Wanki Chae

Wanki Chae was born on June 25, 1987, in Pocheon, a small city situated approximately one hour from Seoul, South Korea. Growing up in a country that stands as the birthplace of both hapkido and taekwondo, Chae was immersed in martial arts culture from an early age. At 14, he committed fully to both disciplines, pursuing each with exceptional dedication and ultimately earning a 4th degree black belt in each — a foundation that would shape every phase of his competitive development.

Chae's introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came at age 15 through a hapkido training partner who was, at the time, one of the very few BJJ blue belts in all of South Korea. The encounter proved transformative. Chae was immediately drawn to BJJ's problem-solving depth and technical precision, recognizing in the art something fundamentally distinct from the striking and standing-grappling systems he had already mastered. His move into jiu-jitsu was not a departure from his martial roots but a natural extension of them.

As Chae's commitment to BJJ deepened, he became a student of John Frankl, a pioneering American black belt widely credited with establishing one of South Korea's first structured grappling programs. Training under Frankl placed Chae at the center of the sport's early development in the country — an environment that demanded self-reliance and exceptional drive given the limited BJJ infrastructure available at the time.

From the outset, Chae trained full time, a decision that reflected his ambition and his belief in his own potential. The discipline forged through years of hapkido and taekwondo translated directly into his BJJ development, allowing him to progress rapidly within Frankl's system. On June 13, 2014, John Frankl awarded Chae his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — a milestone that marked both a personal achievement and a landmark moment for South Korean grappling. Chae moved swiftly onto Asia's professional circuit following his promotion, confirming the elite potential he had worked years to build.

Competitive Identity and Style

Wanki Chae competes in the Peso Pena weight class (70 kg / 154.5 lbs) and has built his reputation on a distinctly submission-oriented game. Where many competitors prioritize points and advantages, Chae hunts finishes — a philosophy that has defined his identity as one of the first elite-level grapplers to emerge from South Korea onto the world stage. His finishing instinct is not incidental; it reflects a deliberate competitive approach rooted in his belief that dominant grappling should end matches, not just score them.

International Results and Career Highlights

Chae's international record reflects sustained excellence across multiple high-level circuits. In 2015, he claimed gold at the IBJJF London Fall Open and earned silver at the IBJJF American Nationals. The following year brought a first-place finish at the Rickson Cup in 2016, alongside a runner-up result at the IBJJF Asian Open. In 2017, Chae delivered one of his most significant performances, taking first place at the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Tokyo — a result that firmly established his standing among Asia's top competitors. His 2018 campaign added further international hardware, including gold at the 2018 IBJJF London Winter Open and silver finishes at both the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro and the UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam London.

The breadth of Chae's success across the IBJJF, UAEJJF, and Rickson Cup circuits speaks to a consistency few South Korean athletes had achieved before him. His career stands as a testament to what full-time commitment, elite coaching, and a submission-focused competitive philosophy can produce — even in a country where BJJ infrastructure was still in its formative stages when he first stepped onto the mat.