.Chapter 20 Notes
Chapter 21
1941
With Helio retired from professional fighting and his other three brothers following their own paths, Carlos Gracie needed sources of income. One of his spiritual devotees, Oscar Santa Maria, provided some. Carlos also continued to teach jiu-jitsu. Without fights to attract public attention to his academy, Carlos needed to conduct demonstrations. For that partners were needed. Big tough guys were always impressive in the roles of aggressor-victims. Young girls could also be impressive in the opposite role. Carlos apparently, combined demonstrations with another of his interests, young girls.1
One of Carlos Gracie’s primary projects was producing new life, generally with the assistance of young girls from a lower social class than his own.2 He usually married them and generally managed to stay out of trouble. But not always.
The fighter promoter Gonçalves de Oliveira filed a complaint in the 4th Police District alleging that Carlos had promised to marry his under-aged daughter, Lida de Oliveira e Silva, and then reneged.
Lida had begun as a maid in Carlos’ house and had somehow become a jiu-jitsu student and partner in his demonstrations. Lida stated that Carlos drew a horoscope and then “interpreted” it to arrive at the conclusion that she would become his wife. Carlos abandoned her after she became pregnant.3 Carlos firmly denied the allegation. His lawyer promised to offer proof within the next few days of his client’s innocence.4
Carlos was absolved of the charge, article 267 of the penal code, by judge Toscano Espinola.5 The promoter (now identified as Eugenio Clatta-Preto) appealed. Judge Romão Cortes de Lacerda overturned the absolution and ruled definitively that Carlos should serve one year in a prison cell.6
In a probably unrelated bit of misfortune, Gastão Jr. lost the position he had held since October 19387 teaching jiu-jitsu in the Department of Physical Education.8
Professional jiu-jitsu had increasingly fallen into disfavor over the years. By 1941 there were few pure jiu-jitsu matches. Jiu-jitsu could not compete with “catch” as a form of entertainment. Even the most outstanding jiu-jitsu representatives of the previous decade were faced with the choice of participating in catch wrestling or getting out of the business. Some got out. Others became pro wrestlers.
Interest in jiu-jitsu did not die out, but it became increasingly an amateur sport. Fans still enjoyed seeing spectacular throws, but these were difficult to execute in a catch match with no kimono and opponents who sometimes weighed nearly twice as much as the jiu-jitsu man, if not more.
Jiu-jitsu throws were not only spectacular, but seemed mysterious. One popular sports magazine presented a pictorial showing various ways, using the “scientific Japanese sport”, to put an opponent on the ground [As varias maneiras de lever o adversario ao chão]. Two Kodokan alumni, Geo Omori and Takeo Yano demonstrated “Tsurigoni seoa-nage”, “o uchimata”, and “o haraigoshi”. The photos were taken long before, as Omori had died in 1938 and both men looked very young. Yano was described as the young Japanese disciple of Conde Koma, and a master of throws who excited the fans with the apparent ease with which he had been able to throw George Gracie in most of their numerous previous encounters. Yano’s error, the article suggested, was not immediately following up with ground attacks, allowing George, with his “calmness and perfect defense” to avoid defeat.9
In 1934, Empresa Pugilistica Brasileira announced the arrival of a student of Conde Koma, then in Pará. He was said to be a major expert in jiu-jitsu who could be successful in the ring against the best fighters.10 He was undoubtedly Takeo Yano.
Yano met Conde Koma in mid-1931.11 Before his first professional fight, Yano was introduced as having been in the shadow of (or under) [a sombra de] the almost legendary Conde Koma in Pará.
Takeo Yano was not the greatest Japanese jiu-jitsu master, or most successful in the Brazilian rings, but he was the most visible and the most active. With a few exceptions, jiu-jitsu in the rings of Rio, São Paulo, and Bello Horizonte from 1941 to 1949 was represented by Takeo Yano.
Jiu-Jitsu Sport
But jiu-jitsu was an amateur sport as well. The Bento Ribeiro Football Club inaugurated a jiu-jitsu section on Friday, September 6, 1941. Four matches were presented. Dirceu confronted Alcides; Franca Filho faced Baiano; Oswaldo Fada measured forces with Moreira, and Oswaldo Fada and Moreira engaged in a “self defense” match.12
Little information about the jiu-jitsu section subsequently reached the press, understandably. Amateur sports and recreational training were not particularly newsworthy. Without a gifted promoter along the lines of Carlos Gracie to launch challenges and manufacture miscellaneous media events, no one would hear about it. The public had no reason to care, and the amateur athletes and hobbyists probably didn’t need the publicity either.
Fada was still teaching jiu-jitsu in Bento Riberio in the 1950’s which implies that people were learning his version of the art throughout the 1940’s, subject to the disruptions of World War II.
Life went on. Helio Gracie was born a few days before March 1941 in São Paulo. Not the famous, but now retired, fighter, brother of Carlos and George, but rather the son of Gastão Gracie Filho and Rosa Fusco Gracie.13
Choque de Jiu-Jitsu
The only confirmed professional jiu-jitsu matches of the year were Takeo Yano versus Charles Ulsemer, and Carlos Pereira versus Manoel Rocha. The first was the main event, the second was the semi-final. It was Organized by Imprensa Nicolino Vigiani, to take place September 27, 1941 at Estadio Brasil. It would be a “choque de jiu-jitsu” [jiu-jitsu match] in four 10-minute rounds. There also were two amateur and two professional boxing matches.
It was a revenge match for Yano. He had already faced Ulsemer in 1939, losing by choke in the fifth round. Assuming that the fight was legitimate, it simply may not have been Yano’s night. Even great champions can lose flukishly. No one can be 100% every time they enter the ring. Sometimes that results in close-calls. Other times, titles change hands, and eras come to an end.
But Yano bounced back. His reputation was reasonably intact. As for Ulsemer, it was enough to mention that he had previously drawn with the “magnificent professional” Yassuiti Ono in São Paulo on December 14, 1940.14 In fact, it was this draw that ostensibly qualified him to meet Yano.15 It was also probably not unrelated to the fact that the “catch” season had just ended and both had time on their hands.16 Another reason was that Yano had been slated to fight Leon Finklestein, better known as “Homem Montanha”, who had suddenly gone to Buenos Aires. Ulsemer was drafted as a substitute.17
A picture in Diario de Noticias before the fight showed Ulsemer wearing a kimono and a dark, possibly black, belt. He was described as a practitioner of jiu-jitsu [praticante do jiu-jitsu] as well as a “catcher”.18 The kimono did not fit. Perhaps he left his own at home and put on whatever was available for the publicity shot. The first thing anyone who regularly trains in a do-gi (or kimono) learns is how to tie their obi (belt). Ulsemer’s belt was incorrectly tied.
It wasn’t the first time a wrestler (sometimes boxers and capoeiras too) had been described as being versed in, or even masters of, jiu-jitsu. In fact, it was common. It might have meant that they occasionally trained in a kimono.
Mostly, it provided a pretext for putting them in matches with smaller jiu-jitsu men. In most cases, such matches occurred in pairs, one without a kimono, in which the wrestler generally won, and another with kimono, in which the jiu-jitsu men generally won.
The fight was postponed to Saturday October 4 due to rain.19
Both fighters were confident. Yano was not afraid of Ulsemer [Yano não teme Ulsener]. Ulsemer was big but that was nothing new. Yano had disposed of big men numerous times before.
Gumercindo Taboada served as the referee. He was highly experienced and understood the game (the Carlos Pereira versus Manoel Rocha match was refereed by Alex Pinheiro). It was resolved that the fight would go on no matter what the weather was like [com qualquer tempo].
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Ulsemer’s confidence might have been based on his previous victory by choke over Yano. But confidence isn’t enough to win a fight. Ulsemer had skills. He proved that in the Yasssuiti Ono draw in 1940. Could he repeat the feat?
He couldn’t. At one point, after several spectacular exchanges of techniques, both men fell out of the ring together, leaving Ulsemer injured as a result. When they returned to the ring Yano surprised Ulsemer with a shoulder throw [balão] in combination with a fatal choke that ended the fight. It was all over in 5 minutes [Yano venceu Ulsener…foi vencedor Yano aos cinco minutos por estrangulamento].
Despite his loss, Ulsemer fought well [apesar de vencido, actuou bem]. Perhaps lack of experience cost him the fight. He had managed a draw against the greatest jiu-jitsu fighter in Brazil (Yassuiti Ono), but against Yano, it just wasn’t his night.
Carlos Pereira won by armlock 4 minutes into the second round.20
The program marked the re-initiation of the 1941 fight season [temporada de pugilismo de 1941]. But apparently, with one possible exception, the season did not include any more jiu-jitsu matches.
Dark Clouds
Outside of the rings, life went on.
The Standard Oil Company tanker I.C. White, flying a Panamanian flag, was sunk by a German submarine 750 kilometers north of Pernambuco. It was the sixth such attack. U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull believed that it represented Germany’s intention of eliminating shipping from the Atlantic.21
Germany and the Soviet Union were engaged in the first year of their four-year project of exterminating each other and killing half of the people of Eastern Europe.22
America was six weeks away from becoming fully and formally involved, thanks to the Japanese attack on December 7, and Hitler’s declaration of war on the U.S. on December 11. Brazilians were an ocean away and were more interested in catch wrestling and jiu-jitsu than genocide. What could they do about it anyway? Brazilians stereotypically prided themselves on their ability to compromise, but with people like Stalin and Hitler, they were out of their depth and lucky to be on the other side of the globe.
Like it or not however, Brazil would be involved. Both American and Germany wanted Brazilian rubber and other resources and if they couldn’t have them, they at least didn’t want the enemy to have them. That meant that Brazil was effectively cut off from Europe. Brazil got off easy. No one bombed or invaded Brazil. As in every other country sacrifices would need to be made. Pro wrestling would have to be put on a back-burner for the duration.
The situation in Europe was dire. No one expected the Russians to be able to hold out against the Germans.23 But the war was not yet a world war. There might be time for one more fight. George Gracie announced that he would soon meet an unspecified Portuguese fighter [lutador lusitano] at Estadio do America in Porto Alegre on Wednesday November 19.24 The planned fight may have been a casualty of the rapidly deteriorating international situation.
Oswaldo was no longer fighting. He still taught. In 1941, he was the “técnico de luta livre” [luta livre instructor] at the Minas Tenis Club.25
Japanese Water
Conde Koma died at 4:05 in the early morning on November 28, according to the diary of Ozaki Tatsuo of the Brazilian consulate. Koma’s last words were “I want to drink Japanese water; I want to go back to Japan”.26
Conde Koma’s real (or birth) name was Maeda Mitsuyo [前田光世]. As some immigrants did to facilitate inter-cultural interactions, he adopted a Brazilian name as well, Otavio. But in the press, he was invariably Conde Koma (or Conde de Koma, or Conde, or simply Koma). He was so well known by his nickname that when his death was reported in a local newspaper, his wife and daughter were described as May Iris Mayeda Koma and Celeste Iris Mayeda Koma, respectively.
It was in a sense the end of the jiu-jitsu era in Brazil, or rather the beginning of a decade long interlude.
.Chapter 21 Notes
Chapter 22
1942-1945
On January 19, 1942, it was reported in Brazil that Japan, Germany, and Italy had signed an agreement to cooperate in defeating their common enemies [inimigos comuns]. Their common enemies were England, the United States and various countries of South and Central America, including Brazil.1
That did not dissuade Brazilians from going to the beach. The same day Japan, Germany, and Italy declared their intention to destroy Brazil, George Gracie was on his way with a friend to praia balnearia do Tramandai on the coast off Porto Alegre.
George was unable to enjoy his day at the beach because his car overturned on route. He was seriously injured [gravemente ferido…seriamente ferido] and immediately taken to the hospital.2
Apparently George was not that seriously injured because nine days later, Thursday January 29, he was planning to climb into the ring with a fighter named Stack in Porto Alegre.3 “Stack” was probably Luiz Stock, one of the popular catchers appearing at Estadio America in Porto Alegre at the time, along with Constant Le Marim, Evaldo Fries (aka Tarzan Gaucho), Adagilso Morais, Dante Carvalho (Oswaldo Gracie’s former student), Otilo Corréa, Herrera, Armando Morais, Mascara Listada, and the national champion Euclides “Tatú” Hatem.4 It is unknown whether that fight took place. George may not have recovered as adequately as he had anticipated. It is equally possible that negotiations did not go smoothly.
In the Summer of 1942, George fought “Tatú” at Estadio America in Porto Alegre. Tatú submitted George with a “double Nelson” in the third round, leaving George unconscious on the canvas [Tatú, demonstrando estar na mais perfeita forma aplicando um “double Nelson” em Gracie, deixou-o desacordado sobre a lona]. George thereby lost his title as “undefeated” in Porto Alegre.5
Around that same time George fought Adalgido Moraes “Moirasinho” in a return match. It is uncertain precisely when these matches took place but according to Esportes Illustrado the second Moirasinho fight was in the week preceding June 11, 1942, and the other two fights must have been not long before that.
Swindler
Helio Gracie had not fought since 1937. His financial situation was precarious.6 In 1943 he was ready to re-enter the ring. In March he went to Porto Alegre in search of opponents.7 Apparently he did not find anyone willing to fight him, or to pay what he thought he was worth.
Also in Porto Alegre, George Gracie was seeking opponents from among local fighters.8 He had better luck than Helio. The former Jewish jiu-jitsu champion in Berlin, Willy Steinhardt, agreed to confront George. The fight was set for Friday April 16 at Ring Palacio in Porto Alegre, as part of a program that included catch and boxing.9
On Saturday May 22, 1943 Helio Gracie took another driving test [exame de motoristas]. He passed again.10
The promoter Eurico Rocha filed a criminal complaint [queixa-crime] against his old student [seu antigo pupilo] George Gracie. In an interview, George had called him an “embusteiro” [swindler]. George was ordered to appear in court on October 5. Rocha was George’s “manager” in Porto Alegre.11
Fake Jiu-Jitsu
Manoel Azevedo Maia had been a student of the Gracie Academy for five years during the late 1930’s. He had trained with Helio many times, and was one of the two academy representatives (the other was Paulo Cunha) who attended, with Helio, the judo demonstration of Suniyuki Kotani and Chugo Sato, on Monday July 31, 1939 at the Fluminense Football Club.12
Maia had followed his own path. He taught jiu-jitsu at the Tijuca Tenis Club and in the Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais. His students included Artur Jorge (George) and Murilo Reis. Neither was well-known for anything other than being Maia’s students.
Helio attacked Maia verbally, alleging that he was “contrary to the interests of real jiu-jitsu”.13 He did not explain what Maia did that he objected to.
Somewhere along the line, Maia didn’t know where, when, or why, Helio became convinced that his jiu-jitsu was the only jiu-jitsu.
Maia contended that Helio’s ring results against Takeo Yano and others (particularly Yassuiti Ono) proved that Helio’
s way wasn’t the only way. Maia acknowledged a debt to Carlos but he owed nothing to Helio, he said. Helio was just a friend who had become an “inveterate egoist and dangerous adversary”. But he wasn’t intimidated, Maia said. He was ready to fight anyone, including Helio Gracie.
Helio talked about “disciplina” [discipline] and “moralização [morality]”. But Helio didn’t know the meaning of the words, Maia said. Helio even went so far as to disrespect his own brother Carlos, calling him a “fake jiu-jitsu teacher” [“falso professor do jiu-jitsu”]. But Helio was off-base, Maia corrected, because it was Carlos who taught both himself and Helio.
At issue was the matter of fighting. Helio believed that a good teacher needed to be a good fighter.
Maia disagreed. It is not necessary to be a good fighter in order to be a good teacher, and conversely, being a good fighter does not make one a good teacher, he argued. He had previously mentioned Carlos, who was good teacher but had never won a fight. Helio was a good fighter, Maia admitted, but with his public rudeness and disrespect, he had shown that he lacked the qualities of a good teacher.14
Helio responded by offering to fight with his arms tied. Maia said he would fight Helio but only with his arms free, not tied [“não aceitarei de braços amarrados, quero os dois soltos”], so that Helio could not make excuses after he lost. The fight could happen, he said, soon after his rematch with Manoel Rocha.15
The two met face-to-face, coincidentally in the presence of representatives of the press.16 Helio subjected Maia to insults that were “more painful than an armlock”. Helio clarified some of the issues that he had with Maia. He believed that Maia had participated in “marmeladas“ [faked fights]. He also objected that Maia did not have permission from Carlos Gracie to teach jiu-jitsu. He did not explain why Maia needed permission. The Gracie brothers did not receive permission from anyone to teach jiu-jitsu.
Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) Page 40