Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1)

by Roberto Pedreira

  Donato Pires’s school offered four plans of study (A, B, C, and D), one for each type of person. Plan C focused on the essentials of self-defense, consisting of five segments, each described in some detail in the article.

  Plan D was ‘kuatsu’ [resuscitation”].36 Plans A and b were not described but one of them might have been the program of ring fighting, taught by “the greatest jiu-jitsu and luta livre fighter in South America, George Gracie” [“programma de ensino de luta directamente no ring que será chefiado pelo mais perfeito lutador de jiu-jitsu e luta livre da America do Sul, George Gracie”].

  The cost for George’s instruction was 300$000 [300 milreis] per month. Poor kids would be taught for free [secção gratis a juventude reconheciamente pauperrima].37

  Several weeks later Correio Paulistano visited the “Estudio Scientific de Defesa Pessoal” where Dr. Donato Pires dos Reis was teaching a group of students the “secret technique” [golpe secreto], which not even the strongest man could withstand [nenhum homem, por mais forte, resiste ao ‘golpe secreto’].

  The secret technique was part of “higher jiu-jitsu” [jiu-jitsu superior], and was useful for weak people who never took part in sports [pode ser applicado por um homem fraco que nunca praticou esportes algum]. The higher techniques of jiu-jitsu didn’t need to be practiced in a ring [não necessitam de treinamento no ringue]. They didn’t even require an instructor [nem de aulas com instructors]. All that was needed was a lecture and an anatomical diagram.

  The other form of jiu-jitsu (the “lower” form) was “jiu-jitsu do tablado” or sport jiu-jtsu. It was also useful but in a different way, and only if done correctly, Dr. Pires explained. The student should practice the technique with a qualified instructor. The training must be systematic and methodical, or the student would not learn the techniques properly.38

  No mention was made of George Gracie in the September 17 article.

  German Giant

  September 2, 1939. George Gracie took his turn in front of the giant German Fritz Weber at the gymnasium of the Associação Athletica São Paulo. Weber weighed at least 134 kilos to George’s 70 kilos.39

  Gracie dominated Weber and finished him with a chave de braço [armlock] in the sixth round. Before the final match, the Portuguese champion Manoel Grillo was introduced and challenged both George and Weber, and also Naoiti Ono and Roberto Ruhmann. 40

  After his victory over Weber, George was immediately challenged again by Yassuiti Ono. George agreed and a match was planned for September 16 at the gymnasium of Associação Athletica São Paulo. But on Saturday September 9, George injured his arm in a match against the French champion Charles Ulsemer in Bello Horizonte (the result was a draw). The Ono fight was postponed until Saturday September 23.41

  Help Wanted

  Carlos and Helio may have had more students than they could personally teach in September of 1939. At least that might be one reason why they advertised for an “apprentice jiu-jitsu teacher”. The ad appeared on Saturday September 2 in Jornal do Brasil, numbered 74493, in the middle row of the left-hand column. The prospective apprentice teacher needed to weigh at least 65 kilos, and be no older than 25 years.42

  Why they did it is unclear. Perhaps student enrollments were booming at such a rate that they could not train enough intructors from among their own ranks. Conversely, enrollments might have been lagging. Advertising for an instructor or “apprentice monitor”would be an inexpensive way to attract the attention of potential new students while giving the impression of great demand for jiu-jitsu instruction at the Gracie Academy.43

  The King of Throws

  George Gracie and Takeo Yano, by this time well-accustomed to working together, met again in October of 1939. It was promoted as a match between two masters and a fight between two different styles of the game [Uma luta entre dois estylistas differentes]. Yano was known as the “King of Throws” outside his country of origin [o rei da queda fóra de sue paiz de origem]. For the purpose of the up-coming fight with George Gracie, Yano was unbeatable at throwing. That didn’t bother George. Unlike in their September 24, 1938, he wasn’t going to try to beat Yano at his own game. Gracie preferred to fight on the ground [Emquanto que Yano e insuperavel nas quedas, Gracie prefere a a luta deitado].

  The article provided some information about Yano that had been missing.

  Yano had studied at “escola de koku-shi-kan” [probably a misspelling of Kodokan]. He graduated in 12 months with the rank of 3-dan. He became acquainted with Conde Koma in mid-1931 [Travou, em meados de 1931, conhecimentos como conde Koma]. He studied at the koku-shi-kan [Kodokan] with Chugo Sato (they entered one year apart).

  Sato explained one aspect of the jiu-jitsu game that he had learned at the Kodokan, an aspect that over the years had been misunderstood by those whose knowledge of the Japanese game came primarily from books. Sato made it clear that “Jiu-jitsu starts standing because that is the position of men. But victory doesn’t result from one throw. The superiority of one man over the other is decided on the ground using the thousands of techniques and counter-techniques of jiu-jitsu”.44

  While conceding that Yano had a clear edge in the stand-up game, one writer reminded those who might underestimate George’s chances that he was a true magician on the ground [George Gracie no chão e um verdadeiro malabarista]. Anything was possible. Anything could happen.45

  The fight took place at the Gymnasium of the Associação Athletica São Paulo on Saturday June 7, 1939. It would be ten 5-minute rounds (with two-minute breaks).The referee was jiu-jitsu professor Riquetto Filho. There would also be one amateur and two professional boxing matches (Pernambuco versus Negrito, and Zumbano III versus Benedicto “Fumaça” Emilio).

  Yano and George Gracie were evenly matched and put on an exciting show. The fans were thoroughly satisfied for a change. Neither man gave up or was knocked out and points were not being scored. Therefore there was no winner and no loser. Prof. Arthuro Riquetto Filho refereed the match with his customary competence.46

  Modesty

  German champion Fritz Weber thought that Yassuiti Ono was an excellent fighter, but he expected to win [“espero vencer”] if Ono didn’t try to run away. When asked why he didn’t fight Ono in a jiu-jitsu match, he said “because I don’t know how to fight jiu-jitsu. I have begun to learn the Japanese sport, but I will fight in public only when I’m sure it won’t be a fiasco. If I fought Ono in a jiu-jitsu match I would lose”.47 He added that he wouldn’t dare to accept a jiu-jitsu fight against Ono [“não seria tão ousado, de modo a acceitar um combate com Ono”], who was undefeated in more than 120 fights [“mais de 120 lutas…manter-se invicto até agora”].

  One had to admire Weber’s honesty. And his modesty. He didn’t promise to crush Ono, but more conservatively, only that he would win on points―many points [“eu o venci por pontos, por muitos pontos”].48

  The fight was held at Ringue Paulistano, promoted by Jose Antonio Lage. Weber supposedly had a more than 50 kilos weight advantage,49 which was an understatement if Weber weighed what he did seven weeks earlier in the George Gracie match, and Ono weighed something near his customary 68 kilos. The match was 12 rounds of 5-minutes with 2-minute breaks between rounds.50

  In a prelimary match, Benedicto Peres do Campos and Arthur Riquetto.would be contending for the title of Campeão Paulista, in a ten 5-minute round jiu-jitsu contest. The referee was Oninho.51

  According to a later report, Weber did not find it as easy to grab hold of Ono as he had wanted [incapaz de pega-o, como queria, uma só vez], and Ono ended up winning.52 Perhaps that is what Weber had in mind when he qualified his prediction that he would win―if Ono didn’t “run away” [fugir aos seus golpes]. He promised that he would try to finish it quickly. He obviously found that easier to promise than to implement.

  Peres clearly defeated Riquetto to claim the title of Campeão Paulista. He might have succeeded on pure technique but his 20-25 kilos weight edge probably helped too.

  Jiu-Jitsu meets Catch


  On Saturday November 4, Yassuiti Ono met Jose Kolt (also spelled Kollt, Kolit, and Colt). Kolt was the famous pro wrestler “Black Mask [Mascara Negra]. He had a distinguished record, having beaten Karol Nowina, Zbyszko, Jack Russell, and, allegedly, Geo Omori.53

  Kolt came to Rio a few days before the fight, challenging any luta livre fighter. Yassuiti Ono, who recently defeated the gigantic German Frtiz Weber, was the first to accept. The fight would be ten 5-minute rounds.

  In addition, Benedicto Peres would face the fearsome Oninho. Oninho was a specialist in the art favored by his countrymen, Correio Paulistano informed readers. Peres would not have an easy job to defeat defeat Oninho Saturday November 4 at Frontão Boa Vista.54

  Although Kolt was “pro wrestler” and fixed fights were not rare, there is no evidence that he “threw” the fight with Yassuiti Ono. However, fights could be tweaked to provide more entertainment value for the paying public. An easy way was for a superior fighter to let a weaker fighter survive or even to threaten him. In other words, to perform a fake fight for several rounds and then finish the opponent off when the fans had gotten their money’s worth.

  That seems to be what happened. It wasn’t surprising that Ono choked Kolt from behind [estrangulamento pelas costas]. What was surprising was that it took 22 minutes to do it. But it was described as “the most sensational fight of the evening” so presumably everyone went home happy.55

  The Oninho versus Peres match was more unexpected in one sense but less unexpected in another. They battled so ferociously and so evenly that finally they both collapsed unconscious at the same time [Ambos trocavam o “amassa pão” até que, esgotados, perderam os sentidoes ao mesmo tempo]. The fans enjoyed the fight however. It is difficult to believe that fighters and promoters couldn’t put 2 and 2 together. The fans wanted exciting fights more than they wanted real fights. It was hard to guarantee an interesting real fight when fighters are trying to defend themselves and avoid getting hurt, as is human nature. Interesting fake fights could be guaranteed with considerable reliability. The solution was obvious.56

  With that in mind, Peres challenged Kolt, who, despite losing to Yassuiti Ono, had put up a good and entertaining fight. Kolt accepted and the fight was set for Saturday November 18, 1939, conveniently exactly one week away, and at the same venue. It would be eight 5-minute rounds. The referee was Alberto Suleiman, who like many fighters, doubled as a ring official.57

  On Saturday November 25, Yassuiti Ono faced Peres in a luta livre contest at Ringue Paulistano (formerly Frontão Boa Vista). Ono defeated Peres near the end of the fifth round (at 25 minutes into the fight) with an armlock [chave de braço] after putting on a display of his extraordinary skills, according to Correio Paulistano.58

  From what we know about Ono, there is no reason and no need to suspect any deception. That the men endeavored in some way and to some degree to make the fight more entertaining and to last longer can hardly be doubted. According to one well-placed insider, every fight was worked to some extent. Some fighters strongly denied that they personally worked any fights. Other people accepted that some fights were worked, but disagreed about who was responsible.59

  The final jiu-jitsu fights of the year took place on Saturday December 2, 1939 at Ringue Paulistano. Jose Cabral Freitas confronted Yer Nesaka, and Udo Dorn encountered Thomaz Comodoro. Both matches were three 3-minute rounds with 2-minute breaks. Oninho refereed the first match. Yassuiti Ono refereed the second. Braz Gomes II faced Osvaldo Bononi in a luta livre match refereed by Alberto Suleiman. They were promoted by Empresa (Jose Antonio) Lage, at Ringue Paulistano as preliminaries to two boxing matches (Fumaça versus Jimmy Wilde, and Gaucho versus Thomasulo).

  Yer Nesak defeated Jose Freitas by unspecified desistencia in the third round. Udo Dorn defeated Thomaz Comodor by armlock in the third round. Braz Gomes II and Osvaldo Bononi drew.60

  Yer Nesaka (also written as Ser Nizaki), Udo Dorn (also written Dudu Dorn), Thomaz Comodor, and Braz II would all be back in 1940, along with many new and familiar faces, and a great abundance of “catch wrestlers”.

  .Chapter 19 Notes

  Chapter 20

  1940

  On February 14, Empreza Brasil Box announced that the 1940 season of the internacional de catch-as-catch-can and jiu-jitsu would begin on March 9, at Stadium Brasil.

  Participants would be Sarquiz Budip, Jack Russell, Renato Gardini, Charles Ulsemer, Andre Castano, Al Pereira, among other champions and ases [aces] of the exciting American sport. In addition, two “cracks”[experts] in the game of the land of the Mikado [jogo da terra do Mikado], Takeo Yano and George Gracie would also take part. A varied assortment of local luta livre and jiu-jitsu fighters would round out the shows. The temporada [season] was being directed by Renato Gardini. Matches were held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and occasionally at other times for special events.1

  ***

  In São Paulo, on Saturday February 24, in a benefit to help victims of the war in Finland, Gastão Gracie Filho and his student Dr. Stein Deltow presented a demonstration of self-defense and jiu-jitsu throws at the Club Escandinavo on rua Nestor Pestana. The demonstration began at 8:00 p.m.2

  Opening Day

  The main event on the opening day at Stadium Brasil on Saturday March 9 pitted Takeo Yano against the cowboy Yankee Jack Russell. Two jiu-jitsu matches were also offered. Carlos Pereira faced Eduardo Alves Junior, and Emery de Andrade met Jose de Araujo. There was also a catch match between Renato Gardini, 90 kilos, and Sarquis (also referred to as Jacques, among other names) Budip, 102 kilos. All fights were six rounds of 10 minutes.

  Yano versus the cowboy Yankee was the best fight of the night. Yano weighed 76 kilos, Russell weighed 106. Yano put on a splendid exhibition and Russell once more demonstrated that he knew how to put on a show. At the 3 minute mark of the fourth round of the match Yano and Russell both fell out of the ring. Yano immediately returned, but Russell appeared to be “groggy” and was unable to get back within the allowed time. Yano was declared the winner by KO.3

  In the preliminary jiu-jitsu matches, Emery de Andrade defeated Jose de Araujo by armlock in the second round. Carlos Pereira also defeated Eduardo Alves Junior in the second round by armlock.

  In the “catch” match, Budip defeated Gardini early in the first round. Gardini didn’t look good, the report said [reapparecéu mal]. However, Gardini later rejected the decision and threatened the referee, Angelo Ledoux.4O

  In unrelated news, Olympio Motta Juniro, 51, decided to end it all and jumped under the wheels of a train as it was passing by estrada Monsenhor Felix. He was married, and lived at rua Oliveira Alves , n. 87 in Iraja, and had a job (he worked at Correios e Telegraphos).5

  Double Choke

  George and Yano renewed their acquaintance Saturday March 16 at Estadio Brasil. It was George’s reappearance in the Rio rings after a lengthy stay in Bello Horizonte. Under the circumstances, George didn’t want to predict the result of the fight. He simply said, “I don’t like to speculate, but when a Gracie enters the ring, it is to win” [“não gusto de dar palpites, mas um Gracie quando sobe ao ring e para vencer”].6

  The match was replete with sensational attacks and escapes. In the fifth round the fighters applied simultaneous chokes. Reports on what happened next differed. One said that they fell out of the ring in a “double choke” [estrangulamento duplo] which left both men unconscious [provocou a perda dos sentidos dos dois lutadores]. George Gracie was first to recover [levantou-se primerio]. The referee, Jayme Ferreira, summarily declared Yano to be beaten [vencido]. George refused to accept the victory. Ferreira then revised his decision and called the match a draw. It was an excellent match, the reporter said, but the result was irregular and contrary to the rules of jiu-jitsu [desfecho irregular, contra a regras do jiu-jitsu].7

  One observer blamed the result on Jayme Ferreira’s “habitual incompetence” [“reaffirmou mais uma vez sua incompetencia”].8

  The preliminary matches were less
dramatic. Carlos Pereira defeated Antonio Maia by armlock in round 2 (some reports said it was round 1). Walter Sant’Ana choked Sergio Moreira in round 2. Sarquiz Budip (112 kilos) won by disqualification of Jack Russell (110 kilos) in the third round of a three 10-minute round match.9

  Due to the dramatic and ambiguous nature of the conclusion to this fight, another fight between the two men was arranged for March 30. George admitted that he had been “groggy” as a result of Yano’s choke in the last fight, but assured the reporter that he absolutely wasn’t “out”, he was merely slightly discombobulated, but “came to” immediately and was ready to resume the fight before Yano was able to recover.10

  Based on George’s comments, it is unclear why he rejected Jayme Ferreira’s initial decision to declare him the winner. The result was indeed “inconclusive” but that was because George refused to accept the victory.

  It was a predicament. The only solution was to have another fight. Fans and fight analysts demanded a more impartial and competent referee. Maturity de Freitas was tapped for the job. He wouldn’t have much to do. George promised that this time he wouldn’t leave the decision in the hands of a referee.11

  Ground

  George intended to approach the return match tactically, rather than emotionally or theatrically. He was interested in putting on a show or proving his masculine qualities of bravery and aggressiveness. But in this case, even more than that, he wanted to win the fight. Knowing that Yano was his master on stand-up, he resolved to stay close to the ground [prefere…o jogo rasteiro, ao passo que Yano, em pé, é perigosissimo].12

  Preliminary fights included and Carlos Pereira versus Camillo Hollanda in jiu-jitsu. Carlos Pereira represented the Gracie Academy. Camillo Hollanda was one of George Gracie’s students. Pereira expected to remain undefeated and offered his winnings to the homeless people of Portugal. He emphasized that he trained jiu-jitsu as a sport. They both had the benefit of famous teachers, but Pereira had the edge in experience. He had fought in front of large crowds at least three times before. As far as we know, Hollanda’s ring experience consisted of one exhibition with George.