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Egan Inoue

Two-time racquetball world champion Egan Inoue went on to win BJJ world titles, finish fourth twice at ADCC, and earn a black belt under John Lewis.

Biography

Egan Inoue reached Brazilian jiu-jitsu by an unusual route: he was already a two-time professional racquetball world champion before turning his attention to grappling. Born in Honolulu in 1965, Inoue had trained across several martial arts since childhood. In a 1999 interview, he traced that path from Shotokan karate at age four through Wing Chun, taekwondo, hapkido, kendo, boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Inoue opened Grappling Unlimited in Hawaii in 1995. He won a blue-belt world title the following year, then took the purple-belt absolute world title in 1997. BJJ Heroes credits those results with making him the first non-Brazilian BJJ world champion. After training with the Machado brothers, he joined John Lewis's team and earned his black belt under Lewis. His competitive record also reached the early ADCC World Championships. The official results list Inoue fourth in the men's under-88-kilogram division in both 1999 and 2001, matching finishes two years apart. Inoue's work after competition continued in Hawaii. A 2025 Hawaii News Now profile reported that he retired from fighting in 2008 and later established Egan's Fitness with his wife. It presented the former racquetball champion and grappler as a local combat-sports pioneer whose career crossed competition and fitness entrepreneurship.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, Egan Inoue(opens in a new tab)

    • Egan Inoue was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 4, 1965; he is the brother of Enson Inoue, a distinct martial artist.

      Where in the source: Profile and biography — “born on June 4, 1965”

      Accessed:

    • Before focusing on grappling, Inoue built a professional racquetball career and won two world titles, a competitive background that preceded his full-time turn toward jiu-jitsu.

      Where in the source: Biography — “two-time world champion in 1990”

      Accessed:

    • Inoue opened Grappling Unlimited in Hawaii in 1995, then won the 1996 blue-belt world title and the 1997 purple-belt absolute world title, becoming the first non-Brazilian BJJ world champion.

      Where in the source: Biography — “opened his own gym” and “first non-Brazilian”

      Accessed:

    • After training with the Machado brothers, Inoue joined John Lewis's team and earned his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Lewis.

      Where in the source: Biography — “earned his black belt”

      Accessed:

  • Chris and Michael Onzuka, Egan Inoue Interview, April 7, 1999(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 1999 interview, Inoue described a martial-arts path beginning with Shotokan karate at age four and later including Wing Chun, taekwondo, hapkido, kendo, boxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

      Where in the source: 1999 interview — “started off when I was 4”

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation, ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 1999 official results(opens in a new tab)

    • The official 1999 ADCC results place Egan Inoue fourth in the men's under-88-kilogram division.

      Where in the source: Official results — “-88kg ... 4th ... Egan Inoue”

      Accessed:

  • ADCC Federation, ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2001 official results(opens in a new tab)

    • The official 2001 ADCC results again place Egan Inoue fourth in the men's under-88-kilogram division.

      Where in the source: Official results — “-88kg ... 4th ... Egan Inoue”

      Accessed:

  • HNN Staff, Mixed martial arts world champion, fitness entrepreneur Egan Inoue, October 20, 2025(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2025 Hawaii News Now profile described Inoue as a Hawaii combat-sports pioneer and reported that, after retiring from fighting in 2008, he and his wife established Egan's Fitness, then nearing its fifteenth anniversary.

      Where in the source: 2025 profile — “established Egan’s Fitness”

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2001ADCC 2001Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified4th place-88 kgNo-giVerified
1999ADCC 1999Source: adcombat.com-88 kgNo-giVerified4th place-88 kgNo-giVerified

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