited with being one of the primary developers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Along with his younger brother Hélio Gracie and fellow students Luis França an ...

→

Helio Gracie Helio may refer to: * Helio AU-24 Stallion * Helio (wireless carrier), a defunct American wireless communications provider (2005–2010); originally a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, purchased by Virgin Mobile USA in 2008 * He ...

→

Carlson Gracie Carlson Gracie (August 13, 1932 – February 1, 2006) was a practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A member of the Gracie family, he was the eldest son of Carlos Gracie, and nephew to Hélio Gracie, founders of Gracie jiu-jitsu. Carlson Gr ...

→

André Pederneiras Carlos André Pederneiras de Castro (born March 22, 1967) is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed martial arts (MMA) coach and promoter. A former BJJ competitor, holding today a Red and Black 7th Degree Coral belt, Pederneiras is a 6 x Brazili ...

> John Lewis > Egan Inoue

Championships and accomplishments

BJJ and Grappling achievements: * IBJJF World Champion (1996 blue, 1997 purple) * 3rd Place World Masters Championship (2014) * 4th place ADCC World Championship (1999/2001) Wrestling: * Icon Sport Middleweight Championship (1 Time, First)http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=titles&titel=2124&newsref= * Lumax Cup Tournament of 'J 95 Runner Up

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 13-8 , Hans Marrero , TKO (retirement) , X-1 – Legends , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 12-8 , Jason Miller , TKO (corner stoppage) , SB 32 – SuperBrawl 32 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 12-7 ,

Masanori Suda Masanori Suda (born July 7, 1973) is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He competed in the Welterweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight divisions. Suda is known primarily for his time in Shooto, where he is a former Light Heavyweight Champion. He ...

, KO (punches) , SB 29 – SuperBrawl 29 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:27 ,

, United States , For Shooto Middleweight Championship. Lost Icon Spot Middleweight Championship. , - , Win , align=center, 12-6 , Yukiya Naito , Decision (unanimous) , SB 28 – SuperBrawl 28 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11-6 ,

Martijn de Jong Martijn may refer to: * Martijn (given name), a Dutch given name (including a list of people with the name) * Vereniging Martijn Vereniging Martijn (; "Martijn Association"; stylized as MARTIJN) was a Dutch association that advocated the societ ...

, KO (kick) , SB 25 – SuperBrawl 25 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:46 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10-6 , Marcos da Silva , Submission (punches) , SB 23 – SuperBrawl 23 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:56 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9-6 , Joe Doerksen , Submission (toe hold) , SB 22 – SuperBrawl 22 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:56 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8-6 , Brett Al-azzawi , Submission (forearm choke) , SB 21 – SuperBrawl 21 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:29 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 7-6 ,

Guy Mezger Guy Mezger (born January 1, 1968) is an American martial artist, who competed in professional combat sports including Full Contact Karate, Kickboxing, and Boxing, but is most recognized as a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. Mezger retired fro ...

, KO (punch) , Pride 13 – Collision Course , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:25 , Saitama, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 7-5 , John Alessio , Submission (rear-naked choke) , SB 15 – SuperBrawl 15 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:41 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 6-5 ,

Carl Ognibene Carl Ognibene (born January 25, 1970) is an American professional wrestler, freestyle wrestler and mixed martial artist who is best known as Carl Malenko who competed in Battlarts, Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pride ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Pride 6 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Yokohama is the second-largest city in Japan by population and the most populous municipality of Japan. It is the capital city and the most populous city in Kanagawa Prefecture, with a 2020 population of 3.8 million. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of To ...

Kanagawa is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-dens ...

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 6-4 , Marcelo Tigre , DQ (excessive fouling) , SB 12 – SuperBrawl 12 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:12 ,

, United States , Won Icon Sport Middleweight Championship , - , Win , align=center, 5-4 , Minoru Toyonaga , TKO (punches) , Pride 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:53 ,

Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...

Aichi is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefectu ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 4-4 , Mauricio Silva , Decision , WSKF – World Challenge , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Waikiki Waikiki (; haw, Waikīkī; ; also known as Waikiki Beach) is a neighborhood of Honolulu on the south shore of the island of Oahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. Waikiki is most famous for Waikiki Beach, which is one of six beaches in the district ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 4-3 ,

Masayuki Naruse (born March 15, 1973) is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, competing in the light heavyweight division who fought most of his career in Fighting Network RINGS (RINGS). As a professional wrestler, he notably competed in ...

, DQ , Rings – Maelstrom 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 11:51 , Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 4-2 ,

Sanae Kikuta is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division. A professional competitor since 1996, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships, Pancrase, DREAM, World Victory Road, DEEP, Shooto, and ...

, Decision , Lumax Cup – Tournament of J '96 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 , Japan , Tournament quarter-finals , - , Win , align=center, 4-1 , Yasunobu Matsuo , Submission (armlock) , Lumax Cup – Tournament of J '96 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:20 , Japan , Tournament qualifier , - , Win , align=center, 3-1 , Gordon Dehdman , Submission (triangle choke) , Shooto – Vale Tudo Junction 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:39 ,

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...

, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 2-1 ,

Tsuyoshi Kohsaka is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist, submission grappler and professional wrestler who competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional MMA competitor from 1994 till 2022, he has competed for the UFC, PRIDE Fighting Championships ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Lumax Cup – Tournament of J '95 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 , Japan , Tournament finals , - , Win , align=center, 2-0 ,

Akihiro Gono (born October 7, 1974) is a Japanese mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 1994, he is best known for his clever and deceptive fighting style, and for his flashy ring entrances. Gon ...

, Submission (armbar) , Lumax Cup – Tournament of J '95 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:33 , Japan , Tournament semi-finals , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 ,

Alexander Otsuka , better known by his ring name Alexander Otsuka and Otoko Sakari, is a retired Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. Having competed for multiple pro wrestling organizations in his career, most recently with Antonio Inoki's ...

, Submission (armbar) , Lumax Cup – Tournament of J '95 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:55 , Japan , Tournament quarter-finals

Submission grappling record

KO PUNCHES , - style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Result , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Opponent , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Method , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Event , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Date , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Round , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Time , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Notes , - , Loss, , Nino Schembri , , Points , , ADCC 2001 –88 kg 3rd place, , 2001, , 1, , 10:00, , , - , Loss, ,

, , Points , , ADCC 2001 –88 kg, , 2001, , 1, , 10:00, , , - , Win, ,

Ricardo Liborio Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese cognate of the name Richard. It derived from Proto-Germanic ''*rīks'' 'king, ruler' + ''*harduz'' 'hard, brave'. It may be a given name, or a surname. People Given name *Ricardo de Araújo Pereira, Portugu ...

, , Points , , ADCC 2001 –88 kg, , 2001, , 1, , 15:00, , , - , Win, , Vladimir Zharkov , , Submission (rear naked choke) , , ADCC 2001 –88 kg, , 2001, , 1, , 9:30, , , - , Win, , Emil Khachatryan , , Points , , ADCC 2000 –88 kg, , 2000, , 1, , 10, , , - , Loss, ,

, , Points , , ADCC 1999 –88 kg 3rd place, , 1999, , 1, , 10, , , - , Loss, , Karim Barkalaev , , Points , , ADCC 1999 –88 kg, , 1999, , 1, , 10, , , - , Win, , Renzo Gracie , , Points , , ADCC 1999 –88 kg, , 1999, , 1, , 10, , , - , Win, , Robbie Kilpatrick , , Submission (armbar) , , ADCC 1999 –88 kg, , 1999, , 1, , 9:25, , , -

Notes

References

External links

*
Official websiteEgan Inoue making a return
{{DEFAULTSORT:Inoue, Egan 1965 births Living people Sportspeople from Honolulu American racquetball players American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from Hawaii Middleweight mixed martial artists Light heavyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu American sportspeople of Japanese descent