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The BJJ Story
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Adam Akasyah

Adam Akasyah is a Malaysian black belt whose career spans international competition, teaching and shared tournament coaching.

Biography

Adam Akasyah began jiu-jitsu in 2013 after trying several martial arts as a child. Grappling and strategy appealed to him, and a coach known as Jin guided him from his first class. His competitive debut in Bangkok in 2015 brought gold. At the 2018 London Winter Open, he finished first in adult male blue-belt featherweight, ahead of Vasco Sousa Lobo. A separate London Grand Slam ended in defeat after a draw. He told the New Straits Times that he wanted to compete with the freedom he felt in training. His father, Akasyah Sabri, encouraged greater flexibility. Adam represented Inglorious Grapplers while training at Marcos Escobar BJJ in Kota Damansara; Hyperfly and his parents supported him. By the 2019 Asian IBJJF Championship, he was competing at purple belt, taking third in adult male featherweight. At that year’s SEA Games, he came from behind to defeat Pham Tri Dung 6–4 for under-69kg bronze. He described feeling disappointed, yet satisfied to be taking home a medal. He later recalled an ankle injury at Hanoi in 2022 as a difficult experience. National training also connected him with athletes from other gyms. In 2023, Tee Lip Jin described Adam, Damon Soo and Cassandra learning together under Bruno Barbosa. Adam won the men’s professional under-76kg category at the 2023 ADCC Indonesian Open. He followed that with first place in men’s professional under-76.9kg at the ADCC Asian Open in Thailand in August 2024. Monarchy names him alongside Jin Tee as an evening Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor at its City Centre branch. IZZA announced his appointment in January 2026, introducing him as a black belt and national-team athlete. Its plans encompassed classes for both competitors and recreational students. An IZZA account of tournament preparation that month described Adam working with Coach Steve: preparing athletes, advising on technique and helping them handle pressure. The academy also credited Coach Doty and the wider team, placing Adam’s contribution within a shared coaching effort. Jin’s description of Adam’s training in October 2026 showed how preparation changed across a season: technical development between competitions, harder work as an event approached, then a gradual reduction in training volume. At his 2026 Asian Games debut, Adam beat Alaaldin Al-Kuzai before losing 2–0 to Koo Bon-cheol in the next round. Coach Tee Lip Jin saw improvement in his attacks, but identified a takedown as the decisive difference.

Sources for this profile

  • Kosmo, Ghazali Alias, October 11, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • After childhood martial arts, a first jiu-jitsu class drew Adam to grappling and strategy in 2013. Coach Jin guided him from that class; he won his Bangkok debut in 2015 and recalled a Hanoi 2022 ankle injury. Jin described off-season technical development, intensified preparation and tapering.

      Where in the source: Adam’s path; Jin’s preparation explanation.

      Accessed:

  • NST, Zaharah Othman, March 13, 2018.(opens in a new tab)

    • In March 2018, NST contrasted Adam’s London Winter Open gold with a Grand Slam loss after a draw. He wanted the freedom of training in competition; father Akasyah Sabri urged flexibility. He represented Inglorious Grapplers while training at Marcos Escobar BJJ Kota Damansara, supported by Hyperfly and his parents.

      Where in the source: Contrasting London events; training and family paragraphs.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, London Winter Open 2018 results.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF lists Adam Bin Akasyah first in adult male blue-belt featherweight at the 2018 London Winter Open, ahead of Vasco Sousa Lobo.

      Where in the source: Adult male blue feather; all four places.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, Asian Championship 2019 results.(opens in a new tab)

    • The 2019 Asian IBJJF results place Adam Bin Akasyah of Marcos Escobar Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu third in adult male purple-belt featherweight.

      Where in the source: Adult male purple feather; all four places.

      Accessed:

  • Stadium Astro, December 9, 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2019 SEA Games, Adam recovered from behind to beat Pham Tri Dung 6–4 for under-69kg bronze. He described disappointment alongside satisfaction at earning bronze.

      Where in the source: Bronze match and Adam’s response.

      Accessed:

  • NST, Timesport, September 13, 2023.(opens in a new tab)

    • Tee Lip Jin described 2023 national training under Bruno Barbosa that brought athletes from different gyms together, naming Adam, Damon Soo and Cassandra as teammates learning from one another.

      Where in the source: National squad and shared-training paragraphs.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC, Indonesian Open, November 11, 2023.(opens in a new tab)

    • ADCC’s Indonesian Open 2023 results list Adam Akasyah of Marcos Escobar BJJ first in the male professional under-76kg division.

      Where in the source: Official results; men’s professional under-76kg.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC, Asian Open Thailand, August 24, 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • ADCC’s Asian Open in Thailand in August 2024 lists Adam Akasyah of Marcos Escobar BJJ first in men’s professional under-76.9kg.

      Where in the source: Official results; men’s professional under-76.9kg.

      Accessed:

  • Monarchy MMA, City Centre branch.(opens in a new tab)

    • Monarchy’s City Centre page lists Adam Akasyah and Jin Tee as evening Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructors.

      Where in the source: City Centre coaches and instructors section.

      Accessed:

  • IZZA, Steven Stelljes, January 1, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • IZZA announced Adam’s appointment in January 2026, identifying him as a black belt and national-team athlete, with classes intended for competitors and recreational students.

      Where in the source: Appointment; rank; planned class responsibilities.

      Accessed:

  • IZZA, Steven Stelljes, January 15, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • IZZA’s January 2026 tournament account describes Adam and Coach Steve preparing competitors, giving technical guidance and helping them manage pressure, while crediting Coach Doty and the wider team too.

      Where in the source: Coach Adam section and shared responsibilities.

      Accessed:

  • Stadium Astro, Muzaffar Musa, October 2, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • At his 2026 Asian Games debut, Adam beat Alaaldin Al-Kuzai before losing 2–0 to Koo Bon-cheol in the next round. Coach Tee Lip Jin noted improved attacks but a decisive takedown.

      Where in the source: Match sequence and national coach’s assessment.

      Accessed:

  • Jordan Olympic Committee, October 2, 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • The Jordan Olympic Committee identified Malaysia’s Adam Akasyah as the under-77kg opponent who defeated Ala’a Al-Din Al-Khuzai at Nagoya 2026.

      Where in the source: Other Jordanian competitors paragraph.

      Accessed:

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage