Mitsuyo Maeda was a Japanese judoka, catch wrestler and prize-fighter often referred to as Count Combat (or Conde Koma in Brazil, although he actually earned the nickname in Spain by 1908). Judo (Japanese: 柔道 Jūdō) is a martial art, a sport and a philosophy which originated in Japan. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Mitsuyo Maeda

Image File history File links Mitsuyo_Maeda. ... Image File history File links Mitsuyo_Maeda. ...

Biography

Maeda was the teacher of the Gracie brothers and build the foundation for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (now universally known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu). He entered the Kodokan during what was called the "Newaza revolution", where Judo became much more heavily ground-oriented due to the recent co-opting of the ground-centric Fusen Ryu jiu-jitsu masters into the Kodokan (following successive matches over the Kodokan at their hands). See Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ... Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that emphasizes ground grappling, with free sparring being an important training method. ... The Kodokan Institute is the headquarters of the Judo World. ... Judo (Japanese: 柔道, jūdō; gentle way) is a martial art, sport, and philosophy originated in Japan. ...

World Travels and Expulsion from the Kodokan

During the Meiji period, Maeda left Japan and travelled the globe. He entered in various challenge matches, intent upon serving as an ambassador of Kodokan judo to the world. He performed in open fights, with fighters from different styles in nearly every country he visited. It was as a result of these constant challenge matches that Maeda began to adjust his judo towards the end of greater efficiency against different styles of fighting. It should also be noted that in his travels, Maeda competed and trained extensively in the Western martial art of catch wrestling, where it has been said that he learned to perfect the art of submitting his opponent from his back (due to the preference wrestlers generally held for the top position). Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Catch Wrestling is a popular style of wrestling with origins in a variety of styles, most notably those of Lancashire, England, collar-and-elbow, and catch-as-catch-can (which is the immediate source of its name). ...

However, ironically enough, as a member of the Kodokan (the Judo organization) Maeda was in fact barred from competing either in non-Kodokan events or events with a set of rules other than the Kodokans. For his breach, he was expelled from the school. In later years, his name was removed from the Kodokan registry. The Kodokan Institute is the headquarters of the Judo World. ... Judo (Japanese: 柔道, jūdō; gentle way) is a martial art, sport, and philosophy originated in Japan. ...

Theory of Combat

Based on his travels competing and training alongside catch-wrestlers, boxers, savate practicioners and the other various fighters his travels brought him into contact with, he developed a theory that physical combat could be broken down into distinct phases. In Maeda's mind, it was a smart fighter's task to keep the fight located in the phase of combat that best suited his own strengths. Because Maeda's strength lay primarily in grappling, he put much effort towards finding means to efficiently close the distance between himself and fighters specialized in striking. Savate (pronounced ), also known as boxe française (French boxing) or French kickboxing, is a French martial art which uses both the hands and feet as weapons and contains elements of western boxing, grappling and graceful kicking techniques (only foot kicks are allowed, with no use of the knees, shins... Grappling refers to the gripping, handling and controlling of an opponent without the use of striking. ...

His Influence on the creation of Brazillian Jiu Jitsu

Maeda emigrated to Brazil in the 1910s, where a local influential businessman named Gastão Gracie helped him get established. In return for his aid, Maeda shared his knowledge of martial arts--which he referred to as jujutsu--with Gastão's son Carlos, who then passed it on to his brothers, including Hélio Gracie. Together, the brothers would found the system of grappling known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Helio Gracie wearing his famous belt Hélio Gracie (October 1, 1913 - ) is the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or BJJ. He is a master of the discipline and is widely considered as one of the first sports heroes in Brazilian history; he was... Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that emphasizes ground grappling, with free sparring being an important training method. ...

Being small and lacking in physical strength, Helio Gracie was forced to improvise heavily upon Maeda's teachings. Ultimately, this would give rise to what Helio's son, Rorion Gracie, trademarked as Gracie Jiu Jitsu. However, Carlos and his son, Carlson Gracie both referred often to Maeda's teachings both on the phases of combat and closing the distance in order to make use of grappling, such that it has become an integral part of their own style of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Rorion Gracie is a martial artist and a prominent member of the Gracie family. ... Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), also known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ), is a martial art that was developed in Brazil by the Gracie family during the mid-20th century. ... Carlson Gracie Sr. ... Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art and combat sport that emphasizes ground grappling, with free sparring being an important training method. ...

It is not clearly known why Maeda chose to call his style of judo, Jujutsu. Perhaps he was dissatisfied with the treatment given to him by the Kodokan. However, it could be argued that Judo wasn't so popular at those times and the ancient, general and estabilished term for defining Japanese martial-art schools was Jujutsu (in Brazil it adopted the slightly different spelling Jiu-Jitsu). Another possible explanation is that Maeda's fighting style--which incorporated an arguably groundbreaking philosophy regarding so-called phases of combat--had simply grown into something other than judo, something which Maeda felt more comfortable referring to as jujutsu. Jujutsu (also jujitsu, ju jutsu, ju jitsu, or jiu jitsu; from the Japanese 柔術 jūjutsu flexible/gentle/yielding/compliant Art) is a Japanese martial art that is principally based on grappling and joint lock techniques, though it also includes basic strikes and sweeps as well as varying degrees of ground...

Legacy

By sowing the seeds for Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Maeda can be arguably called one of the most influential judoka of modern times. Furthermore, his accomplishments across the globe as a judoka, catch wrestler and prize-fighter mark him as one of the early 20th century's most successful mixed martial artists. Ryan Purwick (top) works the guard of Joaquin Velasco. ...