Rida Haisam

Rida Haisam was born on July 25, 1993, in Accra, Ghana. After spending his formative years in Ghana, he relocated to Tokyo, Japan, in 2009. In 2011, Haisam began his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey under the mentorship of Yamada Shigetaka, who guided him through each belt rank. This foundational training period established the technical base and competitive mindset that would define his future success.

On September 15, 2018, Rida Haisam received his black belt from Yuki Ishikawa, founder of Japan's prestigious Carpe Diem Academy. He quickly gained international attention at the Quintet: Grappling Team Survival Match II, where he impressively submitted four experienced black belts consecutively. His standout performance was instrumental in Carpe Diem Japan's victory at Quintet Fight Night 2 in 2018, marking him as a rising talent in the global grappling community.

In late 2020, Haisam relocated to the United States, initially training at Assembly Jiu-Jitsu in Detroit. Seeking elite-level training partners and advanced competitive strategies, he joined B-Team in Austin, Texas, in April 2023. This strategic move allowed him to refine his skills alongside some of the world's top grapplers, further elevating his tactical approach and competitive effectiveness.

At ADCC 2022, Rida Haisam delivered a remarkable performance by submitting legendary competitor Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu via armbar in the opening round. This technical achievement earned him FloGrappling's prestigious "Best Submission of the Year" award. Building upon this momentum, Haisam earned an invitation to the 2024 ADCC World Championships, where he secured victory in his opening match before exiting in the quarterfinals.

Haisam has consistently showcased dominance in IBJJF No-Gi tournaments. At the 2020 IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi, he captured double gold by winning both his weight class and the absolute division. He repeated this impressive accomplishment at the 2021 IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi. Additionally, he secured a silver medal in the Ultra-Heavyweight division at the 2022 IBJJF Pan-American No-Gi Championship, further solidifying his position among the elite competitors in the sport.

Rida Haisam is widely recognized for his athletic, submission-focused competition style. His approach emphasizes explosive takedowns, aggressive guard passing, and dynamic submission attacks. He frequently employs techniques such as armbars, kneebars, and innovative guard setups. At the 2021 WNO Championships, Haisam demonstrated this dynamic style, securing third place in the heavyweight division and reinforcing his reputation as an exciting and tactical competitor.

As one of the most accomplished African-born grapplers on the international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu circuit, Rida Haisam has significantly increased visibility for competitors from Ghana and across Africa. His pioneering achievements have inspired a new generation of African grapplers, contributing to the sport's growth and development throughout the continent.