Thursday 29 January, is off Helio Gracie, the founder of the Gracie school of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ from now on), martial art and combat sport in strong growth for its effectiveness in the increasingly the most popular tournaments of "mixed martial arts" spread all over the world (tournaments, in broad terms, allowing a range of techniques ranging from the blows of the fight muay thai full submission grappling).
The real roots of this martial art, as its name implies, but does not lie in Brazil, but in Japan.
the early years of the 900, an exceptional martial artist, the notorious "Count of Combat" (Mitsuyo Maeda), had started a world tour to spread the Kodokan Judo. Between the United States of America and Europe, Maeda earned his living teaching martial arts, until realized that the world was not ready to accept a fighting style so unique and for this reason (and to pay rent and travel), the Japanese began to take part in any form of challenge that would allow him to showcase his exceptional fighter skills, whose resume also included sumo wrestling, various forms of ju jitsu and a set of fighting styles now untraceable. The career of the unstoppable "Count of Combat" is inextricably interwoven with his legend, in the first decade of the century, his ascent in the hierarchy of the Kodokan was greeted with mixed feelings - the joy of bringing so much honor at home, and the dubious value to participate in events where wrestlers, boxers and street fighters confronted each other until the surrender or KO.
Maeda Since 1910 he settled in Cuba, a land that allowed him to face the best fighters in South America and groped for an "attack" to American standards considered untouchable, as the phenomenon of the fight Frank Gotch and catch the world champion of boxing Jack Johnson - who refused ever to collide with the Japanese: they had too much to lose and too little to be gained.
The "Count" but did not lose heart, and continued to fight with success throughout Central and South America, by obtaining local and international awards, with three compatriots was known as one of "Four Kings of Cuba," the invincible fighters who were able to defeat any adversary.
But the new home of Maeda was not the Caribbean island, but Brazil.
Since 1914 world tour entourage Japanese established their base in this area is so fascinating, where local people idolized the prowess of the fighters (though not considered as "freaks" as was the Central Island), irrespective of their physical appearance; Brazil was in fact always been a cultural and racial melting pot - because of various ethnic groups already living in the exotic features of the Japanese were simply accepted as one of surface of a man many variables: what mattered was something quite different.
The unstoppable "Conde Koma" had finally found a new home, which is tied even more so when he found love and a dream: the establishment of a true Japanese colony in the Brazilian state of Para, where he was already founded the town of Tome-ACU gives his countrymen.
A project as ambitious, however, could not be based solely sull'intraprendenza of a man (no matter how exceptional it was), and Maeda became the spokesman of the needs of immigrants Nipponese leaning against a local politician who was able to share his vision.
The Brazilian statesman was as a reward highest form of payment from a Japanese background Maeda could conceive of: his eldest son became the depositary of martial knowledge of the Count.
The name of the politician in question? Gastao Gracie.
Within a few decades would be born on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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