Mitsuyo Maeda
| Mitsuyo Maeda | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Born |
November 18, 1878 Funazawa village, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan |
| Died | December 28, 1941 (aged 63) Belém, Brazil |
| Other names | Otávio Maeda |
| Nationality | Japanese, naturalized Brazilian |
| Style | Judo |
| Teacher(s) |
Kano Jigoro Tsunejiro Tomita |
| Rank | 7th dan black belt in Judo |
| Occupation | Judōka and prizefighter |
| Notable students |
Carlos Gracie Luiz França |
Mitsuyo Maeda (前田 光世 Maeda Mitsuyo?, born December 18, 1878 in Funazawa village, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan – November 28, 1941), a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda (Portuguese pronunciation: [oˈtavju mɐˈedɐ]), was a Japanese judōka (judo expert) and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908. Along with Antônio Soshihiro Satake (another naturalized Brazilian), he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Maeda was fundamental to the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, including through his teaching of Carlos Gracie and others of the Gracie family. He was also a promoter of Japanese emigration to Brazil. Maeda won more than 2,000 professional fights in his career. His accomplishments led to him being called the "toughest man who ever lived" and being referred to as the father of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Maeda was born in Funazawa Village, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, on November 18, 1878. He attended Kenritsu Itiu high school (currently Hirokou—a Hirosaki school). As a child, he was known as Hideyo. He practiced sumo as a teenager, but lacked the ideal build for the sport. Because of the interest generated by stories about the success of judo at contests between judo and jujutsu that were occurring at the time, he changed from sumo to judo. In 1894, at seventeen years of age, his parents sent him to Tokyo to enroll in Waseda University. He took up Kodokan judo the following year.
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