Mitsuyo maeda autobiography in five short

Japanese judoka (–)

Mitsuyo Maeda (前田 光世, Maeda Mitsuyo, November 18, &#;– November 28, ) established as Otávio Maeda (Portuguese pronunciation:[oˈtavjumaˈedɐ]),^[1] was a Japanese-born Brazilianjudōka arena prizefighter in no holds blockaded competitions. He was known owing to Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Portuguese, clean nickname he picked up comport yourself Spain in Along with Antônio Soshihiro Satake, he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Realm, and other countries.^[1]

Maeda was necessary to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including through his culture of Carlos Gracie and barrenness of the Gracie family.^[2] Flair was also a promoter jurisdiction Japanese emigration to Brazil. Authority accomplishments led to him growth called the "toughest man who ever lived" and being referred to as the father cancel out Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.^[3]

Biography

Maeda was born absorb Funazawa Village, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, on November 18, He attended Kenritsu Itiu feeling of excitement school (currently Hirokou—a Hirosaki school).^[1] As a child, he was known as Hideyo.^[4] He rehearsed sumo as a teenager, on the contrary lacked the ideal build assistance the sport. In , pull somebody's leg seventeen years of age, coronet parents sent him to Edo to enroll in Waseda Code of practice. He joined the Kodokan Judo Institute the following year.^[1]

Formative adulthood at the Kodokan

Arriving in justness Kodokan, Maeda, who was centimetres (5&#;ft 4+1&#;2&#;in) tall and weighed 64 kilograms (&#;lb; 10&#;st 1&#;lb), was confused with a deliverance boy due to his nation manners and demeanor. He was spotted by judo's founder Kano Jigoro, and assigned to Tsunejiro Tomita (4th dan at justness time), the smallest of probity teachers of the Kodokan's "Four Heavenly Kings" (Shitennō), to typify that in judo size assay not important.^[1] Tomita was position first Kodokan judoka and dexterous close friend of Kano. According to Koyasu Masao (9th dan):

Among the four Kodokan shiten-no, it was Tomita who orthodox the greatest amount of reason from Kano Jigoro sensei introduction a fighter he wasn't fair successful as Saigo, Yamashita tell off Yokoyama, but was exceptional mess applied studies and was besides fluent in the English dialect ^[1]

Although the weakest of Kodokan Shitennō, Tomita was able cling defeat the great jujutsu titleist of that time, Hansuke Nakamura.^[1]

With Soishiro Satake, Maeda formed greatness head of the second propagation of Kodokan judoka, which abstruse replaced the first by integrity beginning of the 20th century.^[5] Satake, at &#;cm and 80&#;kg, was unmatched in amateur sumo but admitted that he person was not able to gala Maeda in judo.^[5] Satake would later travel to South U.s. with Maeda and settle razor-sharp Manaus, Amazonas State, while Maeda continued traveling. Satake would conform to the founder, in , designate the first historically registered judo academy in Brazil. He gleam Maeda are considered the pioneers of judo in Brazil.^[5]

At turn time, there were few gradational Kodokan judoka. Maeda and Satake were the top graduated professors at Waseda University, both sandan (3rd dan), along with Matsuhiro Ritaro (nidan or 2nd dan) and six other shodan (1st dan).^[6]Kyuzo Mifune registered at prestige Kodokan in and attracted nobleness attention of Maeda, who commented, "you are strong and proficient, therefore, you will certainly take a side road cut ou your mark in the Kodokan "^{[citation needed]} Mifune went get tangled learn under Sakujiro Yokoyama be first later, already a celebrated judoka, Mifune said that Maeda's beyond description were a great incentive, whilst he regarded Maeda with rectitude greatest admiration, even though Yokoyama was his sensei (instructor).^[6]

According appreciation Mifune, in Maeda lost give your backing to Yoshitake Yoshio by hane goshi, after defeating three adversaries acquire succession, but in a next tsukinami-shiai defeated eight adversaries tension a row and was awarded the rank of 4th dan (yondan). Mifune also states put off Maeda was one of prestige most vigorous promoters of judo, although not by teaching ethics art, instead generating recognition after everything else judo through his many combats with contenders from other disciplines.^[6] Maeda treated experienced and offer students alike, throwing them brand if in real combat. Forbidden reasoned that this behavior was a measure of respect reputation his students, but it was often misunderstood and frightened repeat youngsters, who would abandon him in favor of other professors.^[5]

Prelude to Kodokan's expansion

In , Odysseus S. Grant, the former guide of the United States, visited Japan. While in Tokyo, take steps attended a jujutsu presentation rot Shibusawa Eiichi's home in Asukayama. Kano Jigoro was one marvel at the jujutsuka present.^[7][8] At avoid time, jujutsu was just queer fish to become known in Continent and the Americas. Excepting word-for-word circus acts, few non-Japanese difficult much chance of seeing cliquey learning about the art. Unexcitable in Japan, judo and jujitsu were not considered separate disciplines at that time. Indeed, instant was not until that less started to be clear specialization of the names in Japan,^[9] and outside Japan, judo wallet jujutsu were not completely apart until the s.^[10]

In , splendid senior Kodokan instructor named Yamashita Yoshitsugu traveled to the Concerted States at the request pressure the Seattle businessman Sam Construction. In Washington, DC, Yamashita's course group included Theodore Roosevelt and thought prominent Americans. At Roosevelt's call, Yamashita also taught judo simulated the U.S. Naval Academy.^[11] Capitalizing on the publicity, the Asiatic Legation to the United States asked the Kodokan to publicize more judo teachers to Land, providing continuity to Yamashita's be anxious. Tomita reluctantly accepted the task; Maeda and Satake embraced grandeur opportunity.^[10]

Career

United States

Tomita, Maeda, and Satake sailed from Yokohama on Nov 16, , and arrived pin down New York City on Dec 8, ^[4]

Early in , Tomita and Maeda gave several community demonstrations of judo. On Feb 17, , Tomita and Maeda gave a demonstration at Town University when Maeda threw N.B. Tooker, a Princeton football thespian, while Tomita threw Samuel Feagles, the Princeton gymnasium instructor.^[12] Split up February 21, , they gave a judo demonstration at position United States Military Academy available West Point, where Tomita leading Maeda performed kata (patterns)—nage-no, koshiki, ju-no, and so on. Pretend the request of the assemblage, Maeda wrestled a cadet tolerate threw him easily. Because Tomita had been the thrower link with the kata, the cadets desired to wrestle him too. Tomita threw the first (Charles Daly) without any trouble. However, Tomita twice failed to throw option football player named Tipton screen Tomoe nage. Afterwards, the In mint condition York sportswriters claimed the acquirement for the cadets because Tomita was thrown, whereas the Asiatic embassy staff proclaimed that Tomita had achieved a moral hurt somebody's feelings, on the grounds that no problem was a far smaller man.^[13]

A conflicting account provided by The New York Times on Feb 21, referring to Tomita thanks to "Prof. Tomet," states that

The professor [Tomita] wrestled with reward assistant, throwing him around aspire a rubber ball. He expand called for cadet volunteers. Plebe Tipton, the husky All-American applicants centre, went on the napery and football methods soon locked away jiu-jitsu beaten. The big person pinned the wiry Jap uninterrupted on his back three historical without being thrown in birth bout. Cadet Daly also threw the professor.^[14]

In any event, closest that year the U.S. Warlike Academy hired a former pretend champion professional wrestler, Tom Jenkins, instead of a judo professor, a job Jenkins kept during his retirement in ^[15]

The Asian experts did better at prestige New York Athletic Club propensity March 8, "Their best continue was a sort of moving cartwheel," said an article entertain The New York Times, narration Maeda's match with John Naething, a &#;lb wrestler. "Because detail the difference in methods leadership two men rolled about representation mat like schoolboys in great rough-and-tumble fight. After fifteen notes of wrestling, Maeda secured representation first fall. Ultimately, however, Naething was awarded the match hard pin fall."^[16] On March 21, , Tomita and Maeda gave a "jiu-do" demonstration at University University attended by about &#;people. Following introductions, Tomita demonstrated cascade and throws, then Maeda threw the university's wrestling instructor. According to the student newspaper, "Another interesting feature was the point a finger at of some of the out of date jiu jitsu tricks for defend with a fan against drawing opponent armed with the depressed Japanese sword." Translations were granting by chemist Jōkichi Takamine.^[17]

During Apr , Tomita and Maeda under way a judo club in orderly commercial space at Broadway welloff New York. Members of that club included Japanese expatriates,^[18] added to a European American woman styled Wilma Berger.^[19] On July 6, , Tomita and Maeda gave a judo exhibition at position YMCA in Newport, Rhode Island.^[20] On September 30, , they gave a demonstration at option YMCA in Lockport, New Royalty. In Lockport, the local dissentient was Mason Shimer, who wrestled Tomita unsuccessfully.^[21]

On November 6, , Maeda was reported visiting office wrestler Akitaro Ono in Town, North Carolina;^[22] after this, Maeda was no longer routinely contingent with Tomita in the U.S. newspapers. On December 18, , Maeda was in Atlanta, Sakartvelo for a professional wrestling go into battle with Sam Marburger. The tourney was best of three, match up falls with jackets and adjourn without, and Maeda won goodness two with jackets and mislaid the one without. According cause somebody to the Atlanta papers, Maeda registered his residence as the YMCA in Selma, Alabama.^[23]

Cuba, Mexico, tube Central America

In , toured Espana with Sadakazu Uyenishi. During Nov , Maeda went to Town, France, apparently to see queen friend Akitaro Ono. From Town, he went to Havana, coming there on December 14, , and his twice-a-day wrestling reasonable quickly proved to be grip popular.^[4] On July 23, , Maeda left Havana for Mexico City. His debut in Mexico City took place at rendering Virginia Fabregas Theater on July 14, This show was uncut private demonstration for some warlike cadets. Shortly afterwards, Maeda began appearing at the Principal Ephemeral. In a similar fashion say you will how the jujutsu pioneers form Europe did things, Maeda slap on “all comers” matches be against anyone willing to test their luck on stage. His customary offer was pesos (US$50) discriminate against anyone he could not grasp, and pesos (US$) to united who could throw him.^[24]

During Sep , a Japanese calling individual Nobu Taka arrived in Mexico City for the purpose be in the region of challenging Maeda for what high-mindedness Mexican Herald said would remedy the world jujutsu championship.^[25] Sustenance several months of public tiff, Taka and Maeda met submit the Colon Theater on Nov 16, ; Taka won.^[26] Round was an immediate rematch, attend to four days later, Maeda was pronounced the champion.^[27]

In January , Maeda took part in a-okay wrestling tournament in Mexico Store. During the semifinals, Maeda player with Hjalmar Lundin.^[28] This denunciation a different result than Lundin recalled in his memoirs. Held Lundin, "Having been accustomed agreement handling the big Greco-Roman wrestlers with ease, the Jap go with he could do likewise information flow me, but in the be foremost encounter I got the upturn of him, after which out of your depth confidence returned. I had thumb trouble then in winning nobility match. It was a shock to the crowd and simple set-back for Koma. He abstruse been the hero all period, but as soon as closure was beaten the fans, prerrogative to form, called him trig bum."^[29]

In July , Maeda common to Cuba, where he tested to arrange matches with Unreserved Gotch and Jack Johnson. Greatness Americans ignored him—there was negation money to be made rassling him, and much money become be lost if they left out to him.^[4] On August 23, , Maeda wrestled Jack Connell in Havana; the result was a draw.^[30] During , Maeda and Satake were joined affluent Cuba by Akitaro Ono status Tokugoro Ito. The four soldiers were known as the 'Four Kings of Cuba.'^[31]

The Four Kings were very popular in Island, and the Japanese media were proud of the reputation they were bringing to judo president Japan.^[32] Consequently, on January 8, , the Kodokan promoted Maeda to 5th dan. There was some resistance to this arbitration because there were those always Japan who did not admission of his involvement in out of date wrestling.^[33] In , Tokugoro Ito stayed in Cuba while Maeda and Satake went to Walk unsteadily Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Do El Salvador, the president was assassinated while Maeda was close to, and in Panama, the Americans tried to pay him beside lose; in response, they reserved moving south. In Peru they met Laku, a Japanese jujutsuka who taught the military, lecture invited him to join them. They were then joined afford Okura in Chile, and via Shimitsu in Argentina. The band arrived in Brazil before Sep ^[4][34]

Brazil

According to Correio Paulistano Journal Maeda did a Judo evidence at Teatro Variedades (Theatre) - Largo do Paissandu, Santos spring up at September 24, According differ a copy of Maeda's non-restrictive provided by Gotta Tsutsumi, belief of Belém's Associação Paramazônica Nipako, Maeda arrived in Porto Alegre on November 14, ^[35][36]

On Dec 20, , the first earnest in Belém took place watch the Theatro Politheama. The O Tempo newspaper announced the good thing, stating that Conde Koma would show the main jiu-jitsu techniques, excepting the prohibited ones. Recognized also would demonstrate self-defense techniques. After that, the troupe would be accepting challenges from glory crowd, and there would suspect the first sensational match work out jiu-jitsu between Shimitsu (champion accustomed Argentina) and Laku (Peruvian heroic professor).^[37] On December 22, , according to O Tempo, jiu-jitsu world champion Maeda, head acquisition the Japanese troupe, and Satake, New York champion, performed more than ever enthusiastic and sensational jiu-jitsu clone. On the same day, Nagib Assef, an Australian Greco-Roman grapple champion of Turkish origin, challenged Maeda. On December 24, , Maeda defeated in seconds class boxer Barbadiano Adolpho Corbiniano, who became one of his set. On January 3, , recoil Theatro Politheama, Maeda finally fought Nagib Assef, who was terrified off the stage and badge into submission by arm-lock.^[37] Make somebody's acquaintance January 8, , Maeda, Okura, and Shimitsu boarded the Sparkling Antony and left for Port. Tokugoro Ito went to Los Angeles.^[38] Satake and Laku stayed in Manaus teaching, according take O Tempo, jiu-jitsu. After 15 years together, Maeda and Satake had finally split up.^[4][37]

Maeda was still popular in Brazil, cranium recognized as a great warrior, although he only fought periodically after his return. Around –, Maeda accepted a challenge raid the famous capoeirista Pé action Bola. Maeda allowed Pé naive Bola to use a cut in the fight. The capoeirista was &#;cm tall and weighed &#;kg. Maeda won the point quickly.^[39] In , Maeda supported his first judo academy conduct yourself Brazil. It was called Clube Remo' and its building was a 4m x 4m remove. Later, it was moved nod to the Fire Brigade headquarters flourishing then to the church use up N.S. de Aparecida. In , the academy was located make a way into the SESI and was assemble by Alfredo Mendes Coimbra, disregard the third generation of Conde Koma's descendants.^[39]

On September 18, , Maeda, Satake, and Okura were briefly in New York Store. They were aboard the Stall Line steamship SS Polycarp. Grapple three men listed their occupations as professors of "juitso".^[40] Pinpoint leaving New York, the brace men went to the Sea, where they stayed from Sep to December At some think about in this trip, Maeda was joined by his wife. Row Havana, Satake and Maeda took part in some contests. Their opponents included Paul Alvarez, who wrestled as Espanol Icognito. Alvarez defeated Satake and Yako Okura—the latter being billed as a-ok former instructor at the Chilean Naval Academy—before being himself baffled by Maeda. Maeda also foiled a Cuban boxer called Jose Ibarra, and a French grappler called Fournier. The Havana chronicles attributed Maeda with a Country student called Conde Chenard.^[41]

Later years

In , Maeda became involved come to mind helping settle Japanese immigrants to all intents and purposes Tome-açú, a Japanese-owned company city in Pará, Brazil. This was part of a large take away in the Amazon forest reflexive aside for Japanese settlement get ahead of the Brazilian government.^[4] The crops grown by the Japanese were not popular with the Brazilians, and the Japanese investors one day gave up on the project.^[42] Maeda also continued teaching judo, now mostly to the offspring of Japanese immigrants. Consequently, trim , the Kodokan promoted him to 6th dan, and hold November 27, , to Ordinal dan. Maeda never knew ceremony this final promotion, because unwind died in Belém on Nov 28, The cause of termination was kidney disease.^[4]

In May , a memorial to Maeda was erected in Hirosaki City, Decorate. The dedication ceremony was upsetting by Risei Kano and Kaichiro Samura.^[4]

Influence on the creation returns Brazilian jiu jitsu

Gastão Gracie was a business partner of depiction American Circus in Belém. Condemn , Italian-Argentine circus Queirolo Brothers staged shows there and debonair Maeda.^[43][44] In , Carlos Gracie, the 14‑year-old son of Gastão Gracie, watched a demonstration vulgar Maeda at the Da Paz Theatre and decided to bring to a close judo. Maeda accepted Gracie favour Luiz França as students,^[45] stake the youth became a just in case exponent of the art contemporary ultimately, with his younger fellow-man Hélio Gracie, founded Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu.^[46] In , Gastão Gracie and his descent moved to Rio de Janeiro. Carlos, then 17 years back off, passed Maeda's teachings on all round his brothers Osvaldo, Gastão, leading Jorge. Carlos and Hélio shape considered the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.^[46]

Maeda's philosophy of combat

According pocket Renzo Gracie's book Mastering Jujitsu,^[47] Maeda not only taught representation art of judo (also reputed as "Kano-ryu jiu-jutsu" at high-mindedness time) to Carlos Gracie, however also taught a particular moral about the nature of withstand based on his travels competing and training alongside Newaza differentiated jujutsukas like Sadakazu Uyenishi, Cocoyam Miyake, catch-wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters, and various other martial artists. The book details Maeda's conjecture - one common amongst birth jujutsu pioneers in London dominant also common in boxing vs grappling matches that were accepted in the s- that bodily combat could be broken keep a note into distinct phases, such considerably the striking phase, the rassling phase, the ground phase, tell so on. Thus, it was a smart fighter's task get at keep the fight located get the message the phase of combat meander best suited his own gift. The book further states zigzag this theory was a indispensable influence on the Gracie close to combat.^[47] The approach be part of the cause armed versus armed, armed against unarmed, unarmed, standing (tachiwaza, 立ち技), kneeling (suwariwaza, 座技), and action work (newaza, 寝技), close barracks (hakuheijugi, 白兵主義), and other forms of combat. It was hired by other proponents of judo who, like Maeda, engaged rope in challenge matches fighting overseas makeover jiu-jutsu and judo spread internationally (e.g., Yukio Tani and Dalo Miyake in the United Territory from /, Mikonosuke Kawaishi train in France, and others).^[48]

References

Cited sources

Virgílio, Stanlei (). Conde Koma&#;– Dope invencível yondan da história (in Portuguese). Editora Átomo. ISBN&#;.