Koji Shibamoto (Tri-Force)

Koji Shibamoto

Koji Shibamoto is one of the top grapplers in jiu jitsu’s rooster weight division. A former competitor for Tokai University’s judo team, who also represented Japan at international judo tournaments, Koji Shibamoto turned his focus to BJJ in the mid 2000’s where, under the instruction of Master Mitsuyoshi Hayakawa, he became one of the most acknowledged Japanese fighters of his generation.

Koji Shibamoto Jiu Jitsu

Full Name: Koji Shibamoto

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Alexandre Paiva > Mitsuyoshi Hayakawa > Koji Shibamoto

Main Achievements:

• World Champion (2010 brown)
• European Open Champion (2012 black)
• Rickson Gracie Cup Champion (2011 black)
• Tokyo International Open Champion (2010 brown)
• All Japan Champion

Favourite Position/Technique: Bow & Arrow Choke

Weight Division: Peso Galo (57kg/126lbs)

Team/Association: Tri-Force

Koji Shibamoto Biography

Koji Shibamoto was born on August 23, 1980 in the Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He started practicing martial arts from a young age, being Judo his main sporting activity, where he became a Japan representative at an international level and one of Tokai University’s most prominent judo standouts. After graduating from university in Physical Education, Shibamoto spent some time working at a sports club and lost some of the focus in Judo. He decided he needed a new challenge in life, and in 2004 started looking for jiu jitsu academies where he could get the best instruction.

After seeing an instructional DVD by Mitsuyoshi Hayakawa, teaching his jiu jitsu techniques, Koji Shibamoto was truly impressed and chose to learn under Hayakawa, signing up for the Tri-Force gym. One year later, Shibamoto was already proving that he was a gifted athlete by winning the All Japan tournament in the blue belt division.

With time, Koji Shibamoto decided that jiu jitsu was his true calling and quit work to dedicate his full attention to jiu jitsu. His perseverance and work ethics paid off in a big way when, in 2010 Shibamoto won the World Jiu Jitsu Championship in the brown belt division, receiving shortly after the tournament (on the 19th of June, 2010) his well deserved black belt by the hands of his instructor Mitsuyoshi Hayakawa, an achievement he accomplished with little over 5 and ½ years of BJJ training.

Koji Shibamoto vs Todd Kalani Tanak

Koji Shibamoto vs Kazuyoshi Okamura

Koji Shibamoto vs Jordy Jean Peute