The two brothers’guard preferences may have stemmed from their very distinct personalities, or from their opponents’ tactics, or simply from the fact that George had shorter legs and couldn’t close his guard as easily as Helio even if he wanted to. In any case, both of their guard games seemed to work adequately well as defensive tools, when they could be deployed.
Ono’s throw highlighted one weak spot in defense-oriented jiu-jitsu as well as one of the advantages in being able to throw well. It is less useful to be skilled on the ground if you cannot compel the opponent to go there with you. It is then that stand-up skills are particularly important.
Helio Gracie acknowledged that the crown of Brazilian jiu-jitsu now was on the head of a “foreigner” (or more literally, that the sceptre of jiu-jitsu in Brazil was no longer in the hands of a Brazilian). But that was unimportant, he said.29
Helio reminded readers that Ono had tried and failed to beat him twice before, on December 5, 1935 and October 3, 1936. How could Ono claim to be the king of jiu-jitsu in Brazil when Helio Gracie was still undefeated? The fact that Ono would not fight him a third time had “great significance”, Helio hinted.30
Ono’s manager Antonio Lins replied to Helio’s attacks. Ono regarded George as a better fighter than Helio, Lins quoted Ono as saying, because George went for the win, while Helio only tried to avoid losing. Lins elaborated that if Helio tried to fight aggressively like George he would be liquidated in less than 20 minutes.31
A week later Antonio, now identified as Luis rather than Lins, suggested that Ono and perhaps the fans as well were uninterested in seeing Helio’s “defense” for a third time. There needed to be a compelling reason for another go at it. Helio probably needed the money, but Ono didn’t. Antonio explained, “Ono doesn’t live only by fighting. He has a business and teaches at three locations in São Paulo in addition to his own academy” .32
Much later (in October 1951) Ono relented and offered Helio his rematch. But by that time Helio didn’t want it.
But Ono didn’t mind giving George a rematch, in fact, several, and neither did his brother Naoiti, also known as “Oninho” [Little Ono].33
The reason may have come down to styles. Helio waited for his opponent to give him an opening. If the opponent didn’t give anything, then nothing happened, and fans didn’t pay to see nothing, or if one prefers, two men lying on the floor holding each other. George in contrast, understood that the public wanted to be entertained. If he could do that by choking a big man out, he was happy. If he had to do it some other way, he was also happy―as long as it was entertaining.
Everyone grasped the implications of that formula. Some were prepared to act on it. Others weren’t. They looked for other sources of income.
“Electra”
On Saturday September 25, 1937, Carlos Gracie flew from Rio to Bello Horizonte via the Panair airplane “Electra.” He returned September 28 on the same airplane.34 It has never been revealed what he was doing there.
***
Takeo Yano and Manoel Fernandes signed to meet at Estadio Brasil in the semi-final to the Pedro Brasil versus Dudú tilt for the Brazilian luta livre title. Yano versus Fernandes was also a luta livre match. According to press reports, Fernandes had trained carefully and was in magnificent physical condition. With his large weight advantage, he was capable of giving Yano a tough fight, and possibly even defeating him. Yano was at serious risk of suffering a decisive defeat at the hands of Fernandes. However, due to his abundance of technical resources, Yano was favored to win.35
The Dudú versus Pedro Brasil fight was on and off for years and it is likely that as a result Yano did not fight Fernandes after all. If not, it wasn’t because he had any objection to confronting big men. Or professional wrestlers. Or engaging in questionable fights.
Jiu-Jitsu versus Heavyweight Boxer
In his last fight until 1950, Helio Gracie took on boxer Ervin Klausner on September 26, 1937. Klausner was the second boxer among Helio’s opponents up to that point.
Unlike Antonio Portugal, Helio’s first opponent, Klausner was an experienced and legitimate heavyweight boxer, who (unlike Antonio Portugal) had won more fights than he lost. At 30, he was old (for a boxer) but not ancient. He could have been a dangerous opponent for a relatively small man like Helio Gracie.36
This fight might have provided some foundation for Helio’s supreme confidence in 1947 (ten years into his first retirement) that he could beat undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis.
Except for one thing. Helio’s fight with Klausner was not a mixed-styles fight, or a vale tudo, as they would later be called. It was a jiu-jitsu contest. Needless to say, Klausner was not a jiu-jitsu expert. He did however have luta livre experience, and at one time, he was considered among the best luta livre fighters in São Paulo (he fought and lost to Geo Omori several times, but also won his share of fights, including one against a “jiu-jitsu” representative named Dario Letone in 1928). The same however was true of Tavares Crespo when he fought Albino da Costa in 1933. Klausner was probably no better a grappler with a kimono than Crespo was.
The match was held at Feira de Amostras in Bello Horizonte on Sunday September 26, 1937. As was usual with reports from outside Rio, details were sketchy, other than the fact that Helio won by armlock in the second round.37 Perhaps it was a tribute to his luta livre training that Klausner made it into the second round, but it didn’t reveal much about how Helio would fare against Joe Louis.
Oninho
Yassuiti Ono insisted that George prove himself worthy of a rematch by fighting Naoiti Ono (Oninho), Yassuiti’s brother. Despite being only 17 years old, and weighing around 55 kilos, Naoiti had what it took to beat any Gracie, Ono said.38 Geo Omori agreed, “Naoiti vencerá” [Naoiti will win], he predicted.39
Naoiti was not under contract to EPB, and he was young, small, and inexperienced (he may have fought Carlos Pereira in October 1936 in a preliminary to his brother’s second fight with Helio Gracie. In 1938 he said that he had only been training three years). The Federation insisted on a prova de sufficiency40 to confirm that Naoiti was ready for George, or rather, that he could offer a solid, professional, entertaining fight. They invited Helio Gracie to do the honors. Helio choked Oninho out, but the Federation concluded that Naoiti was qualified to fight George. The fight was set for October 2, 1937.41
The George Gracie versus Oninho match took place at Stadium Brasil on Saturday October 2. It was six 10-minute rounds, with two minute rests. George weighed 65 kilos, Oninho weighed 55 kilos.42
It was not an easy fight for George Gracie despite his tremendous advantage in weight and experience. According to one report “Oninho dominated various phases of the first fight and spectacularly threw George about 20 times”.43 Oninho eventually wore himself out, he later said, throwing his heavier opponent. He favored his brother’s aggressive style of fight and didn’t endorse the philosophy of waiting for the opponent to make a mistake.44 It took George 52 minutes to finally apply an effective technique. Two minutes into the sixth round George applied a fight-finishing armlock.45
Rematch
George beat Oninho. Yassuiti had to give him his rematch. It was held Saturday October 16 at Estadio Brasil. It was an eight-round fight, each round being 10 minutes with 2-minute breaks. Both men weighed 65 kilos.46
George did better than previously. He avoided being injured by throws. But six minutes into the sixth round, something happened that no one could have anticipated. Feeling that he had fallen into a position that made him susceptible to a George Gracie attack, Ono apparantly lost his composure and punched George in the face several times, in blatant violation of the rules.
George was awarded the victory.47
It was hardly a conclusive finish. The public could not be faulted for wanting to see a third meeting between the two no longer undefeated jiu-jitsu masters.
Gravatas
The jiu-jitsu versus luta livre rivalry continued, encouraged above all by Ca
rlos Gracie and close associates, such as Jayme Ferreira. The situation was slightly confused by the fact that every jiu-jitsu fighter also competed in luta livre. Indeed there was little difference between them other than the kimono, particularly when the fighter lacked strong throwing abilities. The large number of fights that end in “neck-ties” [gravatas] suggests that many fighters were trying to “tackle” their opponents to the ground, but exposing their necks in the process.
The Campeonato Aberto de jiu-Jitsu and Luta Livre that had begun in May was still going on in October. On October 21, the finals were held. In addition to the amateurs from the three clubs and one academy that had signed up, professionals Jayme Ferreira and Mossoró had gotten involved. Antonio Marques (Gracie) met Marinho (Flamengo); Carlos Pereira (Gracie) confronted Max Wolf (Fluminense); Jayme Ferreira encountered Antonio Bueno (both representing Gracie), and Carnera (Gracie) faced off against the pro wrestler Antonio Mossoró. Carnera was the nickname of Dr. Fernando Young, the novice who took part in the hyped up sparring session in March with “E. Bueno”, who was probably Antonio Bueno. From the July and October match-ups, it is unclear how this tournament was organized. Why were professional luta livre wrestlers matched against white belt amateur jiu-jitsu students, and so on? The significance of this event is also unclear. It provided competition experience for some amateur grapplers and publicity for the Gracie Academy (Fluminense and Flamengo were well enough known without it). Perhaps Ferriera and Mossoró participated in order to provide opponents for the two Gracie students Carnera and Bueno. Carnera and Bueno could have confronted each other again but the tournament directors may have decided that two matches were better than one.
Carlos Pereira eventually split from the Gracies and established his own São Paulo centered lineage which continues to this day.48
Goliath versus David
The George Gracie versus Oninho rematch was set for November 12, 1937 at Stadium Brasil. According to Diario Carioca “George has an enormous advantage in weight, and much more ring experience. The tiny Japanese is still new to the ring, but gifted with disconcerting aggressiveness”.49
Oninho was absolutely confident of victory. He explained that he deliberately hadn’t submitted George quickly in the first fight because he wanted to demonstrate his technical superiority, which unfortunately gave George some openings. “George was lucky the first time, this time he will lose. I will liquidate him, but only after I throw him a couple dozen times, as I said”.50
The fight was even, according to Diario Carioca and George failed to establish control at any time during the 60-minute contest. The judges nevertheless awarded the victory to George. Diario Carioca felt that a draw would have been a more reasonable decision under the circumstances. The fans loudly rejected the decision.51
Dead Chicken
Gracie academy student Ary Martini was scheduled to fight Maximino Grandi in the ring at Feira de Amostras in Bello Horizonte. On Saturday November 20 the day of the match, both happened to be at Café Academico when Grandi overheard Martini refer to him as “dead chicken” [Gallinha Morta]. One thing led to another and a dreadful brawl broke out. Takeo Yano coincidentally happened to be there and attempted to break it up. The injured athletes fled the premises when the police approached.52 It is unknown whether the “free preview” [antecipação gratuita], as A Noite labeled it, boosted attendance at the show later that evening.
36 Lessons
In addition to fighting, George shared his knowledge with the public. In December he was teaching jiu-jitsu and luta livre at O Club Universitario, on rua de Maio, 33 and 35, 4th floor (phone number 22-6394). The course lasted three months with three lessons per week.53
The content of the 36 lesson course is unknown but judging by the limited training time allotted, it was probably an assortment of basic self-defense moves such as were depicted in the popular instructional manuals of the day.
Possibly it was similar or even identical to the curriculm of the Gracie academy in Rio, which also consisted of 36 lessons. The academy was founded in 1930 by Donato Pires dos Reis, so the curriculum may have been designed by him.“Rolling” was not part of the course in the early 1950’s according to those who trained at that time, and it is unlikely that it was part of the 36 lesson course in 1937 or any other time. Wrestling on the ground was not what people thought jiu-jitsu was at that time. Like his brother Helio, George trained fighters to fight, but the majority of their students were not fighters and did not fight.
Gastão Jr. concentrated on teaching. To recruit students, instead of fighting, he gave demonstrations. On Sunday November 14, he performed a demonstration at the gymnasium Oswaldo Cruz in the Parque Industria Animal, in São Paulo, with the assistance of his best student Ennio Voss. It was part of a festival of physical education sponsored by the department of Agriculture and the Banda da Guarda Civil. It began precisely at 10:00 a.m.54
Grillo
Manoel Grillo made his debut in Rio in October 5, 1935 against Geo Omori. He was said to be an expert at jiu-jitsu, having learned directly from Raku, whom he later fought and beat in Lisbon. He also beat the ex-champion Miyaki [Taro Miyake]. He had 25 years experience and over 500 fights under his belt.55 Grillo had an astonishing agility [espantosa agilidade] for a man of 90 kilos, and impressive offensive and defensive resouirces. He approached every fight with the same aim, which was to win as quickly as possible.56
After the Omori fight, Grillo focused on catch wrestling. That’s where the opponents and money was. But now the time was ripe for another confrontation with jiu-jitsu. Now it was time to renew his acquaintance with the local jiu-jitsu representatives. This time George Gracie was the opponent.
The fight was set for Thursday December 9. The winner would qualify to face the English champion Dr. Len Hall.57
Due to rain it was rescheduled for Saturday December 11 at Estadio Brasil, fortunately for George, according to Grillo, because it postponed the painful fate in store for him. It would be a luta livre match of four 10-minute rounds with 2-minute breaks.
Grillo wanted to wager 5 contos (five thousand milreis) with George on the outcome of the fight. He asserted confidently that the only way he might lose a fight was if it were fought with sticks in the traditional Portuguese way [jogo do pãu]. George accepted, but only on the condition that the fight was as violent as it could be, that is, permitting chops [cuteladas], punches [socos], straight kicks [ponta-pés], head-butts [cabeçadas], and everything except low blows and attacks to the eyes [golpes baixos e nos olhos]. He wanted a crushing victory that made his superiority over Grillo clear.58
Grillo weighed 80.4 kilos, George weighed 66.4.59
According to O Imparcial George dominated the first round and threw (or pushed) Grillo out of the ring. Grill rallied in the second round. At the beginning of the third round Grillo managed to pin George’s shoulders, and thereby won.60
Judging by the aftermath to the contest, one of the rules had been inadequately clarified, namely the crucial encostamento de espaduas rule [pinning the shoulders]. After an action packed three rounds of battle, Grillo managed to pin George’s two shoulders to the floor, winning the match.
George and several fans immediately protested, saying that pinning had not been stipulated as a winning technique. George therefore rejected the result and demanded a rematch to efficiently decide the victory [decider efficientemente a vitoria].
Grillo instantly agreed to the rematch and requested Empresa Brasil Ring to make it happen and as soon as possible. He wanted to dispel any doubts about his victory.
Grillo also complained about the referee Armando Jagle.61 Grillo felt that Jagle was biased in favor of George for patriotic reasons. He also thought that George was handed an undeserved victory over Oninho for the same reason. For the second match, Grillo wanted a different referee. Euzebio de Queiroz, Pillar Drummond, Gumercindo Taboada, Soroa, among others, would be acceptable, he thought.62
The rematch was arranged for Thursday December 16, in a
ccordance with Grillo’s request to waste no time. It was again held at Stadium Brasil. The semi-final was a boxing match between Loffredinho and Gabriel Pena.63
The rematch was recognized by the Federation as a catch-as-catch-can exhibition rather than a regulation match.
The first round was active and entertaining. Both fighters were aggressive but neither was able to seize a decisive advantage. Grillo initiated the second round with a strong offensive that knocked Gracie out of the ring. Before George could climb back in, Grillo flattened him with a punch. The judge, Leonal Martins, awarded George the victory by disqualification, as specified in the rules.64
Catch versus Jiu-Jitsu
Due partly to the shortage of qualified jiu-jitsu fighters, as well as the public’s obvious desire to watch giants in the ring, Yano increasingly confronted luta livre and catch wrestlers. On December 16, 1937 at Feira de Amostras in Bello Horizonte he faced the Greek catch wrestling champion Jim Atlas in a catch match of six rounds.65
Despite Atlas’ weight advantage of approximately 30 kilos,66 the match was even until Atlas applied a powerful neck-tie choke [ponderosa gravata] in the fifth round. Atlas held the choke for 2 minutes, almost suffocating Yano.
Four minutes into the sixth round, Atlas applied a very powerful scissors hold [fortissimas tesouras], which knocked Yano out cold [fóra de combate]. Fortunately, Oswaldo Gracie, the referee for the fight, intervened in time to save Yano from being killed [evitar a morte do lutador Japonez]. Atlas was so focused on winning that Oswaldo had to punch him on the chin to make him release his hold.67
Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) Page 33