It’s a known fact, even for BJJ practitioners, that BJJ matches are not always the most exciting to watch. This is especially true when you are at a tournament watching simultaneous matches at a time and during a week long stretch (think of long tournaments such as the IBJJF Europeans or the Pan.

Yuki Nakai is the first Japanese born BJJ black belt and president of Japan’s BJJ federation was caught by the camera falling asleep at mat side during the finals of the recent Asian Open between Keenan Cornelius and Hideki Sekine aka Shrek. The match in itself was not particularly boring but Nakai probably had a long day.

At one point the cameraman notices the embarassing image of Nakai sleeping in the background and he changes the camera angle…

Yuki Nakai is a legend of Japanese MMA and he also has Kosen Judo background. As a Judo black belt, Nakai competed at the Nanatei kosen judo championship, leading his university to the victory in 1992.

Nakai is the president of the Japanese Confederation of Jiu-Jitsu. Naki is also famous for having fought and lost to Rickson Gracie at Japan Vale Tudo in 1995.

After retiring from MMA, Nakai became interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, not due to his own defeat to Rickson, but Noboru Asahi’s loss to Royler Gracie in 1996. He learned it from Enson Inoue, and a year later he participated in his first BJJ tournament, the Gracie Honolulu Open hosted by Relson Gracie. Nakai soon won the Pan American Championship on the brown belt category, and afterwards he was granted the black belt by Carlos Gracie Jr, becoming the first person from Japan to hold a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.  In 1997, Nakai opened the Paraestra Shooto Gym, and over time was appointed president of the Japanese Confederation of Jiu-Jitsu.

Learn the secrets of the Turtle Guard from the world champion who has used it for decades to beat the best fighters on earth. It might sound completely nuts, but Eduardo Telles beats the Best Guys – From His Hands & Knees.. Get a copy of his new release The Turtle Guard Revisited.  You can get it here from BJJ Fanatics!