# Yuki Nakai

> Black Belt

## Overview

**Name:** Yuki Nakai

**Belt Rank:** Black Belt

**Date of Birth:** August 18, 1970 (age 56)


## Bio

The 1995 Vale Tudo Japan tournament made Yuki Nakai a legend: despite being the smallest competitor, he submitted Gerard Gordeau after being eye-poked into partial blindness, then armbarred 250-pound Craig Pittman before falling to Rickson Gracie by rear-naked choke in the final. Nakai hid his injury for years to protect MMA’s growth in Japan. A Judo black belt who trained under Satoru Sayama in Shooto, he later sought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after watching Royler Gracie, earning his black belt from Carlos Gracie Junior and becoming Japan’s first BJJ black belt. His academy produced Shinya Aoki, Yukinori Sasa, and other top Japanese grapplers.
## Achievements

- Pan American Champion (1997 purple, 1998 brown)
- Brazilian Nationals Bronze Medallist (1999 black)
## Lineage

- Carlos Gracie (Red Belt)
- Hélio Gracie (Red Belt)
- Carlos Gracie Junior (Coral Belt)

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**Last Updated:** September 24, 2026

**Data Source:** bjj.space (https://bjj.space/people/yuki-nakai)