Judo Fly to the wolrd (How BJJ born)

Today, judo -- and by extension, Brazilian jiu-jitsu -- are international sports. But, at first, judo only existed in Japan. Today, I introduce three individuals who brought judo abroad. These are the first steps of oriental grappling going worldwide, clearly effecting MMA's establishment.


Mitsuyo Maeda (Conde Koma)

Mitsuyo Maeda (Conde Koma) is known as the father of jiu-jitsu. He as born in the prefecture of Aomori at 1878, and joined the Kodokan at nine years old. To pay the costs of staying in America, he took prizefights against boxers, kenpo practitioners and pro wrestlers. If any opponent beat him, they won 1000 U.S. dollars.

His prizefighting tour eventually landed him in Brazil, where he met businessman and politician Gastao Gracie, the son of a Scottish immigrant. Gracie wanted Maeda to use jiu-jitsu to teach his son Carlos discipline. Carlos would show these grappling skills to his younger brother, Helio, who would modify and improve parts of jiu-jitsu, renaming the art "Gracie jiu-jitsu."

Some 30 years ago, the heavy rain of Belem destroyed Maeda's grave. Maeda's friend Sakaeoti, and Yoshizo Machida -- the father of Lyoto -- collected the bones of "Conda Koma", cleaned them, and with the support of Kokushikan University, rebuilt a new tomb for him.


Masahiko Kimura

Masahiko Kimura as born in prefecture of Kumamoto at 1917.He start Judo at 10years old. Originally, Kimura wanted to be a part of the pro judo circuit and won the tournament, but pro judo was a financial failure. As a result, Kimura started to compete in pro wrestling. While working and teaching judo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Kimura's colleague Yukio Kato was choked out by Helio Gracie, who had honed his grappling under his brother Carlos. Kimura worried about judo's popularity decreasing due to the event, leading to him fighting Helio at Maracana Stadium.

When Kimura arrived at the stadium, he found a coffin, which Helio had said was for him. However, Kimura defeated Gracie after 13 minutes, throwing him with an osoto gari, before attacking him with an ude garami, forcing Carlos Gracie to stop the bout, knowing his brother would not submit. Because of this bout, the ude garami was called the "Kimura lock".

Almost 50 years later, Kazushi Sakuraba would become the first man in modern MMA to defeat the second generation of Gracie family. Sakuraba beat both Royler and Renzo Gracie with the famous Kimura lock.

Kimura is also known as a teacher of Yoshinori Nishi and the late Ryusuke Moriyama, who were instrumental in forming Japan's biggest network of MMA gyms, Wajutsu Keishukai .


Yukio Tani

Yukio Tani as born in prefecture of Kumamoto at 1880.At the age of 19, Japanese jiu-jitsu practitioner Yukio Tani flew to London to serve as an instructor in Bartitsu, a hybrid martial art devised by British entrepreneur and self-defense pioneer E.W. Barton Wright. The martial art inspired famous author Arthur Conan Doyle to write his celebrated Sherlock Holmes character as a student of Bartitsu.

Unfortunately, Bartitsu was a financial failure. However, Tani stayed in London, and joined up with show business promoter William Bankier. Tani started to compete in jacket (gi) challenge matches at London's music halls. A challenger would be paid a British pound for every minute he lasted with Tani, up to 15 minutes, and 100 pounds if he could defeat Tani.

Judo school taught by Tani still exist in London.It named Budokwai.

Big thanks to Jordan Breen for English support and Editing.

Martial Arts exist in Japan

Which martial arts exist in Japan? I research about that question.Link is basically which martial art's most authoritative Commission or Federation or Dojo.I plan to write about different list about kick boxing and Muay Thai lately.

Judo
All Japan Judo Federation


Kodokan's Jigoro Kano's statue

Kosen Judo
It's Judo but focus on grappling.Watch wikipedia for rule.
Wikipedia Kosen Judo

Shichitei Judo (Seven imperial university's Judo)
Yuki Nakai and Shiko Yamashita have this martial arts back ground.
It's only hold at imperial university (Wikipedia (Seven imperial university)).All 7 imperial university in Japan have shichitei judo club.It's focus on grappling like Kosen Judo but difference is no "Mate (Wait)" call so just people can focus on grappling.Shichitei Judo's game hold by each school's team.So there is type of player just beat and next guy to guy,or just aim draw.When Team beat other team's 15 people,game is over.This concept make grow each competitors specialty.One fighter just aim finishes and other just aim defence for draw.


Youtube Shichitei Judo (Japanese)

At Japanese wikipedia Yuki Nakai import "stop don't move" concept to mma from Shichitei Judo.I have no source except wikipedia so I just give reference.Youtube video have "stop don't move" scene.

Karate
Japan Karatedo Federation

Shotokan


Shotokan Headquaters

Goju

Wado

Kyokushin


Kyokushin Kaikan Headquaters

SeidoKaikan


Seido Kaikan Headquarters

Daidojuku (Wajyutsu Keisyukai's roots)


Daidojuku Headquarters

Sambo
Japan Sambo Federation

BJJ
Jiu-Jitsu Federation Of Japan (head Rickson Gracie)


Axis Jiujitsu Academy Chiba (One of Rickson Gracie Jiujitsu affiliate Gym)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Of Japan (head Yuki Nakai)

ADCC Japan

D-Net

Wrestling
Japan Wrestling Federation

Boxing
Japan Boxing Commission

Nippon Kenpo
Isamu Sugiuchi and Yoshifumi Dogaki have this martial arts back ground.
Nippon Kenpokai official

Wikipedia Nippon Kenpo

Sumo
Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Pro)

Japan Sumo Federation (Amateur)

Aikido
Aikiai Foundation

Kendo
All Japan Kendo Federation

 
Kendo Federation Headquarters

Shorinji Kempo
Pancrase's Yuki Kondo and Miki Shida have this martial arts back ground.
Shorinji Kempo Organization



Wikipedia Shorinji Kempo

Japanese Self Defense Army Martial Arts


Combination of Nippon Kenpo and Aikido

Capoeira
Capoeira Angola Center Japao

Kurash
Japan KURASH Federation

Wikipedia Kurash

Silat
Japan Pencak Silat Association

Wikipedia Silat

Taekwondo
Taekwondo world org is separated by political reason.
I have no idea how many org exist in Japan.
International Taekwon-do Federation Japan

Japan Taekwondo Association

Koppo
Masato Fujiwara,Takumi Yano,Takefumi Hanai and Takeharu Murahama have this martial arts back ground.
Nihon Koppo Budo Association Official

My article about Koppo

SKILL MMA's Japanese Martial Arts Gym or Venue photo series

Tsunetane Oda and an Interesting Look at the Origin of BJJ

Tsunetane Oda shows his skill, including knee-on-belly and an omoplata.

Recently, videos of old judo practitioners have been uploaded to youtube. Why is that so interesting? Because they include some of the skills that are widely believed to have been invented by BJJ guys. The guy showing his skills in the video is Tsunetane Oda. Oda was born in 1892 in Yamanashi, and was known as "Newaza no Oda," or "Grappling Oda." He reached ninth dan in judo at the Kodokan. This video includes French words, so there is a possibility it was made by a Frenchman.

Many newaza skills are omitted from sport judo, where the referee can call "mate," meaning the judokas are separated and reset standing. This video teaches us many things about where these skills originally came from.

Special Thanks to Jordan Breen for English support.

Are traditional martial arts useful in MMA?

Lyoto Machida competing in a UFC title fight proves that karate is useful in MMA. So now there is another question: can other traditional martial arts be useful in MMA?

My answer is: "Sure, why not?"

What are the differences between traditional martial arts and MMA? Traditional martial arts have been about secrecy, empiricism and positivism. There are certain types of skills that they logically explain, but they're not open to the outside public. Why? In the ancient samurai era, people were fighting to kill one another; there's no way to teach those skills to people as "sport."

Of course, not every skill is a secret. Michihiro Omigawa and Hiromitsu Miura have told interviewers how throwing skills depend on experience, training a lot and learning how to feel where an opponent's balance is. So, sometimes, western training partners may think they're keeping secrets, but they're not. Some skills can't be taught in words.

Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka is known for his fast submissions, but he's had lessons from Japanese taekwondo pracititioner Kazuo Tachi. Tachi's gym is the home of Yoriko Okamoto, an Olympic bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Taekwondo separated from karate, and entered the Olympics as an official sport in 2000. It's had its own evolution as a sport. Sport taekwondo is like fencing, because when a fighter strikes with a legal attack, he gets a point. Therefore, taekwondo fighters prefer direct methods to reach opponents.

Yu Ueda is a fighter on the rise. He will face Kotetsu Boku, who is known as an elite fighter. I don't think he will win against Boku, but Ueda is definitely an interesting fighter, as he uses taikiken in MMA.

Taikiken was developed by Kenichi Sawai, who was taught by Chinese martial artist Wang Xiangzhai. Ueda hasn't said a lot about his style, but how he beat Jin Kazeta with his stance is easily recognizable and interesting.

"The complete fusion of attack and defense is the beauty of traditional martial arts," said Ueda.

This quote is enough to explain the beauty of traditional martial arts.

Big thanks to Jordan Breen (from Sherdog) for English advice for this post.

Big thanks to Chris Nelson (from Bloody Elbow) for English editing.