Yigit Hanay

Yigit Hanay was born on August 30, 1999, in Turkey, and built his athletic identity on the grappling arts from an early age. Beginning judo at age 10, Hanay immersed himself in the sport throughout his youth and junior years, competing extensively and developing the technical discipline that would define his later career. His dedication produced four Istanbul City Championship titles — a testament to his competitive drive and physical aptitude at the regional level — before he earned his judo black belt and established elite-level grappling credentials.

The judo foundation proved formative in ways that extended well beyond standing exchanges. It sharpened his instincts for takedowns, balance, and body control, embedding a structural awareness of leverage and weight distribution that would continue to inform his no-gi grappling as his career evolved.

Hanay's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey began in 2016 when, at 16 years old, he enrolled at a local Istanbul academy affiliated with Carlson Gracie Junior, training under coach Cağlar Yazman. Under Yazman's guidance, he progressed steadily through the white, blue, and purple belt ranks, constructing a well-rounded technical base during those foundational years.

Transition to the Renzo Gracie Lineage

Upon reaching purple belt, Hanay made a pivotal move, transitioning to train under Arturo Wesson, a black belt within the Renzo Gracie lineage. Wesson directed greater focus toward no-gi and submission grappling — an area where Hanay would go on to distinguish himself internationally. The partnership proved transformative: on December 7, 2023, Wesson formally promoted Hanay to black belt, recognizing the years of growth and competitive achievement that had brought him to that milestone.

Building the Renzo Gracie Brand in Turkey

Beyond his own competitive development, Hanay established a Renzo Gracie Academy franchise in Istanbul, becoming a representative of the Renzo Gracie brand in Turkey. His work on the mat and in the gym contributes to the growth of the sport in a region where high-level jiu-jitsu infrastructure remains relatively nascent.

Hanay's performance on the international stage as a brown belt stands among the most significant achievements in Turkish grappling history. At the 2023 IBJJF World No-Gi Championship, he navigated a demanding bracket and reached the final, where he submitted Kauan Prado Batista via rear naked choke to claim the gold medal. The victory marked a landmark moment — a Turkish competitor claiming a world title at one of the sport's most prestigious no-gi events, at a time when Turkey had little prior history of success at that level.

Consistent Dominance Across Major Events

Hanay's brown belt campaign extended beyond a single performance. He also captured the title at the 2023 IBJJF European No-Gi Championship, demonstrating consistent dominance across multiple major events within the same competitive cycle. Together, the two titles reflected the depth of his preparation and confirmed that his emergence was a product of sustained development rather than circumstance.

Following his promotion to black belt, Hanay returned to the world stage and earned a bronze medal at the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi World Championship, competing against the sport's elite senior division. The result affirmed his capacity to perform at the highest level as he continued the transition into black belt competition.

Alongside his IBJJF performances, Hanay has built a consistent record within the ADCC submission wrestling framework, where the competition draws from a broader and more diverse pool of grapplers across rulesets. At the 2023 ADCC European Trials, he earned a bronze medal, announcing himself as a genuine contender on the submission grappling circuit and demonstrating that his no-gi credentials extended well beyond the IBJJF structure.

Reaching the Final in Zagreb

Hanay returned to the ADCC European Trials circuit in June 2024, competing in Zagreb and advancing all the way to the final before falling to Gairbeg Ibragimov, ultimately securing a silver medal. The result represented a clear step forward from his 2023 performance, with Hanay proving capable of reaching the final of one of Europe's most competitive no-gi qualification events.

The back-to-back medals across the 2023 and 2024 ADCC European Trials cycles reflect a trajectory of consistent improvement and competitive durability. Competing at featherweight — the 70 kg division — Hanay has established himself as one of the top European no-gi grapplers in his weight class within the ADCC framework, representing Turkey at a level rarely seen from the region.