Kenta Iwamoto

Kenta Iwamoto is a Japanese submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Yusuke Honma, known for a judo-rooted standing game, body-lock pressure passing, and a high finishing rate on the international no-gi circuit. Born on February 13, 1997, in Shiroi, Chiba Prefecture, he spent most of his childhood in Japan aside from two formative periods abroad—New Jersey in the early 2000s (roughly 2002–2004) and Somerset, England, during high school—experiences that left him unusually comfortable competing and training across cultures.

Martial arts began with judo in junior high as an after-school activity. He competed seriously in that period, then stepped back from tournament judo in high school when his club was too small to train competitively. A jiu-jitsu instructional DVD borrowed for his younger brother’s ground work for judo changed his trajectory: Iwamoto and his training partners drilled the material at school and even tested techniques in judo matches. By the time he moved to Tokyo for university—already a judo black belt—he sought formal BJJ under Atsunori Hiruma, who awarded his blue belt.

Three years into structured jiu-jitsu he earned his purple belt from Tri-Force leader Mitsuyoshi Hayakawa and announced himself globally by winning the 2019 ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials at −66 kg. He progressively abandoned the gi to specialize in no-gi, returned to win the ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials again in 2022 and 2023 at −77 kg, and qualified repeatedly for the ADCC World Championships. After facing (and beating) Jozef Chen at the 2022 Trials, he accepted Chen’s invitation to prepare at B-Team in Austin, Texas, bonding with Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan, Ethan Crelinsten, and Nicky Rodriguez. He has since split time between B-Team in the United States and IGLOO (Igloo) partners in Japan, with additional training links including Chen’s Nomadic Grappling base in Shanghai.

Yusuke Honma promoted him to black belt on May 31, 2023. As a black belt he mixed ADCC path events with elite super fights and invitationals: Who’s Number One (including a match against Mica Galvão), the Craig Jones Invitational (2024) and CJI 2 (2025), Polaris, Emperor of the Mat (77 kg gold in 2024), and AIGA Trials gold (2024). At the 2025 ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials he reached the −77 kg final before dropping a decision to Izaak Michell. Outside the mats he studied experimental physics for six years at Waseda University—publishing academic work while drilling late-night sessions in Toyama Park when gyms closed—before committing full-time to grappling. He has released BJJ Fanatics instructionals (including Ninja Escapes and Samurai Foot Sweeps & Leg Trips) that codify his escape systems and judo-influenced trips.

In 2026 he made his ONE Championship submission grappling debut at ONE Fight Night 42 in Bangkok against two-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion Dante Leon—a rematch of their 2023 AIGA meeting—losing by unanimous decision in a 10-minute welterweight bout. He remains one of Japan’s most visible no-gi ambassadors: a three-time ADCC regional Trials champion, ADCC Worlds veteran, and analytical competitor whose game blends foot trips (sasae tsurikomi ashi, deashi harai), pressure top control, and opportunistic submissions from armbars to heel hooks.