The Ultimate Fighting Championship, along with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), holds a fascination for a great many people, not only youths. The UFC began as a no-holds barred battle using all the tools of hand-to-hand combat to cause an opponent to yield. It has evolved slightly after outrage about its initial anything goes genesis to make the contests somewhat less dangerous.
Weber has the right idea about preparing for a possible future in the world of mayhem by studying a form of judo known as BJJ or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. That is because a surprising number of UFC and WWE fighters win their bouts due to their knowledge and skill in the practice.
As with most or all martial arts, BJJ has maneuvers that can be utilized to disable or kill in a life or death situation. But while participants each train for their own reasons many are interested in the sporting aspect.
Marine George Galvan, for instance, says, “I learn how to do the deadly stuff in my military training. Although it does complement what I learn there, I do this for the fun and exercise.”
Michael Allen, an Airman, along with his 18 year-old Cody and 12 year-old Kyle, practice not just for the fun of it, but, he says, to help them develop confidence. Kyle is the youngest of Nakamoto’s trainees and already shows an impressive understanding of the sport.
Okinawa now can boast of only one accredited Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor. His name is Ivan Nakamoto and he represents a return of sorts to its origin of the art that began in Japan as a samurai fighting technique called kodokan judo.
In 1914 an expert in kodokan, Mitsuyo Maeda, traveled to Brazil where he encountered a man whose family has become the singularly best known name in BJJ. The man, Carlos Gracie, learned from Maeda and developed his own unique version of the method. His four sons also became masters and their descendents predominate as exponents of the constantly changing art.
It was a Gracie who partnered with a promoter to form the UFC, meant to showcase mixed martial arts (MMA) to the public.
Nakamoto was born in Brazil with a father of Japanese descent and a Brazilian mother. Like many children in the country he grew up with the technique. Since then he has become a professor of what is often referred to as the ‘gentle’ martial art. Unlike karate, boxing or other contact arts BJJ is a no-strike technique.
Its basic premise is that most contests end up on the ground and the main objective is to take down an opponent where the use of leverage with legs and arms can be employed in a series of joint locks or chokeholds. In this way a smaller person can overcome the weight or strength advantage of a larger adversary.
Nakamoto’s training teaches basic moves that are essential skills in the practice. Students move in grades belt by belt as they become proficient in a bewildering array of moves and tactics. The highest rank, rarely achieved, is the red belt stage. Nakamoto is a black belt level adept.
He began teaching BJJ only in March at Risner Gym on Kadena, charging a very reasonable $80.00 a month for lessons three times a week. He also teaches off base at Onoyama Budokan, the dome shaped arena next to the ‘tree restaurant’ on the Naha Airport road. For the twice a week lessons there his fee is 5,000 yen.
Men, women and children are all welcome to join in learning the self defense skills. He can be contacted at 090-4268-0731 or by e-mail at
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