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Xu Huaiqing

Chinese grappler who won the 2024 ADCC Asia/Oceania under-66-kilogram Trials after six matches and competed at the ADCC World Championship.

Biography

Chinese no-gi competitor Xu Huaiqing was documented in 2023–2024 as a Method MMA brown belt and coach under Kemal Akagündüz, and he won the under-66-kilogram division at the 2024 ADCC Asia/Oceania Trials. Method MMA described that victory as the first ADCC Trials win by a Chinese national. Much of the available account of his development and teaching comes from Method and a closely overlapping local profile; official results and event reporting separately document his competition record. Xu began jiu-jitsu in 2018 as a recreational activity. He trained under Akagündüz at the Shanghai gym then known as Absolute MMA Shanghai and received his brown belt in September 2022. By April 2023, a SmartShanghai feature presented him among the coaches at what had become Method MMA. Xu described his learning as a process of practical application supported by studying instructional DVDs. Method associated his competition style with takedowns and control from top position, and its biography identified Akagündüz as his local inspiration and Craig Jones as his favorite international competitor. The latter was an influence, not a documented teacher-student relationship. His 2023 results show that he was already competing across the region and beyond. On March 4, he placed third in the professional division under 76.9 kilograms at the ADCC Phuket Open. On April 1, he finished second in the same weight range at the ADCC Singapore Nationals. Both official results listed him for Frota Academy and China; Method MMA describes itself as a Frota Academy affiliate, which helps explain the different names in gym profiles and competition records. In August, Xu represented Al Leone at the AIGA team tournament in Kazakhstan. Fabricio Andrey submitted him with a shoulder lock, Gairbek Ibragimov won by katagatame, and Alibekov defeated him on points. These matches document international experience before his Trials victory without amounting to a complete career record. Xu also recalled three competition moments with pride: an anaconda submission, a win over someone who had previously beaten him, and his first victory by heel hook. He did not attach opponents, events, or dates to those recollections. His advice to other grapplers was to compete frequently, which he regarded as a way to improve quickly. The central result came in Bangkok on May 11, 2024. Xu fought six matches to win the Asia/Oceania Trials and qualify for the ADCC World Championship. The official results call the bracket the professional men's division under 65.9 kilograms, while the qualification summary uses under 66 kilograms; they describe the same victory. Across the tournament, he recorded a rear-naked choke and a guillotine, then defeated Halid Asildarov by decision in the semifinal and Daiki Yonekura by decision in the final. Xu later described intensive physical preparation and the use of self-encouragement to maintain a positive competitive attitude. During matches, he said, he concentrated on his opponent's actions and observed difficult opponents before developing a strategy. Method described Xu in June 2024 as one of its coaches and an Al Leone-sponsored athlete. On June 8 and 9, he led seminars at Method's Pudong and Jing'an locations. The first day covered wrestling for jiu-jitsu and guard passing; the second addressed wrestle-ups and chest-to-chest passing. Participants also had an opportunity to spar with him. The seminar recap said he intended to teach elsewhere in China while preparing for the World Championship, but it documented that plan rather than a completed national tour. Xu's World Championship run began in Las Vegas against Diogo Reis in the under-66-kilogram opening round. A D'Arce choke from Reis ended the match at 3:38, and Reis later won the division. Xu returned to the Asia/Oceania Trials in Bangkok on December 7, 2025, placing third in the professional division under 76.9 kilograms behind Izaak Michell and Kenta Iwamoto. That result did not establish a permanent move in weight: the official record had already listed him in the same range at two events in 2023.

Sources for this profile

  • Method MMA, interview with Xu (1 June 2024).(opens in a new tab)

    • Method MMA identifies Xu Huaiqing as a Chinese national.

      Where in the source: Opening account of the Bangkok victory; anchor: Chinese national.

      Accessed:

    • Discussing his Trials preparation, Xu described intensive physical training and using self-encouragement to sustain a positive competitive attitude.

      Where in the source: Interview answer about preparation.

      Accessed:

    • Xu said that during matches he concentrated on his opponent's actions, observing difficult opponents before developing a strategy.

      Where in the source: Interview answer about responding to challenges.

      Accessed:

    • His advice to other grapplers was to enter competitions frequently, which he regarded as a way to improve quickly.

      Where in the source: Final interview answer.

      Accessed:

    • In June 2024, Method MMA described Xu as one of its coaches and an Al Leone-sponsored athlete.

      Where in the source: Opening congratulatory paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • SmartShanghai, Method MMA feature (27 April 2023).(opens in a new tab)

    • Xu began jiu-jitsu in 2018 as a recreational activity and developed an enthusiasm for the sport.

      Where in the source: Xu coach section, paragraph about his beginning.

      Accessed:

    • Xu received his brown belt in Shanghai in September 2022. The feature identifies him as a student of Kemal Akagündüz.

      Where in the source: Xu coach section, opening and following paragraph; anchor: September 2022.

      Accessed:

    • SmartShanghai already presented Xu among Method MMA's coaches in April 2023.

      Where in the source: Heading for Xu within the article's coach profiles.

      Accessed:

    • Among the competition experiences Xu recalled with pride were an anaconda submission, defeating someone who had beaten him previously, and winning with a heel hook for the first time.

      Where in the source: Final paragraph of Xu's coach profile.

      Accessed:

  • Method MMA, Xu seminar announcement (3 June 2024).(opens in a new tab)

    • Method MMA's biography places Xu under Kemal Akagunduz at the gym previously called Absolute MMA Shanghai.

      Where in the source: Biographical section, opening paragraph.

      Accessed:

    • Xu described an approach based on practical application and studying instructional DVDs; his gym associated his competition game with takedowns and control from top position.

      Where in the source: Biographical section, paragraph on his approach.

      Accessed:

    • The biography names Kemal as Xu's local inspiration and Craig Jones as his favourite international competitor.

      Where in the source: Biographical section, paragraph immediately before the achievements.

      Accessed:

    • Method MMA described Xu's 2024 under-66 kg Asia/Oceania Trials victory as the first by a Chinese national.

      Where in the source: Opening seminar announcement; anchor: first Chinese national.

      Accessed:

    • Method MMA announced Xu-led seminars for 8 June 2024 at Pudong and 9 June at Jing'an.

      Where in the source: Two-day schedule immediately after the announcement.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC, Phuket Open 2023 official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • At the ADCC Phuket Open on 4 March 2023, Xu placed third in the men's professional under-76.9 kg division, representing Frota Academy and China.

      Where in the source: Official results, entire men's professional 76.9 kg list; anchor: Huaiqing Xu.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC, Singapore Nationals 2023 official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • Xu finished second in the adult men's professional under-76.9 kg division at the ADCC Singapore Nationals on 1 April 2023, listed for Frota Academy and China.

      Where in the source: Official results, adult men's professional 76.9 kg list; anchor: Huaiqing Xu.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, AIGA team tournament report (21 August 2023).(opens in a new tab)

    • Xu competed for Al Leone in the AIGA team tournament in Kazakhstan in August 2023; Fabricio Andrey submitted him with a shoulder lock in their 70 kg match.

      Where in the source: Modolfo versus Al Leone section, complete team encounter; anchor: Shoulder lock.

      Accessed:

    • The same AIGA report records Xu losing to Gairbek Ibragimov by katagatame and to Alibekov by points in Al Leone's other team encounters.

      Where in the source: Universal Fighters and Nurmagomedov encounters against Al Leone.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, second Asia/Oceania Trials report (14 May 2024).(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes reports that Xu, then a Method MMA brown belt, fought six times to win the 2024 Asia/Oceania under-66 kg Trials, securing two submissions: a rear-naked choke and a guillotine.

      Where in the source: Narrative paragraph about Xu before the winners list; anchor: 6 matches.

      Accessed:

    • In the final stages of those Trials, Xu beat Halid Asildarov in the semifinal and Daiki Yonekura in the final, both by decision.

      Where in the source: Full male 66 kg section, semifinals through third-place bout.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC, second Asia/Oceania qualifier 2024 official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • ADCC records Xu winning the professional men's under-65.9 kg division in Bangkok on 11 May 2024 and qualifying for its under-66 kg World Championship division.

      Where in the source: Event date, qualifiers block and complete first professional male division.

      Accessed:

  • Method MMA Pudong, Xu seminar recap (18 June 2024).(opens in a new tab)

    • Method MMA's June 2024 recap describes Xu teaching wrestling for jiu-jitsu and guard passing at Pudong, followed by wrestle-ups and chest-to-chest passing at Jing'an.

      Where in the source: Two-day recap, paragraph describing each gym's curriculum.

      Accessed:

    • Participants in the two-day programme also had the opportunity to spar with Xu.

      Where in the source: Paragraph following the curriculum.

      Accessed:

    • The June 2024 recap reported that Xu intended to give further seminars around China while preparing for ADCC Worlds.

      Where in the source: Closing paragraph before the invitation to view seminar highlights.

      Accessed:

  • Liam Stein, FloGrappling, 2024 ADCC Worlds results (17 August 2024).(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2024 ADCC World Championship in Las Vegas, Xu lost his opening under-66 kg bout to Diogo Reis by D'arce choke at 3:38. Reis subsequently won the division.

      Where in the source: Day 1, Round 1, complete men's 66 kg section; also the same division's final.

      Accessed:

  • ADCC, first Asia/Oceania Trials 2025 official results.(opens in a new tab)

    • Xu took third place in the adult men's professional under-76.9 kg division at the Asia/Oceania Trials in Bangkok on 7 December 2025, behind Izaak Michell and Kenta Iwamoto.

      Where in the source: Dated event heading and full adult professional male 76.9 kg podium.

      Accessed:

  • Method MMA Shanghai, About us (undated).(opens in a new tab)

    • Method MMA Shanghai identifies itself as affiliated with Frota Academy.

      Where in the source: Opening description of the academy.

      Accessed:

Competition results

Recorded tournament results, newest first
YearEventResultDivision
2025ADCC Asia & Oceania TrialsSource: jitsmagazine.comNo-giVerifiedBronzeNo-giVerified
2024ADCC Asia & Oceania TrialsSource: bjjheroes.comNo-giVerifiedGold (qualifying event)No-giVerified
2024ADCC World ChampionshipSource: youtube.comNo-giVerifiedRound 1 loss to Diogo Reis (D'Arce choke, 3:38)No-giVerified

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage