Cold Canvas
After the first Grillo versus Gracie match, Oninho challenged the “Catcher Luso” [Portuguese catcher, i.e., Grillo].68 He had already fought George twice, brilliantly, earning the admiration of the public. George was sometimes described as a “pygmy.” Compared to Oninho, George was a giant. Fight fans were always up for David versus Goliath confrontations, and Oninho versus Grillo would be one.
It promised to be a close fight [certeza de ser renhidissima]. Grillo had size and experience on his side. Oninho had youth and impetuosity on his.69
Diario Carioca emphasized Oninho’s technique, in an indirect way. Oninho was Japanese. So was Conde Koma, who even in 1937 at his advanced age, in Pará, was capable of defeating men much heavier than himself. Oninho, despite his youth and miniscule size, Diario Carioca stressed, was a very dangerous for any opponent. Oninho was faster and more agile than Grillo and had the major advantage of training with his older brother Yassuiti, a true master. “Oninho is capable of beating Grillo,” the paper concluded.70
The story appeared side by side with two others. From Bremerhaven, Germany, Max Schmeling declared that he wouldn’t fight Joe Louis in New York. Schmeling shook up the boxing world when he knocked Louis out in the 12th round on June 19, 1936. Louis had been regarded as unbeatable. Schmeling noticed a flaw in Louis jab and took full advantage of it that night. Louis regrouped and took the heavyweight crown from James Braddock in 1937, but needed to avenge his loss to Schmeling in order to be accepted as the “real” champion.71
On the other side of the planet, Japan had not given up its plan of hosting the 1940 Olympic Games, in spite of the negative press it had gotten from its invasion of China.
Bad things were brewing but that was still a few years and two oceans away. Brazil was only peripherally involved. In 1937 Cariocas were more concerned with whether Oninho could beat Manoel Grillo.
It turned out that he could.72 Oninho left Grillo unconscious on the cold canvas [deixando-o descordado na lona fria].73
.Chapter 17 Notes
Chapter 18
1938
The Yassuiti Ono versus George Gracie rematch hadn’t been entirely satisfying, due to Ono’s inexplicably dishonorable rule violation. Prior to the fight, George had been dominated by his desire to completely re-establish himself, something that could only be possible with a decisive victory over Ono [esta dominado pelo a sua desejo de obter uma rehabiliatção completa, que so poderá ser conseguida com uma victoria decisive sobre o seu vencedor].
George wanted to be able to use cuteladas [chops] in the rematch. Ono replied that “chops are techniques of jiu-jitsu. George should to try to beat me under the same rules that I beat him” [“cutelada não é golpe de jiu-jitsu. George deve procurar vencer-me nas mesmas condições foi derrotado”]. Opinions were divided on the issue. Some felt that Ono’s position was reasonable, others thought that he was afraid of George’s chops.1
A win is a win, but it wasn’t the complete rehabilitation that George was hoping for. In the meantime George had fought Manoel Grillo twice, neither time with an ideal outcome, losing the first and winning the second on disqualification when Grillo, emulating Ono, punched George’s face. Ono had been out of action but by January 9 was ready to take on any comer.2
A new company named Empresa Brasil Ring, or Brasil Ring for short,3 quickly set up a “rematch of the rematch” for Saturday January 15. It would be a luta livre match, to ensure more action. Often, one paper complained, in jiu-jitsu matches the fighters grab each other’s clothes and wait for a chance to apply a technique. Without kimonos they have to be more active and apply more techniques and combinations of techniques which would make the fight more exciting.4 George insisted that pinning not be allowed.5 But prevailing opinion held that with or without kimono, it would be difficult for George to avoid another defeat.6
The day before the fight, Ono’s manager Antonio Lins announced that Ono had received an injury in training. He would fight, but only in kimono. That was unacceptable to the promoters, Brasil Ring, who cancelled the fight, and effectively terminated the luta livre “temporada” [season].7 The boxing matches (Loffredo versus Gabriel Pena; Antonio Soares versus Gaucho; and Loffredinho versus Virato Monteiro) were postponed to Saturday January 22.8
Ono didn’t fight again until October. George went to Bello Horizonte to prepare for a possible match with Takeo Yano.9 Apparently nothing came of it. It was never unusual for fights to be announced and then be indefinitely postponed and simply forgotten. Everyone got their names in the paper and that was worthwhile in itself. It might have been the point in the first place.
A third match between Geo Omori and George Gracie was scheduled for January 29, 1938. However, on the day of the fight it was announced that the fight would be postponed.10 Unfortunately, Omori would never fight again.
Between Life and Death
Disturbing news came from Bello Horizonte that Omori was in grave condition [gravamente enfermo],11 somewhere between life and death [entre a vida e a morte].12
Expecting the worst, A Noite Illustrada published a report on February 22, titled “Omori: O Campeão que Eulogueceu” [“Omori, the champion who has become mentally incapacitated”]. According to the report, Omori’s friend, the wrestler Antonio Mossoró went to visit him. He found Omori stretched out motionless, unresponsive, on a bench. He learned from Omori’s co-workers that he had been like that for more than six hours. He was taken to the Instituo Raul Soares.
The director, Dr. Galba Moss Veloso was at a loss to diagnose the problem. Omori’s wife Cetuko13 said that he had been worried about money and had been having increasingly severe headaches. Therapeutic modalities were to no avail. Omori was blind, dumb, deaf, and unresponsive.
When he came to Brazil after an unspecified period of time in the “land of dollars” [terra dos dollars], the United States, he had accumulated as much money as he needed. He was tired of fighting and wanted to rest. He opened a tropical fish store [casa de peixes raros e de fantasia] in São Paulo. But the store didn’t prosper. He returned to fighting and became a Brazilian legend. Eventually, as happens to all fighters, he grew older. Younger rivals appeared to claim their share of the spotlight. His name appeared in the press less and less. His financial situation deteriorated. He had a wife and young daughter named Kimika14 to support.
Desperate to restore his shakey finances, he traveled around the Brazilian states performing in lutas avulsos [uncontracted fights] and lutas a combinar [faked fights]. Finally, he found a job as a care-taker [zelador] at the aquario da Feira Permanante de Amostras de Bello Horizonte, which suited him tempermentally. In his youth in Japan, he enjoyed working with tropical fish. They didn’t talk and he didn’t have to either.
The problem was money. The monthly salary was 1,400$. He could barely scrape by. For a man who had once been a super-star, it was a serious let-down.
At one point about seven days after he was hospitalized, Omori seemed to be making one last attempt to pull out a victory of some sort. He was able to mutter a few words. His mental condition was still poor, but it gave hope that he might somehow pull through. One of the attending physicians, Dr. Nagib Abdo, was optimistic. Journalists asked him if Omori would be able to return to the “rings”.
“I don’t think so”, Dr. Abdo said. “Even if he completely recovers, he will never fight again. The damage he has suffered so far has already been severe. It is only his remarkable physical constitution that has allowed him to survive even this long”.15
The next day it was reported that Omori’s condition was improving [vae melhorando].16
It was a false hope.
Death of a Superstar
Omori died at 4:40 p.m., Friday afternoon, March 2, 1938.17 His wife Cetuko and four year old daughter Kimika and faithful friend Takeo Yano were there with him.18 He was 46 years old.19
Doctors had been baffled by Omori’s symptoms. Psychiatrist Neves Manta speculated that they might have been caused by inju
ries suffered in the ring, or possibly auto-intoxication or hetero-intoxication.20 Takeo Yano was not a doctor, but he was sure fighting wasn’t the cause. Omori had had about 600 fights, he said. But, he added, that was normal in Japan, where fighters fight every day.21
Like so many fighters, Geo Omori died broke.22 Compatriots, friends, and fans contributed money for Kimika’s education. The first to donate were N. Touzuki, W. Miyazaki, K. Hizumi, Abelardo Moreira, and one anyonymous person, who donated 10$000 each. Dr. Motto Ohno offered 20$000.23 The Queirolo brothers, good friends of Omori since he joined their circus in 1928, donated 1,750 milreis.24
The Geo Omori era was finished. For everyone else, life and fighting went on.
Open Challenge
Alberto Suleiman taught jiu-jitsu at Academia Kid Pratt in São Paulo although, like many others, his jiu-jitsu qualifications were obscure. On April 3, he accepted Yassuiti Ono’s open challenge to all São Paulo based luta livre and jiu-jitsu fighters,25 and had been preparing to fight him as late as April 21.
By April 23, Oninho had taken his older brother’s place. On May 1, 1938, Suleiman and Oninho inked a contract to “measure forces” on Saturday May 7 in the gynasium of Associação Athletica São Paulo.26 The fight would be 10-minute rounds without limit of rounds, with 2-minute breaks, the winner to be decided by give up or knock-out. There would also be three amateur jiu-jitsu matches of either four or six 5-minute rounds.
The contest was only six days away. Both fighters were already in excellent shape, they guaranteed. In an interview Oninho said that had been training three years, fighting constantly, had never lost (in fact however, he had lost twice to George Gracie), and most of his fights were at Circo Queirolo.27 Few, if any, of Oninho’s fights at Circo Queirolo were significant enough to merit press coverage.
Suleiman was equally confident and with good reason. He had dedicated the preceeding nine years of his life to fighting. In more than 64 contests, he had never lost.28 He clarified later that he had been held to a draw four times and won 60 times.29
Oninho weighed 56 kilos, Suleiman 72 kilos. It appeared that Suleiman had a considerable advantage in both weight and experience. How relevant his experience was remained to be seen. Many, if not all, of his fights were luta livre matches with the likes of Jayme Ferreira, Dudú, and Herminio.30
Suleiman’s edge didn’t pay off for him. Oninho put an end to Suleiman in just a little over one minute, applying four violent and technical “blows” and forcing Suleiman to concede.31
In the amateur matches, Braz Gomes (70 kilos) defeated Sinssuke Yamada (51 kilos) in the fourth round; Sadayuki Sugo (52 kilos) defeated Geraldo Falção (68 kilos); in the third round. It is unclear from the description (vencendo este) whether Gomes (52 kilos defeated Jose Roberto Macedo Soares (60 kilos), or vice-versa.
Rage
Abrahão Gazal (also known by the name of “Rage”) was one of Geo Omori’s first and best students in São Paulo [um dos primerios e melhores alumnus do fallecido Geo Omori]. He was of Syrian descent, but born in Brasil. Following his teacher’s recent death, Abrahão had maintained a respectful silence. On May 26 he broke his silence and publically accepted Ono’s challenge. However he wanted to fight Oninho rather than Yassuiti. He was said to be very experienced and had defeated reputable opponents [disputou numerosas lutas, vencendo bons adeversarios]. Most of his fights had been in small shows in Barretos, in the interior of São Paulo State where he lived, A few of his appearances had been in São Paulo, but apparently not against any big name opponents.32 He weighed 63 kilos, about 6-8 kilos more than Oninho, which might have increased his chances of winning, although it didn’t help Alberto Suileiman. It appears that the fight didn’t happen after all. There was more money in fighting giants and that is where Oninho directed his attention. Next in his sights was the former Gracie student (or associate) Benedicto Peres.
Impetuosity versus Experience
Oninho had problems, relatively speaking, with light, fast opponents like George Gracie. Larger opponents seemed more vulnerable to his advantage of speed. Suleiman was the most recent. Next, Oninho took on an even bigger foe, Benedicto Peres.
Peres had participated in the Geo Omori exhibition match with Carlos Gracie in January on 1930. He also took part in the controversial Gracie organized jiu-jitsu versus capoeiragem show on July 3, 1931. At that time he was described as an “old student” [“antigo alumno”] of the “Academia de Jiu-Jitsu”, as the Academia Gracie was originally called when it was established by Donato Pires dos Reis in 1930.33 Clearly, he was very experienced. He also had a substantial weight advantage.
The fight was set for Saturday June 11 at Gymnasio da Athletica in São Paulo. It would be a jiu-jitsu match of ten 5-minute rounds, with 2-minute breaks. Oninho weighed 57 kilos, Peres weighed 84 kilos.
Three other jiu-jitsu matches would be presented: Dudu Dorn (50 kilos) versus Sadayuki Sugou (52 kilos); Braz Gomes versus Arthus Miele, (both 68 kilos) and Ono student Milton Ferreira versus Sadao Ishio (both 69 kilos) in four 5-minute round matches. There was also a boxing match.34
Oninho prevailed once more over a bigger, more experienced adversary. How was not reported, but it clearly must have been either give up or knock out, because the fight ended in the third round. The three other jiu-jitsu contests also ended in give up or knock-out: Gomes over Macedo Soares (who had replaced Miele) in the third round; Sugo over Dorn in the fourth round, and Milton over Ishio in the third round.35
Cowboy Yankee
The “cowboy Yankee” Jack Russell arrived in 1934 as a member of the Zbyszko troup of international catch-as-catch-can wrestlers.36 Like all of the catch wrestlers he was well into middle-age. He was allegedly a boxer as well as a catcher.37 His grappling skills may have been eroded by time because he relied on dirty tactics to the extent that his nickname was “king of fouls [“rei do fouls”] and most of his matches were described as being “full of irregularities”. He was also known as the “palhaço” [clown] of the troupe.38 He played the role of “heel” in any match. He was also from Texas and therefore big. He was the ideal opponent for a jiu-jitsu representative.
The first of George Gracie’s three matches with Russell between August 2 and November 9 was a luta livre contest at Estadio Brasil, Tuesday August 2 consisting of two 20-minute rounds (with a 2-minute break). Pins and chokes were permitted and thus each man could use the ultimate weapon in the arsenal of his respective art.39
Chokes were permitted in catch.40 But catch wrestlers did not wear kimonos in their regulation matches. The kimono added a different dimension to the choke game however. The no-gi wrestlers used it as a bargaining chip. In any “mixed styles” fight, rules had to be negotiated, especially when, as was invariably the case, there were large weight disparities. One side could bargain chokes for pins, weight for kimono, and so on. While such case-by-case rule modifications could be confusing, they added novelty and permitted more matches to be presented, as the Jack Russell versus George Gracie series illustrated.
George was not worried about Russell’s brute force. Technique is capable of overcoming bruth force, he explained, and promised to demonstrate that to the fans. Russell had less to say. He simply affirmed that he would win [“vencerá”]. Perhaps he was counting on his 30 kilo weight advantage to get the job done.41
Russell was known as a “palhaço” not because his fights were fake (which isn’t to say that they weren’t), but because, like American ex-heavyweight champion Max Baer (who was described as the clown prince of boxing), he enjoyed entertaining the fans. Both Russell and Baer offered comedy in addition to violence. But on the night of the fight, there would be no clowning, only violence. Jack Russell would be fighting for real. At least, that’s what one newspaper thought.42
Russell thought George was deluded [“eu convencido que George Gracie é un bobo”]. The cowboy Yankee described George as an ant [formiguinha] and promised to crush him [Jack Russell promette esmigalhar George Gracie]. It wasn’t personal, he sai
d. An elephant doesn’t go out of his way to crush an ant, but if the ant gets in the way, it will get stepped on.
George rejected Russll’s promise, saying with an ironic smile [com um sorriso ironico] that he would not be crumbled [estraçalhar] and that he would keep the fight on stand-up until the end of the final round, until Russell tasted the bitterness of defeat.43
Joe Campbell, who George would meet soon, was also on the card, facing the Hungarian Ede Ebner. Campbell was thought to be more technical, but anything is possible in catch wrestling, the paper observed.44
Despite the disproportion in their sizes, the fight started actively [iniciado com movimentação].
After several minutes, the spectators felt like they were watching an exhibition. George went for two chokes, but Russell freed himself dexterously [livrou-se bem]. At the start of the second round, George again went for a choke, Russell again extricated himself, but this time, he threw George to the floor, fell on him and held him down.
George was unable to keep his promise. He succumbed to a pin after 23 minutes.45
Diario Carioca was not impressed with George’s performance. He was a toy in Russell’s hands [George Gracie foi um brinquedo nas mãos de Jack Russell]. Russell played with George in a fatherly fashion [paternalmente], letting the “red cat” [gato ruivo] think that he had a chance to apply one of his “scientific” techniques. But the fans knew that Russell, with one swipe of his powerful arms, could send George to a cold hard slab in the city morgue [marmore frio da mesa de um necroterio]. At 5 minutes into the second round, Russell, irritated more than intimidated by one of George’s pathetic choke attempts, lifted him up and slammed him to the floor, and with his 103 kilos, pinned the tiny body [corpo minisculo] of George Gracie to the floor. Russell calmly waited while the referee counted the regulation three seconds. The referee could have kept on counting. George couldn’t move.46
Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) Page 34