Enson Inoue


Enson Inoue is a Japanese-American retired mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1995 until 2010, he fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championships, the UFC, Shooto, and Vale Tudo Japan. He is a former Shooto Heavyweight Champion. Inoue was featured in the documentary film Rites of Passage: The Rebirth of Combat Sports. He also appeared in the martial arts movie Redbelt.

Background

Born and raised in Hawaii as a first-generation American with Japanese parents, Inoue began practicing the martial arts hapkido and Taekwondo in order to defend himself from bullies. Inoue also played football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, ran in track and field, and also excelled in racquetball, alongside his brother Egan. At the age of 21, Inoue began learning Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Mixed martial arts career

Enson's achievements include a victory over UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, and giving Frank Shamrock one of his toughest matches. Enson had an exhibition match in Mudo Spirit on September 16, 2007.
Enson and his brother were awarded black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by John Lewis. He subsequently demoted himself to purple belt in July 2016 citing that BJJ has moved on since attaining his black belt. He also holds a yondan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and was a former College Wrestler. He won the Shooto Heavyweight Title against Joe Estes on October 12, 1997. Enson appeared in the 2008 martial arts film Redbelt as a cameo role.

Personal life

Enson, a Japanese American from Hawaii has a stepson and is the brother of Egan Inoue, a mixed martial artist and a two time racquetball World Champion player. He was married to the sister of Ultimate Fighting Championship Bantamweight fighter Norifumi Yamamoto in which he took in and trained Norifumi in mixed martial arts after an incident with the Yakuza. Enson has asserted that he is "not Yakuza" but admits to doing business with members of Yakuza.
Enson runs several MMA gyms located in Japan, Saipan, Palau and Guam under the name Purebred. He also has affiliated gyms located in Thailand, Canada and the USA.
In 2011, Enson travelled to northeast Japan to directly help the earthquake and tsunami victims in areas such as Fukushima.

Marijuana arrest

In October 2008, Inoue was arrested in Tokyo for marijuana possession and spent 28 days in prison before being released on November 14, 2008. The charges against him were eventually dropped.

Championships and accomplishments

Submission grappling record

KO PUNCHES