1. Enson Shoji Inoue is a Japanese-Hawaiian jiu-jitsu practitioner and retired professional mixed martial artist.
19 Facts About Enson Inoue
1. 2.
Enson Inoue was the first and only Shooto Heavyweight Champion, and was a finalist in the Lightweight category at UFC 13.
3.
Enson Inoue was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, to third-generation Japanese immigrant parents Errol and Evangeline Enson Inoue, making him a Yonsei.
4.
Enson Inoue attended University High School, and began practicing the martial arts hapkido and taekwondo in order to defend himself from bullies.
5.
Enson Inoue played football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, ran in track and field, and excelled in racquetball, alongside his brother Egan.
6.
Enson Inoue demoted himself to purple belt in July 2016 citing that the sport has moved on since attaining his black belt, though he would change his mind after conversations with Lewis.
7.
Enson Inoue holds a yondan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
8.
Enson Inoue was given a tryout by Satoru Sayama for Shooto after contacting every Japanese MMA promotion he could.
9.
Enson Inoue sparred with Yuki Nakai, impressing Sayama and earning his first fight which took place three months later.
10.
Enson Inoue won the Shooto Heavyweight Champion against Joe Estes at Shooto: Reconquista 4, on October 12,1997.
11.
Enson Inoue has affiliated gyms located in Thailand, Canada and the USA.
12.
Enson Inoue appeared in the 2008 martial arts film Redbelt as a cameo role, and was featured in the documentary film Rites of Passage: The Rebirth of Combat Sports.
13.
Enson Inoue has a stepson and is the brother of Egan Enson Inoue, a mixed martial artist and a two time racquetball World Champion player.
14.
Enson Inoue was married to the sister of Ultimate Fighting Championship Bantamweight fighter Norifumi Yamamoto.
15.
Enson Inoue took in and trained Norifumi in mixed martial arts after an incident with the yakuza.
16.
Enson Inoue has asserted that he is "not yakuza" but admits to doing business with members of yakuza.
17.
Enson Inoue is married to Sarah Jane McCann, who is from New Zealand of Maori descent.
18.
In October 2008, Enson Inoue was arrested in Tokyo for marijuana possession and spent 28 days in prison before being released on November 14,2008.
19.
Enson Inoue was eventually given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to serve four years probation.