Yuki Nakai between Paiva and Carlson Junior. Photo: Publicity.
President of the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Confederation Yuki Nakai carries on with his hard work to popularize the sport in the country. In November, the one-time opponent of Rickson Gracie, in the late Japan Open MMA event, received some gentle art aces and attended the Copa Alliance in Tokyo.
“There were nearly 300 athletes and the level just gets better and better,” said Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva in praise. The Alliance teacher made the most of the tournament to conduct a series of seminars at the team’s branch in the country.
Another to show up in the Land of the Rising Sun was Carlson Gracie Junior, who has solid roots in the country and was kind enough to teach some expressions in the Japanese language to Gigi Paiva, “Junior is almost fluent in Japanese,” joked Gigi.
Nakai, in suit and tie, between Gigi and Carlson Junior, with the championship's staff. Photo: Publicity.