Tomoyuki Hashimoto

Tomoyuki Hashimoto was born on April 20, 1993, in Tokushima, located on Japan's Shikoku Island. His first exposure to martial arts occurred at age six, briefly practicing Shorinji Kempo. After a ten-year hiatus, Hashimoto returned to martial arts at sixteen, joining Takahito Yoshioka's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class. Initially drawn to grappling through his passion for mixed martial arts (MMA), he quickly embraced BJJ as his primary discipline.

Under instructor Takahito Yoshioka's mentorship, Hashimoto advanced steadily through the ranks, earning his blue, purple, and brown belts. His standout performance at the 2015 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a brown belt culminated in a gold medal, prompting his promotion to black belt. On September 19, 2015, Hashimoto received his black belt directly on the podium from Yuki Nakai, president of the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu Federation, marking a significant milestone in his competitive journey.

Hashimoto achieved a historic milestone for Japanese Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by becoming one of the first Japanese male black belts to claim a major IBJJF title on U.S. soil. At the 2018 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, he captured gold in the roosterweight division, solidifying his international presence. He further cemented his elite status by defeating reigning world champion Thalison Soares at the 2020 IBJJF European Open Championship, earning gold in the light-featherweight division and validating his position among the world's best competitors.

Dynamic Guard and Footlock Mastery

Widely recognized for his dynamic guard play and precise footlock attacks, Hashimoto developed a signature straight ankle lock from the de la Riva guard. Inspired by studying setups from renowned competitor Caio Terra, Hashimoto refined this technique, famously utilizing it to secure submission victories, notably at the All-Japan Championship. His innovative approach to guard systems and submission entries distinguishes him as a technical innovator within the competitive BJJ community.

Hashimoto's competitive career features memorable battles against elite opponents. He reached the finals of the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship in consecutive years, narrowly missing gold in razor-close matches against Caio Terra (one-advantage loss in 2017) and João Miyao (referee's decision in 2018). Additionally, at Quintet Fight Night 5 (2020), Hashimoto showcased his creativity and technical versatility against legendary leg-lock specialist Masakazu Imanari. Throughout the match, Hashimoto dominated exchanges with relentless back-take attempts, reverse triangles, and armbar attacks, ultimately resulting in a draw.

As head instructor at Carpe Diem BJJ Hiroo in Tokyo, Hashimoto plays a pivotal role in mentoring students within one of Japan's premier competition teams. His commitment to technical excellence extends internationally through regular cross-training sessions, notably under Caio Terra in the United States. This global exposure significantly contributes to Hashimoto's technical growth, enabling him to impart advanced knowledge and strategic insights to his students.