Egan Inoue doesn't just pick up a new sport.

He wants to dominate it.

He felt that way when, at age 7, he started playing Little League in Manoa.

It wasn't enough to have fun. He wanted to win.

"I remember that was all I cared about," said Inoue, 41. "I had to be the first in the shuttle run, I had to do more sit-ups than everyone else."

A world champion in racquetball and jiu-jitsu, he also won a high-profile Superbrawl competition in mixed martial arts — then gave up extreme fighting in 2003. Today, his focus is teaching.

Inoue and his fiance, Marcia Damis, in November opened The Studio in Manoa Marketplace, where he teaches classes in kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, self-defense, and strength and conditioning.

He continues to train — sparring with jiu-jitsu instructors and boxing at the gym — every day.

Now his focus is on helping others achieve their fitness goals while spending more time with his three daughters.

His fitness goals have changed, too. But he'll never lose that competitive edge.

"I want to be limber and balance well when I'm 80," Inoue said, then smiled. "And I still want to be able to (defeat) younger guys."

EGAN INOUE

Age: 41

Profession: Instructor and co-owner of The Studio in Manoa Marketplace, former Superbrawl champion and professional racquetball player

Residence: Manoa

Weight: Fighting weight, 181 pounds

Height: 5-feet-8 1/2

Stays in shape by: Sparring, boxing, strength and conditioning exercises, and surfing

Fitness goal: "I want to be able to jump rope when I'm 80."

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.