Nakamura had trained in various martial arts, among them
Boxing,
Kung Fu and Kansui-ryu
Karate, until February 1984 when he enrolled at the Tiger Gym of
Satoru Sayama. In November 1985, he became a full-time staff member of Sayama's gym. He trained in Sayama's style of Shootfighting and in June 1986, he competed at the tournament celebrated in the first
Shooto event. He won the first fight by decision, the second by
rear naked choke, the third by
keylock and the last by
pillow hold, winning the tournament. In January 1989, Nakamura went to the
United States and became a student of
Dan Inosanto in Jeet Kune Do, Filipino martial arts, and silat. ==Notable students==