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Zach Kaina

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Zachary Kaima’alili Kaina-Kokubun, commonly known as Zach Kaina, is a professional jiu-jitsu athlete and a black belt under Guilherme Mendes, who represents team Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ) in the sport’s international circuit. Kaina is widely regarded as one of the top competitors of his generation, a reputation he earned while competing in the colored belt divisions of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) league, where he earned numerous important medals before being promoted to the pro level.

Zach Kaina Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Zachary Kaima’alili Kaina-Kokubun

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Carlos Gracie Carlson Gracie > André Pederneiras > Ramon Lemos > Guilherme Mendes > Zach Kaina

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2024)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2023)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2022)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2022 brown)
  • 1st Place IBJJF American Nationals (2020 purple)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2022 brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2022 brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2021 purple)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship NOGI (2022 brown)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2020* / 2021 purple)

Main Achievements (Juvenile):

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NOGI (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2018** / 2019)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2018)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2019*)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2019)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2019)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2019*)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2019)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2019*)

* Absolute
** Weight and Absolute

Favorite Position/Technique: Well Rounded

Weight Division: Peso Pluma (64,00 kg / 141.5 lbs)

Team/Association: Art Of Jiu-Jitsu (AOJ)

Zach Kaina Biography

Zach Kaina was born on May 23, 2002, in Oahu, Hawaii, USA, where he spent his early childhood, prior to his move to California at the age of 10.

The introduction to martial arts came by way of karate at the age of 5, a short-lived experience as Kaina did not find the striking-based combat style appealing. Being from Hawaii, Zach’s family was well aware of BJ Penn – a famous Hawaiian, former two-weight class champion of the UFC, and the first American athlete to win an IBJJF World title in the adult black belt division. So, when little Kaina fell out of interest in karate, his mom was quick to add him to a local jiu-jitsu school.

As a 6-year-old, Zach Kaina began his grappling tuition under the guidance of Mike and Chris Onzuka of team O2 (and later adding Kyle Nitahara), receiving all belts up to orange in Hawaii.

Already fully embedded in jiu-jitsu culture, by the age of 10, Zach moved to Costa Mesa, California (along with his family) to train at the Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy (AOJ) under the Believe & Achieve kids program, one of the sport’s most accomplished curriculums.

Zach Kaina arrived at AOJ as an orange belt, quickly becoming one of coach Guilherme Mendes’ top performers. Kaina went from the orange belt all the way to a professional level with AOJ, receiving his black belt on December 09, 2023, from the hands of Guilherme Mendes.

Zach Kaina Grappling Record

34 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    10 (29%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    5 (15%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    13 (38%)
  • BY DECISION
    5 (15%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    1 (3%)

13 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Choke from back
31
4
#86e620
Triangle
23
3
#5AD3D1
No arm triangle
8
1
#d1212a
Inside heel hook
8
1
#fad11b
Lateral kneebar
8
1
#f58822
Straight ankle lock
8
1
#224aba
Toe hold
8
1
#ff9124
Smother tap
8
1
13
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
21 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    9 (43%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    8 (38%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    1 (5%)
  • BY DECISION
    3 (14%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    0 (0%)

1 SUBMISSION LOSSES

#214eb8
Choke from back
100
1
1
(100%) SUBMISSION

Zach Kaina Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
38076Keven CarrascoKeven CarrascoLPts: 2x2, AdvDallas Open64KGF2023
38145Keven CarrascoKeven CarrascoLPts: 2x0LA Open64KGF2023
38600Diogo ReisDiogo ReisLPts: 2x2, AdvPan American64KGSF2023
39307Isaac DoederleinIsaac DoederleinLChoke from backSanta Cruz O70KGF2023
40497Malachi EdmondMalachi EdmondLPts: 2x0World Champ.64KG8F2023
41434Roiter LimaRoiter LimaLReferee DecisionAmerican Nats64KGSF2023
42530Daiki YonekuraLReferee DecisionAIGA65KGRR2023
42544S. MagomedLPointsAIGA65KGRR2023
44215Keven CarrascoKeven CarrascoLPts: 0x0, AdvOC Open64KGF2023
45194Kennedy MacielKennedy MacielLPts: 2x0Sacramento Open70KGF2023
45213Kennedy MacielKennedy MacielLPointsSacramento OpenABSSF2023
45886Junny OcasioJunny OcasioLPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi World61KGF2023
46566Tomoyuki HashimotoTomoyuki HashimotoLPts: 0x0, AdvEuropean Open64KGR12024
48101Pedro DiasPedro DiasLPts: 2x2, AdvPan American64KGR12024
49159Joao MendesJoao MendesLPts: 0x0, AdvOC Open70KGF2024
50441Keven CarrascoKeven CarrascoLReferee DecisionWorld Champ.64KG4F2024
53592Eduardo GranzottoEduardo GranzottoLPts: 3x3ADGS DLS69KGR12024
56600Rerisson GabrielRerisson GabrielLPts: 2x0European Open64KG8F2025
57901Diogo ReisDiogo ReisLPts: 8x8, AdvPan Champ.64KG4F2025
59347Joao MendesJoao MendesLPts: 2x0SDiego SPO76KGSF2025
59667Leonardo MarioLeonardo MarioLPts: 2x0World Champ.64KG8F2025
37770Joao SoeiroWReferee DecisionAtlanta WO64KGSF2023
38075Pedro DiasPedro DiasWPts: 0x0, AdvDallas Open64KGSF2023
38142Matheus AzancotWTriangleLA Open64KG4F2023
38143Roiter LimaRoiter LimaWPts: 2x2, AdvLA Open64KGSF2023
38592Roiter LimaRoiter LimaWChoke from backPan American64KG8F2023
38596Malachi EdmondMalachi EdmondWNo arm trianglePan American64KG4F2023
39305Thiago CalixtoWChoke from backSanta Cruz O70KGSF2023
40488Ivan JenningsWTriangleWorld Champ.64KGR12023
41433Vinny SaenzWReferee DecisionAmerican Nats64KG4F2023
42537Khalid AsildarovWInside heel hookAIGA65KGRR2023
45210Antonio ZuazoWN/ASacramento OpenABS4F2023
45874Bebeto OliveiraWLateral kneebarNoGi World61KGR12023
45880Leo SouzaWReferee DecisionNoGi World61KG4F2023
45884Rodnei BarbosaRodnei BarbosaWPts: 0x0, AdvNoGi World61KGSF2023
47403Jamil Hill-TaylorJamil Hill-TaylorWPts: 4x4, AdvIBJJF NGGP70KGSPF2024
49158Owen SabroeWN/AOC Open70KGSF2024
50202Pedro SerranoPedro SerranoWPts: 2x0SDiego SPO64KGRR2024
50428Michael MehlWChoke from backWorld Champ.64KGR12024
50436Tomoyuki HashimotoTomoyuki HashimotoWStraight ankle lockWorld Champ.64KG8F2024
51150Mohammad IhmoudWToe holdAmerican Nats70KG4F2024
51152Marco MendesMarco MendesWDQAmerican Nats70KGSF2024
51154Mourece NoahWPts: 4x2American Nats70KGF2024
52718Isaiah MadridWSmother tapJJ CON70KGR22024
52727Kazuhiro SuzukiWTriangleJJ CON70KG4F2024
52729Ismael SantosIsmael SantosWPts: 2x2, AdvJJ CON70KGSF2024
52731Augusto PereiraWPts: 9x2JJ CON70KGF2024
56050Frank CespedesFrank CespedesWPts: 6x4World NoGi61KGR12024
56053Isaac CordovaWPts: 7x4World NoGi61KG4F2024
56057Shoya IshiguroWReferee DecisionWorld NoGi61KGSF2024
56058Marcos GomesMarcos GomesWPts: 4x2World NoGi61KGF2024
56932Isaac CordovaWReferee DecisionWNO 2665KGSPF2025
57620Warly AntonioWN/ALA W Open64KGSF2025
57622Roiter LimaRoiter LimaWPointsLA W Open64KGF2025
59345Omri HavivWChoke from backSDiego SPO76KG4F2025
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