The next day, A Noite filled in some additional details about Ebert.
He was born in California. His parents were German. He entered the ring as an amateur in 1915, until 1921 when he went pro. He fought Jim Londos, in Boston in 1929, for 2 1/2 hours to a draw. He defeated Strangler Lewis, Joe Stecker, and Erl [sic] Cadok. He became world champion after his second fight with Lewis which he won, in Los Angeles. In India, he defeated Gama, who had never before been bested by a white man. He defeated Zbyszko in 2 minutes.
Ebert never stopped traveling in search of glory and money [sempre viajanda em busca de gloria e dinheiro]. He went to Australia, where he defeated two of the country’s best wrestlers, At [sic] Santal and Conde Zaranoff. He defeated English champion Walker Georges in New Zealand. Then he went to Panama and Peru, where he fought and never lost, and in Chile where he also defeated Quintin Romero Rojas. Finally he was in Montevideo (Uruguay) where he became champion of South America after vanquishing Argentine champion Georges Briola, among others. Ebert never really lost his title of world champion but rather conceded it to Jim London when he beat Shikat in New York. Ebert came to Rio to challenge anyone who wanted to fight him.103
Another Chance
Despite his quick loss to Oswaldo Gracie in 1931, João Baldi wanted another crack at a jiu-jitsu master. He did what most people did, he challenged Geo Omori.
Omori declined, saying Baldi was too heavy. Baldi responded that Omori easily beat Youssuf [“venceu bem, como quando quiz”], and Youssuf weighed the aame as Baldi, so why not me? Baldi asked.104
In the mean time, Omori accepted Ebert’s challenge for a luta livre match, saying that it would be an honor to fight an “authentic champion”.105 The next day it was announced that Omori would fight Helio Gracie on October 8. Omori insisted that fight be “bolsa ao vencedor” [winner take all]. Simultaneously, Roberto Ruhmann challenged Ebert, offering to pay him 5,000$ if Ebert could resist his famous headlock.106
While this was going on, the Omori versus Fernandes rematch was announced for October 1.
Omori versus Fernandes I terminated after six hard fought rounds in a draw [empate]. The October 3 “tie-breaker” [desempate], to be held at São Cristovão Athletic Club, would have no time limit; the fight would continue until there was a winner [“sem limite de round…Irá até que haja um vencedor”] which would be determined only by “give up” or KO.107
All offensive techniques were permitted except biting, pulling the hair or ears, fingers in the eyes, low blows, punches and kicks [dentadas, puxões de cabellos, e orelhas, soccos, dedos nos olhos, golpes baixos, and ponta-pés].
Fernandes was training with Fred Ebert, who was training with Dudú.108
There were three preliminary matches. The first a jiu-jitsu match between Saburo Senda and Ouchido. Saburo was “o garoto japonez” [the Japanese kid]. Oucida was the Japanese coach [“technico japonez”]. The fight would be five 5-minute rounds. The winner could only be determined by give up or KO. As there was a round limit, an empate [draw] was impossible.
There was also a five round luta livre match between Jayme Martins Ferreira and Amilcar Fortes, and a three round capoeiragem match between Euclydes Lucio “Velludinho” and Eduard o de Oliveira, o “Perna de Ouro”.109
The semi-final was a ten round boxing match with 4 ounce gloves between Peruvian Emilio Palestine and Mario Francisco.110
In addition to the preliminary fights, Fred Ebert the “catcher” who had drawn with Jim Londos [o ‘catcher’ que empatou com Jim Londos] would conduct a two 10-minute round “luta academica” [exhibition] of luta livre with the assisstance of local hero Dudú.111
The fight had been promoted as a no time limit fight to the finish in order to avoid a repeat of the first fight.112 As often happened, things did not work out that way.
The fight started out actively. Fernandes appeared to be better shape than in the September 3 outing. In the third round, Omori threw Fernandes, who rolled out of the ring, being injured in the process [contundiu-se]. In view of that and the fact that the regular rounds were finished, referee Gumercindo Taboada awarded the victory to Omori.113
Reports of the fight were not detailed, indicating that there may have been lulls in the action. That was obviously something that could happen in any fight. Promoters often prepared for that possibility by scheduling a little of every type of fight, and often demonstrations of one style or another, or gymnastics or anything else that could please the crowd while promoting upcoming events.
The Saburo Senda versus Ouchida jiu-jitsu match was violent and hard-fought, but lacked sensational exchanges. It ended in a draw. Jayme Ferreira forced Amilcar Fortes to concede in the fourth round. Well into middle age, Ferreira continued undefeated in luta livre in his weight class.
Significantly, Ebert’s “luta academica” with Dudú was the high point of the evening. [A exhibição de Fred Ebert foi sensacional e constituiu a melhor oparte do espectaculo]. Reading the reviews, smart fighters, astute managers, and wily promoters might have calculated that they could satisfy the paying customers while taking less pain and punishment if they introduced some planning into their fights. How much was the obvious question?
The writing was on the wall.
Omori belatedly responded to Baldi’s recent challenge, saying that he didn’t reply sooner because he was busy preparing for the Fernandes fight. Needless to say, he would be delighted to fight Baldi.114
Omori versus Baldi didn’t happen. But Omori and Ebert had challenged each other, and Ebert only planned to be around for about six weeks. Arrangements were speedily made. Baldi would still be available if an opponent was needed. He challenged Ebert as well as Omori.
Jiu-Jitsu versus “Catch”
Ebert was exciting because he was new, he was foreign, and he was temporary. He also had an impressive (if exaggerated) resumé. It gave the press ample material to work with. Could Omori resist the man who vanquished Zbyszko and Strangler Lewis? Could Omori do what current world champion Jim Londos couldn’t do in 1929, beat Ebert? We will have to see tomorrow, the newspapers informed readers. Gamblers were putting their money on the “lutador yankee de catch as catch can” (Ebert), and one couldn’t find any member of the local “yankee” community who thought there was any possibility of him losing.115
For the first time the fans would be able to see someone who knew how to put into practice “real catch as catch can”.116
The fight took place Saturday October 8, at São Christovão Athletic Club. There would be six 10-minute rounds.
Inexplicably, at the last minute, Omori requested that cabeçadas [head butts] not be allowed. Ebert agreed. The fans vehemently disapproved. The lack of cabeçadas made the match more conventional than decisive.
The fight was a disappointment. “The fight from the first to the last round was without action, as though the fighters were cluelessly waiting for the final bell to ring, punctuated by a few throws”.117
Ebert’s reputation, the press build-up, and his recent impressive demonstration with Dudú had misled the fans into expecting a more action-packed battle. As often happened, they were disappointed. It was a fight without great significance [luta sem maior significação]. The fans were left wondering whether Omori was really so extraordinary, or whether Ebert genuinely tried to apply his skills They also did not like the fact that the number of rounds was fixed and that cabeçadas and ponta-pés [front kicks] were not used.118
Despite his inability to beat Omori, one writer called Ebert “the best fighter to step into a ring in Brazil”.119 Carlos Gracie lost no time in challenging Ebert on behalf of his brother Helio.
Could Helio Gracie, in his second professional fight, accomplish what Omori couldn’t? Carlos Gracie thought he could. Others were sure he couldn’t.
Ebert versus Helio Gracie was set for October 23. As usual, it would a fight to the finish, determined by “give up” or KO, with no time limit [O combate deverá ser sem numero rounds fixado…desistencia ou inconscie
ncia]. Techniques of “real luta livre” [golpes da verdadeiro luta livre], such as head-butt, shoulder pins, and others, were prohibited. It would be “winner-take-all” [bolsa ao vencedor].120
The publicity machine went into high gear, sometimes in indirect ways. Irineu Maghres, a young Gracie student, perhaps acting on his own initiative, but more likely at the prompting of Carlos Gracie, accused Roberto Ruhmann of proposing a fixed fight, but with an agreement to draw, in order to have a tie-breaker [“propoz um empate para haver, dias depois, um desempate”].
But Irineu boldly declared that despite being the newest student at the Gracie Academy, he was ready to confront the Jewish athelete (Ruhmann) and was certain that he would defeat him.121
Ebert was new in town. He had never heard of the Gracies [“não conheço os Gracie”], he said. But he had heard Carlos’ grandiose claims on behalf of his young brother Helio, veteran of one amateur and one professional fight (Antonio Portugal and Takashi Namiki, respectively). Carlos asserted that Helio would defeat Ebert easily, even without a kimono and that Ebert woudn’t last two rounds. “He must be a phenomenon!” Ebert commented sarcastically.122
Carlos also accused Ebert and Omori of having “worked” their fight. It was not an outlandish accusation and it wasn’t the first or last time Omori would be accused of fixing fights, nor was he the only one, far from it. In fact, no one was immune to this accusation.
Indeed some fights, perhaps many fights, actually were fixed. But in 1932, it had not yet become endemic.123
The catch wrestlers did not necessarily need to work fights. They simply needed to avoid losing. If no one lost, there would be no winner to “take-all.” Everyone could get paid without extreme fear that the Commission of Boxing would withhold the purses of both fighters (although that strategy was never fool-proof).
Ambush
Manoel Rufino dos Santos’ rivalry with Carlos Gracie was beginning to show signs of spiraling out of control. Perhaps Rufino had not read the reports of the January 14 attack on João Baldi. Perhaps he did not appreciate how effective his needling was in getting under Carlos Gracie’s skin. He would find out the hard way.
On Tuesday October 18, Diario de Noticias published a letter written by Manoel Rufino in which he posed 13 questions (actually, 15) for Carlos Gracie.
Among other questions, he asked why did Mr. Gracie [sr. Gracie] ask for a clause prohibiting Rufino from banging Carlos’head on the ground more than once? Why did Mr. Gracie insist on a rest between rounds, when Rufino wanted to fight until there was a winner? Why wouldn’t Mr. Gracie accept rounds of 20 minutes? Why wouldn’t Mr. Gracie accept rounds of 10 minutes? Why did Mr. Gracie ridiculously insist on 3-minute rounds? Why did Mr. Gracie finally accept 5-minute rounds only at the insistence of the editor of A Noite? Why didn’t Mr. Gracie apply one of his 42 choke techniques [golpes de pescoço] as he had promised? Why did Mr. Gracie request to Dr. Renato Pacheco a month later that the fight be annulled? Why didn’t Mr. Gracie accept the challenge thrown down by Rufino’s student Manoel Lima? Why didn’t Mr. Gracie continue the fight when the referee ordered him to? It was because he was afraid, wasn’t it? [“porque ficou com medo, não foi?”] Why doesn’t Mr. Gracie accept the insistent challenges of Roberto Ruhmann? Why did Mr. Gracie challenge Ebert on behalf of his youngest brother (Helio) instead of fighting himself? It was because he didn’t want to risk his own skin, wasn’t it? [“Porque tem medo de arriscar a pelle, não é?”].
Rufino Santos wrapped up his lists of “questions” by saying that “Mr. Gracie knows nothing about luta livre” [“o senhor não sabe nada de luta livre”]. He also promised that if Carlos or any of his brothers could manage a draw with Ebert, he would consider the North American champion “defeated” [“se o sr. ou qualquer irmão seu conseguir empatar com Fred Ebert, considerarei o americano derrotado”].
The letter was specifically addressed to Carlos Gracie and mentioned Helio, George, and Oswaldo only as “any of the brothers” and in the context of their challenge to Ebert.
Later that evening, at 10:00 p.m., outside of the Tijuca Tennis Club.on rua Conde de Bonfim a Carlos, Helio, George, and Oswaldo waited in a car for Rufino Santos to arrive. When he did, three of the brothers ambushed him (Oswaldo remained in the car). In a reprise of the João Baldi incident in January, they used a “steel box” [“box de ferro”].
Unlike the João Baldi incident in January, reports this time were consistent, varying only in the amount of detail they included.
According to Diario de Noticias, on the evening of October 18, Tuesday, one or more anonymous persons telephoned the Tijuca Tennis Club several times and asked what time Professor Maneol Rufino dos Santos would arrive. When he did, At 20:30, a dark limousine was parked 20 meters from the entrance of the club. Several people called his name.
Helio was the first to attack, hitting Rufino’s head with the “steel box”.
Taken by surprise by “the cowardly blow” Rufino staggered and fell where he was set upon by Helio, George, and Carlos with kicks and more blows from the box, which left him unable to effectively defend himself. After a while people came out from the Tenis Club and saw what was happening. The Gracies then broke off their attack and sped away in their limousine leaving Rufino bleeding on the street. Rufino was taken to the hospital, and then home. The police began criminal proceedings against the brothers.
The writer recalled that the brothers had conducted two almost identical attacks before. The first was on their former jiu-jitsu instructor Donato Pires dos Reis in front of the America Hotel, in Catete at 16:30 (he did not mention the date). Donato was attacked by Helio and George. The next victim was João Baldi. It is curious to note, the writer remarked, that in each case a “steel box”was used. [“Em todas as aggressões―e curioso a notar―o ‘box’ de ferro foi utilizado”].124
Diario da Noite wrote that “The Gracie brothers reunited to fight with the gymnastics teacher Manoel Rufino dos Santos. The fight was unequal and left the one who fought alone seriously injured. The fight was free, very free. There was no referee, no rules, and no honor on the part of the well-known jiu-jitsu professionals. The police didn’t approve of the method used by the Gracies and began proceeding s to prosecute them
It took three Gracies to defeat Rufino and even then not without difficulty and a weapon. After a while Rufino faded and dropped. The Gracies continued their attack. Members of the Tijuca Tennis Club and passers-by witnessed the attack and recognized the assailants, who fled the scene. Rufino was taken by car to Posto Central de Assistencia, where he received treatment for severe injuries.125
A Noite reported that on the night of October 18, the three brothers, residents of rua Marquez de Abrantes 106, phoned the Tijuca Tennis Club asking when Rufino would arrive. They waited for him in a car. When he approached the entrance to the club, at 10:00 p.m., they surrounded him and initiated their attack. Helio wielded the box. All were charged with article 304 of the penal code. George and Helio were also charged according to paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 7, 13 of article 39, and paragraph 2 of article 41. The public prosecutor (auxiliary de justiça pelo offendido) was Dr. Claudiono Victor do Espirito Santo Junior. The Gracies’ lawyer [avogado dos denunciados] was Dr. João Romeiro Netto. The report explained that “after a festering dispute concerning questions of ‘sport,’ the brothers decided to resort to violence” [“resolveram os accusados levar a effeito uma aggressão como desforço”].
Their decision to resort to street crime rather than sport was unquestionably triggered by Rufino’s letter in Diario de Noticias, the report commented.126
The attack may have seemed like a good idea at the time. But when the police came to get them they realized that it was time for lawyers and public relations. Both were subjects that Carlos Gracie was familiar with.
The brothers (or Carlos) composed a letter defending themselves and mailed it to A Noite. According to the letter, they were merely defending the family honor because Rufino Santos had criticized them. M
oreover, no one saw them do it because it was dark, it was raining, and the location was secluded. In fact, they didn’t even attack Rufino and even if they had, they wouldn’t need three Gracies or even two. When circumstances permitted, they would prove their innocence.127
It was an almost childish attempt to avoid the consequences of their actions. Carlos Gracie had overestimated the power of his persuasive skills. The legal system was not impressed. Rufino’s letter was entered into evidence. It was officially document number 25. It was obvious that Rufino Santos was criticizing Carlos rather than the family. Additionally, his criticisms were not slanders, but rather facts. Carlos felt insulted by them, which was obviously Rufino’s intention, but they were nevertheless facts. And despite the time of night and weather and locations, there were numerous witnesses. The Brothers had their backs against the wall. They seemed to realize that ganging up on a rival, using a “steel box,” wouldn’t work this time. They did the intelligent thing and hired a lawyer.
The matter did not go to trial until 1933, but possibly due to complications surrounding the incident, the Fred Ebert versus Helio Gracie fight was postponed to November 5. (The outcome of the case will be described in the next chapter.)
Gracie versus “Catch”
Helio was 19 year old “menino” [boy] with a total ring record of one victory in two fights, going up against an “authentic luta livre champion” [authentico campãeo da luta livre]. That didn’t bother him. Helio reiterated Carlos’ prediction that Ebert would not last two rounds.128 Despite his limited record, Helio was described as “a master of the Brazilian rings” [um mestre dos rings brasileiros]. Helio’s confidence was more impressive when we remember that he would not have the kimono to “equalize” Ebert’s advantage in weight.
Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) Page 21