Samuel Nagai - IBJJF BJJ World Champion

Samuel Nagai was born in Manés, a small place near Manaus, Brazil, on May 26, 2000. He is the brother of famous grappler Jackson Nagai. Nagai gained incredible respect as a competitor by defeating some of the best fighters, including Gutilhery Barbosa, Italo Moura, and Jonatha Alves, at the 2018 IBJJF World Championship. Samuel Nagai is now a BJJ black belt.

Nagai spent his early life with his brother in Manés. When they were younger, their parents moved to Japan on a working visa, which they got easily because Nagai’s great-grandfather was a Japanese national. Then they also moved with their family to Japan when he was eight years old. The Nagai family settled in Japan; both brothers learned the Japanese language easily and got into the best schools where they excelled.

In 2010, some unfortunate events occurred in Nagai’s household, which led both brothers to BJJ. Their father left their mother, abandoning them too. Nagai started jiu-jitsu with his brother, Jackson, to protect his loved ones because their father assaulted their mother while leaving, which developed many insecurities in them.

Nagai started his jiu-jitsu career with his first instructor, Emerson Noriaki. He has also trained with Junior Handa and Marcos Souza, while he was in Japan.

Nagai was promoted to the Green Belt under Junior Handa and Marcos Souza while he lived in Japan.

Nagai, with his family, moved back to Manaus, Brazil, after being promoted to the green belt. After their return to their hometown, the brothers started training with Marcio Pontes of Nova Uniáo. Later they also trained with Carlos Holanda, who became a great part of Nagai’s success.  

While Nagai was training with Holanda, a close friend of Holanda, the former IBJJF World Champion Gabriel Moraes, met with the Manaus state governor and asked him to help take the Nagai brothers to the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in California. At that tournament, Nagai and his brother demonstrated exceptional skill and unparalleled talent. That success gave them the much-needed exposure to the BJJ world. 

Nagai and his brother got invited to the Checkmat Academy in California after being acknowledged at the IBJJF World Championship in California. They took classes with Lucas Leite in the academy.

In August 2020, Nagai was promoted to the black belt under Keiser Giráo. It was the first time he experienced jiu-jitsu without his brother. After that, Nagai participated in various BJJ events and won many medals.

Nagai competed at various BJJ events in colored and black belt divisions. He is the 2023 IBJJF World Champion 2023 and the 2020 IBJJF Pan American Champion. He won a gold medal in the UAEJJF Grand Slam and in the FJJA Amazonas State as a colored belt. As a brown belt, he also won the LBS Championship twice.

Samuel Nagai faced Diego Sodre at the 2023 IBJJF World Championship in the featherweight black belt divisions. Nagai scored the first two points by turning the guard pole and successfully  taking down Sodre. Then after trying for some time, both scored two points for the leg-lock position. After an intense long fight, Nagai won the fight with 4 points. 

Samuel Nagai competed with Isaac Doederlein at the 2020 IBJJF Pan Championship in the black belt featherweight division. Doedelein scored the first two points by escaping the leg lock position. Then Nagai scored six points immediately: two points with an instant sweep, two points with the back mount, and two points with the choking technique. Nagai got two points after that with the takedown. Nagai tried to perform the sweep, but Doederlein trapped him with the foot lock and got two points. Immediately after that, Nagai scored two points with the guard passing and seven points by getting straight into the mount. In the end, Nagai won the fight with an impressive  score of  17 points against Doederlain’s 4 points.

Samuel Nagai fought with Wesley Santos at the 2021 IBJJF Brasileiro in the black belt featherweight division. Santos scored the first two points by escaping Nagai’s takedown technique. Then, Nagai scored two points by escaping Santos's leg lock technique. Eventually, Nagai scored another four points and won the match with his excellent choke from back technique. 

These Featherweights Throw Down🔥 Fabricio Andrey vs Samuel Nagai | 2022 IBJJF World Championships

Samuel Nagai VS Isaac Doederlein (FLOZONE) / Pan Championship 2020

Samuel Nagai vs Diego Sodre / World Championship 2023

Samuel Nagai v Sebastian Serpa / Orlando Summer Open 2022

Photo Credit: @samuelnagai