Seven rules were in effect. They were: (1) the fighters will be examined by a doctor who will be present at the fight as well, (2) the rounds will be five minutes with one minute between, (3) the loser will be the fighter will stops fighting [desistia] or says that he is beaten, whether conscious or unconscious [se dé por vencido consciente ou inconsciente], (4) the fighters will begin standing up, face to face, (5) if the jiu-jitsu fighter is thrown or knocked down and unable to get back to his feet within 10 seconds, he will be considered to have lost the fight, (6) the jiu-jitsu fighters will wear kimonos and the capoeiras will wear clothes of reinforced linen, but not shoes, (7) if the capoeiras appear in torn pants, they will be required to wear a kimono selected by the jiu-jitsu representatives. Nothing was specified about prohibited techniques.27
In a last minute plug, Diario de Noticias informed readers that “the fight between capoeriagem and jiu-jitsu will be absolutely brutal. There is no similarity with boxing or luta romana”. The location was rua General Severiano, accessible by the Praia Vermelha bonde [street car]. The matches were preceded by a demonstration of luta livre by the Smith brothers and began at 9:00 p.m. The referees were Carlos Gracie and Jayme Ferreira. Peres’ opponent was Reynaldo Neves da Silva (Bala da Bronze).28
The results were not immediately reported. According to later commentaries however, George Gracie beat Coronel because the capoeira slapped him on the ground thereby being disqualified, indicating that the rules barred the capoeiras from striking on the ground, while at the same time not rewarding them for putting their adversary there.29
Moreover, rule 5 did not prevent the jiu-jitsu representatives from voluntarily dropping to the ground. While possibly a sound self-defense tactic, it did not facilitate a valid comparison of styles and as many critics pointed out, this was a considerable handicap for the capoeiras. Coronel later challenged George to a fight “valer tudo” [everything permitted] but George never responded.30 Given the many complaints about the poor abilities of the capoeiras and the unfairness of the rules, it is reasonable to assume that they didn’t dominate the jiu-jitsu representatives.
Bluff
A week later, Capoeira instructor Mario Aleixo launched one more challenge at jiu-jitsu, but specified the rules of “real” capoeiragem.31 Luta Livre instructor Manoel Rufino dos Santos also challenged the Gracies, calling their July 3 tournament a “bluff” [hoax].
Carlos apparently recognized Rufino as a voice that could be neither ignored.nor co-opted. Rufino was a respected “sports man” and luta livre instructor. While most other “rivals” played by the the rules of pro-fighting promotion, Rufino had a personal dislike for Carlos. His challenges were not abstract “style versus style” confrontations. He was not interested in meeting “representatives”. He wanted Carlos personally.
Carlos claimed to be willing. As usual, he would negotiate hard for terms that suited him. The specific rules were not yet decided but Carlos explained that “jiu-jitsu is a competitive sport and not a fight for life or death”.32
It was not certain that the fight would happen. Rufino and Gracie couldn’t agree on the rules. Carlos insisted on short rounds. Rufino wanted long rounds or no rounds.33 Finally Rufino agreed to Carlos’ conditions.34 As he later said, it was the only way he could get Carlos into the ring.
Rufino Santos promised to donate his purse, if he won, to charity (to Nataldas Crianças Pobres do Fluminense).35
Put on the spot, Carlos eventually offered to donate 30%, if he won (making him look somewhat miserly, which might have intensified his antipathy to Rufino Santos).36
Rufino continued to lobby for what he felt were more realistic ring conditions. Carlos threatened that if Rufino didn’t fight him in the ring (under the rules that Carlos wanted), he would fight him in the street [Se Santos não lutar comigo no ring lutará mesmo na rua].
Capoeiragem and jiu-jitsu instructor Mario Aleixo, like Rufino Santos, did not think much of Carlos Gracie. Aleixo challenged on August 19, repeatedly referring to him as “sr. Gracil”.37
Eugenio Brandão Duffressey was the referee [juiz de ring]. Carlos’ close friend and financial provider Dr. Oscar Santa Maria was one of the table judges, the others being Dr. Renato Pacheco and Dr. Rodrigues Vieira. There would be five 5-minute rounds with 1-minute breaks. The fighters could wear whatever they chose. Striking was not permitted. Points were not scored. The result would be determined by “tap out or knock out”.38 Although it was not explicitly specified, a fighter could desist by simply leaving the ring or not returning to it if he fell or was thrown out of it.
The two men appeared to be evenly matched. According to Diario de Noticias “Manoel Rufino dos Santos is strong, agile, and smart, qualities which are not lacking in his rival” [Manoel Rufino dos Santos é forte, agile e astuto, qualidades que não faltem ao seu rival”]. The fight was billed as “luta livre contra jiu-jitsu. Rufino’s style was called “catch-as-catch-can” and Rufino was a “catch-catcher”.39
Abandoning the Ring
The Gracie versus Rufino Santos show-down took place Sunday August 22, 1931 at Estadio de Fluminense, Rio, on rua Alvaro Chaves.40
The program began at 9:00 with three preliminary luta romana matches and three exhibition boxing matches.
The luta romana matches were Manoel Lima versus Longmayer, Jayme Ferreira versus Benjamin Constant Azevedo (aka o “Bijoca”) and Tavares Crespo versus Alcino Pacheco. Brazilian lightweight boxing champion Joe Assobrab would fight three 2-round exhibition fights against Antonio Portugal, Mario Francsico, and Crespito, respectively.
Rufino Santos versus Gracie was the main event.
Correio da Manhã described the fight as follows: “The fight was violent and savage. The first two rounds were in Rufino Santos’ favor. Near the end of the third round, the fighters went outside the ring and the referee ordered them back to the center. Rufino Santos released his hold at which time Gracie took advantage to apply an illegal technique, which provoked a lot of disagreement. Carlos Gracie left the ring. At the requests of his friends, he returned. The fight was interrupted for more than an hour. The fight was re-started. Gracie left the ring again. Because of that, the referee awarded the victory to Rufino Santos”.41
Diario de Noticias summarized the fight as “fracasso em 3 rounds”.
“Manoel Rufino had the advantage until the third round, when both fighters were up against the ropes and about to fall out of the ring. Gracie was above Rufino. The referee shouted ‘Center!’ and then Manoel Rufino let go of Gracie. Gracie used that opportunity to apply a “gravata” [headlock] on Rufino, who had been trusting in Gracie’s sense of fair-play and the referee’s vigilance. There was an argument and the fight was interrupted. Gracie felt that he won, despite the protests of the fans who severely criticized the method that he had used. After a long delay, Gracie refused to continue the fight and Rufino was declared to be the winner”.42
Diario de Noticias added a couple days later that “Neither Rufino nor Gracie were able to use the technique that they supposedly knew. Rufino applied holds on Gracie that didn’t seem to bother him.What happened to the ‘toe holds’, the ‘armlocks’, the ‘leglocks’? None were seen. For his part, Gracie used ‘scissors’ which Rufino defended well”.43
A Noite had a slightly different impression of events. When the referee attempted to separate the fighters and direct them to the ring center, Rufino relaxed his defense. Carlos applied a “gravata” choke and refused to release it when instructed to. According to one table judge, Rufino tapped out and then lost consciousness [segundo um dos juizes Santos teria dado a signal convencionado de desistencia perdenda, a seguir, os sentidos]. According to others, Gracie was in violation of the rules in not releasing the headlock when instructed by the referee. Santos was disoriented and almost unable to stand up [Santos se levantado completemente estonteado em condicões de mal poder se manter de pé].
At this point there was confusion as to what had happened. Some people thought Gracie should be dec
lared the winner. Others thought the fight should continue to the end of the agreed five rounds. Gracie did not want to continue however and for this reason Rufino Santos was declared the winner [Carlos Gracie que prefereiu nao proseguir, motivo porque a victoria foi dada ao seu adversario]. 44
What actually happened in the match, technically, was not described in much detail, apparently because not a lot happened. One report mentioned that Gracie used “scissors” [tesouras]. Tesouras at that time generally implied use of the legs for attack and defense (rather than for standing). More specifically it could mean what later became known as the “guard” position.
So Carlos used the “guard position” in his first and only fight. However, Rufino Santos later said that “the ground holds no mysteries for a luta livre man”45 which he proved by nullifiying Carlos’ guard game.
At the same time, Rufino’s use of his own legs was less than effective. As one knowledgeable observer later commented, “Carlos Gracie had no difficulty escaping from Rufino’s head scissor”.46
Carlos obviously also knew how to apply a “gravata.” That was not surprising, as gravata [literally, neck tie] was the most commonly used technique by practitioners of both jiu-jitsu and luta livre. Partly, it was common because the term had a vague meaning. It could refer to any form of choke, but also to a simple “arms around the head” hold, in other words, a “headlock,” with or without effective pressure or control. One report implied that Carlos’ gravata had some effect, in that it left Rufino Santos “groggy.” Only Rufino Santos knew how effective the technique was. But it is clear that Carlos was not able to apply his gravata until Rufino Santos voluntarily, if unwisely, let down his defense in the third round.
Despite winning the fight, Rufino Santos’ performance was not much better, especially in view of his vast advantage over Gracie in ring experience.According to one source, Rufino Santos’ record was 73 wins and and one loss, by decision, in the USA alone.47
The final decision was that Santos Rufino won the fight because Carlos Gracie left the ring and refused to return. Rufino Santos won, Carlos lost. It was neither impressive nor satisfying, but with the possible exception of Carlos himself, it was a decision that was undisputed by anyone, including his brother George.
If Rufino Santos had left it at that, three of the Gracie brothers probably wouldn’t have had to cool their heels in jail for a week in 1932, not to mention the time and money wasted in their effort (successful, it turned out) to avoid going to prison. But he didn’t. His personal dislike for Carlos wouldn’t let him.
The Rufino Santos versus Gracie fight was a bomb, but the other fights were apparently at least acceptable. Manoel Lima defeated Adam Mayer [Longmayer] in the second round, with a “Nelson”. Jayme Ferreira defeated Benjamin Constant Azevedo in the first round with a “half-nelson”. Tavares Crespo and Alcino Pacheco drew.
In the best segment of the program [melhor parte da noitada] Joe Assobrab “proved his magnificent qualities as a boxer” in his matches with Antomnio Portugal, Crespito, and Mario Francisco.48
Second-Rate
Carlos’ former friend, employer, and jiu-jitsu instructor Donato Pires dos Reis was asked to analyze the fight: Donato Pires was “a true practitioner of jiu-jitsu, who has a diploma from Conde Koma”.49
Even before the fight, he didn’t think much of Carlos’s chances. In his judgement “the jiu-jitsu fighters in Brazil today can’t be considered even second-class”.50
Donato believed that Rufino Santos won due to his domination of the first two rounds, and also due to Carlos’ illegal tactics in the third round. Donato praised Rufino:”Very good. A classical luta livre fighter. He applied his techniques with precision and tightness” [“Muito boa…um lutador classico da luta livre. Aplica os golpes com perfeição e segurança”].
But for Carlos, Donato could not spare even faint praise. “There aren’t even second-rate jiu-jitsu fighters in Brazil” he reiterated, alluding to Carlos [“No Brasil não existem lutadores de jiu-jitsu nem de segunda classe”].
Assessing Carlos more frankly, he commented, “He uses force and nothing more. His knowledge is rudimentary. He was unable at any time to apply any technique on Rufino Santos” [“…um esforçada e nada mais. Seus conhecimentos são rudimentares, não tendo em nenhum momento, conseguido impo-los ao adversario”].
Donato also cast doubt on Carlos’ claim that he had learned from Conde Koma: “Something that surprises me is how easy it is for unscrupulous people to claim to have studied with Conde Koma”51
There was probably only one person in Brazil who was in a better position than Donato Pires to offer an opinion about the quantity and quality of Carlos’ training with Conde Koma. That personwas Conde Koma himself, then living in peaceful semi-retirement in Belém. If Carlos asked Conde Koma to speak up for him, it is unknown what he said.
Donato agreed with some other observers that the referee’s indecisiveness was the problem and blamed him for not being more authoritative. Only a rematch would clear things up, they suggested.52
Despite the disappointing result for jiu-jitsu supporters, some people thought that Carlos was a better fighter than Rufino Santos. In fact, table judge Oscar Santa Maria, Carlos’ friend, later victim, went even further and claimed that Carlos was a better jiu-jitsu fighter than Conde Koma [como melhor lutador de jiu-jitsu que o famoso japonez ].53
Fraud
Rufino Santos seemed to relish reminding the fight world that Carlos had given up. He claimed that Carlos was a fraud. “A striking example was demonstrated in Fluminense Stadium on the night of August 22, when my opponent abandoned the ring,” he said in an interview, his opponent of course being Carlos Gracie.54
He wouldn’t let it rest. He continued hammering at Carlos in 1932, referring to him as the jiu-jitsu practitioner who had fled the ring to the tumultuous jeering of the fans [“o praticante de ‘jiu-jitsu’, fugiu do ring sob estrondosa vaia dos assistentes”].
Rufino Santos asked Carlos, “why didn’t Mr, Gracie want to continue the fight? Why didn’t he want to fight without a limit of rounds until there was a winner? Why didn’t he want to fight 20 minute rounds? Why did he want 3 minute rounds and only accepted 5 minute rounds when Mr. Palamenta insisted? [“por que , sr. Gracie, o senhor, não quiz continuar a luta? Por que não quiz lutar sem numero de rounds, commigo, atéhaver um vencedor? Por que não quiz os rounds de 20 minutos, quando lhes prôpuz?...”]
“Rounds de 3 minutos!” Rufino Santos pretended to be shocked that a “fighter” would demand such short rounds. “Don’t you think that would be a clown act fight, Mr. Gracie?” he asked rhetorically [“Que luta palhaçada, hein, sr. Gracie?!”]
He went on with more provocative questions of the same type.55
As if losing the fight in such a humiliating manner weren’t bad enough, Carlos had to endure an unrelenting post-fight assault by his victor.
He wasn’t the only one who enjoyed sticking it to Carlos. George brought the example up from time to time as well.56
The day after the fight, Rufino announced a big event pitting representatives of luta romana, jiu-jitsu, boxing, and luta livre against each other. He indicated that he might enter himself and mentioned Carlos as a competitor.
It didn’t happen. Carlos never fought again. His life-time ring record was one fight, one loss, and two no-decision exhibitions with Geo Omori, and one other possible but unconfirmed match of some type, which he also did not win.
Manoel Rufino also retired from the ring after this fight. Carlos and Rufino would cross paths again, however.
Capoeiragem Again
Probably to take advantage of the sudden interest in mixed fights, a match was announced between George Gracie and family friend and business associate Jayme Martins Ferreira. As usual, George would represent jiu-jitsu. Ferreira would represent capoeiragem.
Ferreira had yet to demonstrate any capoeiragem skills and the performance of his students in the jiu-jitsu contra capoeiragem tournament did no
t enhance his reputation. Another largely (or totally) self-taught capoeiragem professor, but one who was taken more seriously and later produced some outstanding students, Agenor Moriera Sampaio “Sinhôzinho” entered some of his students. Andre Jansen met Euricio Fernandes in a capoeiragem match.Caio Mendoça facedMané, and Ismario Cruz confronted Vico in catch matches.57 The capoeiragem matches took place, successfully but the jiu-jitsu versus “capoeiragem” challenge did not.
Disgusted with the results of the unqualified capoeiras taught by Jayme Ferreira, Mario Aleixo challenged Carlos Gracie.58 Carlos accepted the challenge.59 Somewhere along the way Carlos stepped aside and substituted George in his place. Aleixo, being a middle-aged man, complained but unwisely agreed to accept the substitution. The fight had been scheduled for early October but was postponed several times for one reason or another. Promoters drafted Jayme Martins Ferreira as a substitute.60 Mario Aleixo objected, insisting that his contract be honored, saying that Ferreira was unqualified. Januario, who despite his age [a despeito da sua idade], was regarded as a skilled capoeira, was substituted for Jayme Ferreira. The fight was postponed to October 24. Oswaldo was added to fight Bahiano. Carlos was asked who he thought would win, George or Jayme Ferreira. He did not display complete confidence in his brother: “It’s hard to say who will win”, he answered [“que veiu se dificil dizer qual sera o vencedor”].61 The event was postponed.
Easy Opponent
The fight took place on Thursday November 5, at rua do Riachuelo. Oswaldo weighed 64 kilos, Bahiano weighed 86 kilos.62 The fight was action-packed up to a point but in the end failed to prove anything about which style was superior. According to one review of the fight ”Bahiano didn’t reveal notable qualities as a capoeira. He was an easy opponent for Oswaldo Gracie”.63
Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) Page 14