Famous Karate black belt and popular YouTube personality, Jesse Enkamp, recently entered a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) tournament to see for himself if it’s effective. Enkamp, the creator of the ‘Karate by Jesse’ channel, often challenges his martial arts skills by trying different styles like Muay Thai and Aikido. He trains with top MMA fighters like Stephen Thompson and is the brother of Oliver Enkamp, a UFC veteran and current Bellator fighter known for his submission skills.
Despite his brother Oliver’s focus on ground skills and submission grappling, Jesse remained focused on Karate. In a video, he expressed his belief that BJJ mainly works when both fighters willingly engage on the ground. Instead, he suggested a sentiment shared by casual MMA fans: to stand up and neutralize BJJ.
Enkamp decided to test his theory by joining a BJJ class, where he faced opponents who resisted his attempts to stand up. After making adjustments and practicing his tactics, the Karate expert felt prepared to enter a BJJ tournament in the white belt division. His opponent repeatedly tried to engage on the ground, but Enkamp consistently disengaged, even receiving a penalty for his actions. As his opponent grew tired and tried to engage on the ground again, Enkamp took advantage of the opportunity, swiftly transitioning to mount position and securing a cross-collar choke to win the fight.
