Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) (53 page)

From the
third round, Yano dominated the fight and finished Collado with a double foot and armlock. Peres awarded fight to Yano. Neither fighter agreed with that and kept on fighting with Peres in the middle trying to separate them. According to press reports, this was the most exciting part of the evening. Finally with Peres still holding him, Yano applied a
gravata
and finished Collado once and for all.
17

On Saturday October 12 the 1946 Tornei Internacional de Luta Livre began. It was promoted by Empresa Sul Americana de Lutas Ltda. All of the directors of the Federação Metropolitana de Pugilismo were required to attend. The featured match pitted the Spanish goliath Roberto Collado (204 cm. in height, and weighing 120 kilos) against Tarzan Argentino (at 119 kilos). The giant Russian Homem Montanha and the no less powerful North American Jack Bagley would also measure forces.

The show was held at Estadio de São Cristovão do Futebol e Regatas, on rua Figueira de Mello. At 8:30, the preliminaries started. The first was a four-round (of 5 minutes) jiu-jitsu match between two of Yassuito Ono’s students, Floriano Codesso and Antonio Afonso. The second preliminary was a luta livre match between Casemiro Transcosco and Moacir Bettini. Casemiro weighed 70 kilos, Moacir weighed 67 kilos. Casemiro was also a student of Ono, and it is likely that Bettini was as well. Tarzan defeated Collado in the second round by
desistencia
[give up]. The results of the preliminary matches were not reported, but the gate was. The seven fights pulled in a total of 129,410
cruzeiros
.
18

Yano and Collado were scheduled to meet in a rematch on
Thursday October 17, 1946. Due to great expenses involved in presenting the fights, the management had no choice but to raise prices from 20
cruzeiros
to 30
cruzeiros
for general admission. Ringside seats were 100
cruzeiros
.
19

Empresa Sul-Americana de Lutas decided to present a rematch of the August 22 Yano versus
Memel fight. It was scheduled for Thursday October 23, 1946, at Pacaembú. It was to be a vale tudo match of four rounds of 5 minutes (with 2-minute breaks). It was the semi-final. Included were six additional luta livre matches and one jiu-jitsu match (six rounds of 3 minutes) between Fernando Borges and Joviano Alvim.
20

On Thursday October 31, Yano was scheduled to meet North American Jack Bagley at Pacaembú. Borges, Braz, and Godofredo were to meet in the preliminaries.
21

Superman (
Super-Homem
)

While steaming north to
Fortaleza, Ceará, on the Itanage, a 3
rd
class passenger named Misael Vileia had been leaning against the guardrail. Suddenly, he fell into the Atlantic. The ship’s crew judged the situation hopeless and did nothing. A man jumped into the sea and rescued Vileia. Later it was revealed that the rescuer was none other than the noted professor of physical culture, Helio Gracie.
22

Back in the Ring

Pava was scheduled to face Fernando Borges in a six 3-minute round jiu-jitsu match Saturday December 7, 1946 at Pacaembú. It was the first of the preliminaries in the Eduardo Bargach versus Basillio Caduc luta livre match.

At the last minute, Bargach versus Caduc was cancelled and Yassuiti Ono versus Gigante de Memel was put in its place as the “
finalissimo
” [main event]. Ono weighed less than 70 kilos, Memel more than 100 kilos. Despite the great difference in weight, Ono’s superb technique would make the match an exciting one, even without a kimono, reporters predicted.
23

On
Friday December 20, 1946at Pacaem
bú
, Yassuiti Ono was scheduled to face Hector Faré, better known as Tarzan Argentino, owing to his resemblance to the Hollywood action character and the fact that he hailed from Argentina. It was a luta livre match, the main event in a show that included Roberto Collado versus Alim Chat, otherwise known as Apolo Brasileiro and five preliminaries (one of which featured Braz (possibly Ono’s student Braz Gomes) versus Albanese. Tarzan weighed 118 kilos a few weeks later for his fight with Gattone on January 8, and was probably about the same for his meeting with Ono, who was undoubtedly not far from his usual weight of about 68 kilos.
24

If the match took place as planned it was the last recorded public fight of Yassuiti Ono’s career. He was only 36 years old.
25
He could have fought on for many more years, as Yano, who was almost the same age, did. And he was willing to, on occasion. He did keep his hand in the fight game. His students participated in the legitimate part of the professional wrestling shows, that is, in the preliminary “amateur” matches. Some of his students also appeared in the famous Kato versus Gracie and Kimura versus Gracie fights of 1951. But Ono apparently felt that in middle-age he could contribute more by teaching than competing or performing. He was also more invested in “
jiu-jitsu moderno
” than in the slapstick comedy routine that the older version had degenerated into.

.
Chapter 23 Notes

Chapter 24

1947

Takeo Yano was set to confront another giant on Thursday January 9, 1947. He was the 120 kilo Russian “human mountain” [Homem Montanha] Leo Finklestein. As usual the fight took place at Pacaembú. Yano weighed 76 kilos. The event marked the beginning of an agreement between Empresa Sul-Americana de Lutas and Internacional de Pugilismo.
1

The result was a draw.
2

On January 15 Wednesday Yano met the Arab champion Eduardo Bargach, who, at 125 kilos, and like almost every other of Yano’s opponents, out-weighed Yano by a large margin. The fight was six rounds of 5-minutes (2
-minute breaks), fought by vale tudo rules. There were five other fights, all vale tudo.
3
As vale tudo was considered a sub-genre of luta livre, kimonos would not be worn, putting the Japanese master at a severe disadvantage. It did not surprise anyone if he lost under these conditions. It was almost expected. A return match with kimonos would be needed for him to prove his “fiber”.

On Saturday January 18, Takeo Yano went head to head with Hector Fa
ré
, better known as “Tarzan Argentino”, in a four rounds of 5 minutes vale tudo match. Jiu-jitsu representatives Braz and Godofredo also appeared although it is not clear from the available reports whether the match was jiu-jitsu or luta livre. The usual slate was three amateur fights and three professional fights. Fights were increasingly called simply lutas, and no longer jiu-jitsu, although specialists in the scientific Japanese game could use their secret knowledge when the rules allowed.
4

On Wednesday January 22 Yano measured forces with Homem Montanha, the 135 kilo Russian. It was a vale tudo match without time limit until there was a winner [
não terá limite de assaltos, so terminando quando apresentar um vencedor
].
5

On Saturday January 25, Yano met Basilio Caduc of
Rumania in a vale tudo of four rounds of 5 minutes (2-minute breaks).
6

Takeo Yano would again be facing Homem Montanha on Saturday February 1, in a ten rounds of 5 minutes (2 minute breaks) luta livre match. As usual, it was held at Pacaembú and there were five other luta livre matches.

Homem Montanha lost his invincibility that day in front of the “
amarelo
” [yellow man] Taqueo Iano (Takeo Yano).
7
If Homem Montanha had been invincible (or undefeated) prior to the fight on February 1, then Yano must have lost the January 22 match, as it was a match without time limit until there was a winner. Yano won the third match, by armlock to Homem Montaha’s right arm, which was still bruised a week later, when he faced the Italian champion Gatone.

Fights were promoted by a tie-up between Empresa Internacional de Lutas (formerly Empresa Internacional de Pugilismo) and Empresa Sul-America de Lutas.

The shows were directed by George Gracie and took place at Pacaembú. Income from the last program was 102,820
cruzerios
, offering a clue as to why George changed his tune after severely chastising Renato Gardini in 1940 for promoting simulated fights. Now he was doing the same thing. São Paulo jiu-jitsu champion Benedicto Peres was a regular referee. Peres was credited with being one of the factors in the success of the shows. He knew perfectly all of the secrets of the difficult game of luta livre and was in physical condition to compel the fighters to “keep it clean”.
8

On
Saturday February 8, 1947 Takeo Yano faced the pure blood Greek from Athens, Juan Kostolias at Pacaem
bú
. It was a luta livre contest of six 5-minute rounds with 2-minute breaks.
9

King Kong was a Guarani Indian from
Paraguay, whose real name was Anibal Fortunato Segovia. He had previously called himself Frankenstein.
10
On Wednesday February 26, Takeo Yano took on King Kong in the final match at Pacaem
bú
. Yano lost the fight.
11

On
Wednesday March 5, 1947, at Pacaem
bú
, Yano encountered Andres Taranovack, whose ring name was Norky (or Norki). Norky was from Poland. The match was a four rounds of 5 minutes (2-minute breaks) jiu-jitsu match. Rather unusually for such an event, there were three jiu-jitsu matches (all preliminary matches). Paulo Hollo met Ono student Salvador Cardia, and Eduardo Galvão faced Matsuoka (substituting for Luiz Tambucci) in matches of four 3-minute rounds. Brazilian luta livre champion Tatú (Euclydes Hattem) met the Basque Olaguivel. Kostolias encountered Aldo Bogni. Eduardo Bargach confronted King Kong in the main event.
12

After having three teeth knocked out by Yano, Norki gave up in the
first round. As it was a jiu-jitsu rather than a vale tudo match, Norky must have taken a bad fall.

Paulo Hollo choked Salvador Cardia out in round 3, and Eduadro Galvão submitted Matsuoka with a leg twist [
torsão de perna
] in round 2.

Tatú choked Olaguibel in round 2, Bogni beat Kostolias with a leglock [
chave de perna
] in round 3, and King Kong and Eduardo Bargach knocked each other out simultaneously [
Knockout duplo
]. The gate was 106,780
cruzeiros
, which was substantially higher than average for a weekday night.
13

Empresa Internacional de Pugilismo promoted an afternoon of luta livre on Sunday March 9. 1947 at Pacaem
bú
. There were four professional matches (Pablo, Collado, Kostalias, Gattoni, Olaguibel, Basilio Caduc, and Homem Montanha provided the fireworks). The first three preliminaries, as usual fought by amateurs, were all four round (of 3 minutes each with 1-minute breaks) jiu-jitsu matches. Luiz Tambucci versus Salvador Cardia (both students of Yassuiti Ono); Paulo Hollo versus Giro Matsui; and Antonio Silva versus Jin Assahira.
14

The Italo-Argentine Aldo Bogni was the South American weightlifting champion. Despite his 125 kilos, he was described as technical and agile.
15
He was apparently knowledgeable enough about luta livre to be able to teach it at Velo Esportivo Helenico, on Praça General Ozorio.
16
On Wednesday March 12, 1947 he had a chance to test his size, power, technique, and agility against the diminutive Japanese jiu-jitsu master Takeo Yano in a four 5-minute round luta livre match at Pacaem
bú
. The main event was Kong Kong versus Gattoni. Luiz Tambucci faced Jin Assahira in a four rounds of 3 minutes luta livre match.
17

Yano and Bogni drew. The result pleased the Italian fans, who had been disappointed by Yano’s recent victory over another Italian hero, Gattoni.
18
The report added that with this “
empate
” [draw], both maintained their undefeated records. Assuming that this was a reference to their records in the 1947 season of luta livre at Pacaem
bú
, it follows that Yano either won or drew all of the fights cited above for which results are otherwise unavailable. However, on February 26, Yano lost to King Kong, indicating that the statement that he was undefeated as of March 12 was not accurate. Also, the statement that Yano defeated Gattoni recently and prior to March 12 indicates that they had at least one other meeting in addition to the one that took place on April 16, and that Yano won.

On Wednesday March 19, Yano met Euclydes Hattem “Tatú,”
the Brazilian luta livre champion, at Pacaembu in a six rounds of 5 minutes (with 2-minute breaks) luta livre contest. It was the main event in a program promoted by Emprensa Internacional de Pugilismo. All of the usual wrestlers appeared (Kostolias, Bargach, Homem Montanha, Caduc, Gattoni). Jiu-jitsu stylists Bras (Braz) and Godofredo also made appearances. Tatú was coming off a recent 37-second win over Homem Montanha.
19

Tatú
defeated Yano in third round by surprising KO. Tatú (apparently) threw Yano out of the ring where he remained stretched out in a “significant manner” [
Yano foi parar fora do ringue ficando extendido de maneira significante
]. The fans got their money’s worth and they came out in droves. The gate was 135,000
cruzeiros
.
20
Losing by being knocked unconscious after being thrown out of the ring was one of the more common ways to lose a fight. It was an experience that Yano knew well. He won some of his fights that way too.

By this time it had become expected that in a match between a jiu-jitsu man (always small) and a luta livre or “catch” man (always big), the outcome would be highly predictable from the rules, specifically the rule that mandated wearing a kimono. The kimono allowed the smaller man to apply the secrets of jiu-jitsu, primarily collar chokes. More often than not, a rematch would be set, fought under different rules. If the first fight had been luta livre, generally the sequel would be jiu-jitsu, and vice versa. If the first fight ended in a draw, then potentially three or more follow
-ups could be spun out. It depended on fan interest, which the fighters encouraged with challenges, threats, excuses, and promises. A controversial or ambiguous outcome generally warranted a quick rematch as well.

Takeo Yano confronted Homem Montanha again on
Saturday March 22, 1947. It was a luta livre match of four 5-minute rounds, as was customary for semi-finals involving professionals.
21

Yano was scheduled to meet Olaguivel at Pacaem
bú
on the afternoon of Saturday March 29 in a four 5-minute round luta livre match, with 2-minute breaks.
22
Due to a football game between Uruguay and Brazil, it was rescheduled for the evening. Carioca fans liked wrestling, but football took precedence.

Yano versus Homem Montanha clearly put on entertaining shows. They had practice working together. They met for at least the
fourthtime in a semi-final match (four rounds of 5 minutes) at Pacaem
bú
Wednesday April 2.
23

Yano took on Gattoni (Gattone)
Thursday April 17, 1947at Pacaem
bú
. Yano lost by KO in the fourth round. In other results, Caduc lost by disqualification for disrespecting Bargach. Godofredo beat Omar with a combination leg and armlock. Roberto Collado beat “Moleque 20” with a
thesoura da rim
com
estrangulamento
[kidney-lock with choke] in the third round.
24

Yano was scheduled to face Eduardo Bargach on Saturday April 19.
25

Takeo Yano faced Aldo Bogni for the second time in three months, at the end of May or the first two days of June. Yano defeated Bogni in the
secondround by knock out, at Pacaem
bú
.

How the knockout was administered was not explained but must have been either by choke or by a violent throw. Available sources do not provide the exact day, but given the gate (115,280
cruzeiros
) and the date of publication of the result, June 3, the most probable day for the fight was Saturday May 31.
26

Jiu-Jitsu versus
Joe Louis

In June of 1947 Helio Gracie “challenged” the American heavyweight
undisputed world boxing champion Joe Louis. Joe never accepted Helio’s challenge, according to legend, with the implication that he was afraid that his boxing was no match for jiu-jitsu, or for Helio Gracie, or both.

The challenge was issued in the June 6 (1947) edition of
A Noite
.
A Noite
was published by Gracie partisan Roberto Marinho which may partly explain why an obvious publicity stunt received as much attention as it did.

One easy way to attract attention to oneself, practiced by every wrestler, and most boxers, was to piggy-back on someone else’s fame by challenging a well known fighter. Few fighters (in fact, none) in the 1940’s were better known than Joe Louis, even in
Brazil.

By way of comparison, Joe Louis appeared in 647 news stories in
A Noite
during the decade of the 1940’s. Helio Gracie’s name appeared three times. Two of them were in connection with his “challenge” of Joe Louis. Similar numbers could be cited for the other major newspapers in Rio. In
Diario da Noite
,
Diario de Noticias
,
Correio da Manhã
,
Diario Carioca
,
Gazeta de Noticias
, and
Jornal do Brasil
, Joe Louis’ name appeared 1,498 times, while Helio Gracie’s name appeared 18 times.
A Noite
apparently (based on available sources) was the only daily that reported Helio’s challenge.

Joe Louis reigned at the apex of the sports world, as heavyweight boxing champion of the world. If he was not the greatest of heavyweight champions, he was certainly the most diligent in defense of his title.
27
Before World War II, Brazilians looked to Europe and North America for inspiration and validation. After the war, they looked North.
28
When they looked for sports heroes to worship and emulate, Joe Louis was hard to ignore. When Joe planned to visit South America, it was news in Brazil. Argentina was generally the first stop for anyone visiting South America. Montevideo, Rio, and São Paulo were close by.