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That Time a BJJ Instructor Didn’t Recognize Enson Inoue

That Time a BJJ Instructor Didn’t Recognize Enson Inoue

 

MMA legend and BJJ black belt Enson Inoue recently had an interesting experience while lifting weights at a UFC gym in Hawaii and inquiring about Jiu-Jitsu classes for his girlfriend.

Enson Inoue submitted Randy Couture

Enson Inoue submitted Randy Couture

 

Inoue is Japanese-American and hails from  Hawaii, but has made his career in the US and Japan. He one of most well known MMA fighters in the world having fought in the UFC, Shooto, and being a major star in Pride Fighting Championships. He has defeated Randy Couture, and faced Minotauro Nogueira, Igor Vovchanchin and many others…Inoue is a long time BJJ black belt under John Lewis. He has also competed in ADCC in a super fight vs Mario Sperry.

Enson-Inoue

 

Inoue wrote on his Facebook page about the experience:

 

Had a funny experience this morning when I went to lift at the UFC Gym. As Sarah and I were lifting I noticed a Jiu-Jitsu class going on in the mat area.
When the class ended I decided to go up to the instructor to ask him when the classes were wondering if Sarah could join the class before we go in to Shirokiya.
This is how the dialogue went:
Me: “What time and what days are your classes?”
Instructor: This is called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
It was funny how enunciated slowly, Bra-zil-Iian Jiu-Jitsu.
So I repeated
Me: “When are your classes?”
Instructor: “MWF 6:00am. Come down enjoy the class.”
Me: Pointing at Sarah. “I’m asking for her, she wants to start.”
Then to my surprise he turned to me and said: “What about you my friend? You should try it too.”
I then realized that he didn’t know who I was so I replied, “No, I’m retired.”
He then smiled at me and said, “That’s okay, you can still join us.”
I didn’t know how to tell him who I was without being rude or without sounding conceited so I just shook it off saying, “Great! She’ll be joining your class later in the week.”
He was a really nice guy and being really friendly and inviting. It’s not wrong of him to not know who I am but it did catch me off guard.
Sarah and walked back to continue doing weights and had a little chuckle.