Jinnosuke Kashimura

Jinnosuke Kashimura is a Japanese MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt whose competitive identity is built on a jiu-jitsu-first philosophy. Competing under the DEEP promotion in Japan, he holds the organization's interim bantamweight championship — a title that underscores his standing among the more accomplished MMA fighters active on the Japanese scene. His affiliation with IGLOO has been central to his development across both disciplines, shaping him equally as a grappler and as a fighter.

For Kashimura, jiu-jitsu is not a complement to his MMA career — it is the foundation of it. In his own words, "My backbone is jiu-jitsu," a declaration that reflects the deliberate priority he places on grappling fundamentals even as his professional trajectory has taken him deep into mixed martial arts. He represents a broader tradition among Japanese combat sports athletes who treat gi BJJ not as a supplementary pursuit but as a core discipline maintained in parallel with professional fighting.

Black Belt Promotion

Kashimura received his BJJ black belt in 2023, publicly crediting his teammates and coaches at IGLOO as essential to reaching that milestone. For roughly three years following the promotion, he did not compete in gi tournaments at the black belt level — making his entry into the 2026 JBJJF All Japan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship a meaningful return to the competitive mat.

Performance at the All Japan Championship

The 27th edition of the All Japan Championship took place at Tokyo Budokan's Grand Martial Arts Hall. Kashimura entered the Adult Black Belt Featherweight division, competing at under 154 lbs (70 kg). He advanced through his first two matches by submission, demonstrating the finishing instincts and composure of a seasoned MMA competitor translating his craft into a pure grappling format. His run ended against Kazuhiro Suzuki, who claimed his fourth consecutive All Japan title — a remarkable streak that established Suzuki as the definitive benchmark in the weight class. Kashimura finished tied for third place alongside Keito Oyanagi of ARTA.

Motivation and Sportsmanship

The motivation behind his tournament entry was, by his own account, as much philosophical as competitive. "I entered this tournament because I wanted to rediscover my beginner's mind," Kashimura explained — framing the appearance not as a detour from MMA but as a deliberate return to foundational principles. Following the event, he took to public channels to honor the champion, writing: "Congratulations to Suzuki on his fourth consecutive championship!" — a gesture consistent with the culture of mutual respect that defines high-level jiu-jitsu competition in Japan.