Jackson Nagai

Jackson Nagai was born on March 25, 1994, in Manés, Brazil, a region widely recognized for its production of the acaí berry. At the age of 10, he relocated to Japan, where basketball became his primary athletic pursuit. When a difficult family situation arose during his youth, Nagai turned to martial arts as a means of self-protection — a decision that would ultimately define his life's trajectory.

His martial arts education began with karate and kickboxing before he discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His earliest BJJ training took place at Evox BJJ in Japan under instructor Nori Toda, where he built the foundational skills that would carry him to the sport's highest levels. Nagai is the older brother of Samuel Nagai, another internationally recognized BJJ competitor who has followed an equally decorated path in the sport.

After establishing his BJJ base in Japan, Nagai continued his development under Marcio Pontes of Nova União, the association under which he earned his brown belt. His colored belt career was defined by consistent podium appearances on the international stage: a UAEJJF Grand Slam LA title at blue belt in 2015, multiple regional titles at purple belt, and a runner-up finish at the IBJJF World Championship as a brown belt in 2019 — a result that announced his arrival as one of the sport's most promising prospects.

Seeking an environment that would accelerate his transition into elite black belt competition, Nagai joined Checkmat, one of the sport's most prominent and globally competitive organizations. Under the mentorship of Lucas Leite, he completed his journey through the ranks and received his black belt in January 2020. Despite his Brazilian roots, Nagai represents Japan on the international circuit — a reflection of the more than a decade he spent living and training there.

Jackson Nagai competes in the Peso Médio division (82.30 kg / 181.5 lbs) on the IBJJF international circuit, and his black belt career has traced a steady, measurable upward arc. His first major black belt podium appearance came at the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2020, where he earned a runner-up finish, followed by bronze medals at the IBJJF Pan Championship in 2021 — results that established him as a reliable performer at the sport's most competitive events.

Breakthrough in 2023

The 2023 season marked a turning point. Nagai won the IBJJF American Nationals in his weight division and added an absolute bronze medal at the same event, while also earning a bronze at the IBJJF American Nationals NOGI — demonstrating his versatility across rulesets. He capped the year with a bronze medal at the IBJJF World Championship, setting the stage for an even stronger run in 2024. His earlier exposure at events such as the Royal Invitational, where he earned a bronze medal as a brown belt in 2018, helped forge the international profile that Checkmat and Lucas Leite would help him fulfill at the black belt level.

2024 World Title and Career Trajectory

In 2024, Nagai completed the most prestigious double available on the IBJJF gi circuit, claiming gold at both the IBJJF Pan Championship and the IBJJF World Championship in the middleweight division. The arc from brown belt runner-up at Worlds in 2019 to World Champion in 2024 encapsulates a career built through persistent international competition and incremental development across multiple teams, continents, and belt levels — a testament to the long-game mentality that has defined his rise.