Mitsuyo Maeda

Mitsuyo Maeda
Maeda c. 1910
Born	(1878-11-18)November 18, 1878 Funazawa Village, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
Died	November 28, 1941(1941-11-28) (aged 63) Belém, Pará, Brazil
Other names	Otávio Maeda
Nationality	Brazilian (naturalized) Japanese (expatriate)
Height	164 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Style	Judo
Teacher(s)	Kano Jigoro Tomita Tsunejirō
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 November 18, 1878  – November 28, 1941),^[1] a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda (Portuguese pronunciation: [oˈtavju maˈedɐ]),^[2] was a Japanese judōka (judo practitioner) and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was 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.^[1]

Maeda was fundamental to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including through his teaching of Carlos Gracie and others of the Gracie family.^[3] He was also a promoter of Japanese emigration to Brazil. Maeda won more than 2,000 professional fights in his career- though this claim has been disputed. His accomplishments led to him being called the "toughest man who ever lived" and being referred to as the father of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.^[4]