Choque: The Untold Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil 1856-1949 (Volume 1) (80 page)

38.
A Manhã
20-11-47; 29-11-47
Correio da Manhã
22-11-47;
Diario Carioca
21-11-47.

39.
A Noite
20-11-47.

40.
Gazeta de Noticias
27-7-48.

41.
Gazeta de Noticias
31-7-48.

.

Chapter 25

1948

1.
Jornal de Noticias
15-1-48. Nick Policeman was also referred to as “Nick the Policeman”. His real name was Nicholas Blazza Ellich. Adorée’s real name was Alberto Bafert (
Gazeta de Noticias
31-7-48). Zbyscko’s and Strika’s names and almost everyone else’s, were also spelled in many different ways.

2.
Jornal de Noticias
29-1-48; 3-1-48; 1-2-48.

3.
Mundo Esportivo
25-10-46.

4.
Jornal de Noticias
12-2-48.

5.
Jornal do Brasil
29-1-48.

6.
Diario de S. Luiz
21-2-48.

7.
Diario de Noticias
24-7-34.

8.
Jornal de Noticias
18-2-48.

9.
Diario de Noticias
21-2-48;
Jornal de Noticias
21-2-48. Rocca’s name was also written Roca and Rocha.

10.
Jornal de Noticias
3-3-48). Brutus’ brother Tony also engaged in professional catch wrestling. He performed with several former heavyweight boxers, including Primo Carnera in New Jersey (
O Globo Sportivo
3-9-48). Tony was well-known in Brazilian sports circles from his days as a boxer. One famous Brazilian boxer, Loffredinho, even adopted Tony’s training method of drinking beer (
O Globo Sportivo
13-4-40). Tony was affectionately, or derisively, known as “
Gordo Cervejeiro
,” and “
Barril de Chopp
,” [roughly meaning “Fat Bartender” and “Beer Barrel Tony”] and other nicknames. Tony was not an artful boxer, but he could knock people out with one shot and any fighter who can do that is going to fill seats. Name-recognition in one field can sometimes be valuable in others. By 1946 Tony was working as a referee in catch wrestling matches, as did many other former boxers (
O Globo Sportivo
13-12-46). As there was better pay for fighting than officiating, he also climbed between the ropes as a wrestler. Given his style of boxing and ring nicknames “The King of Fouls” [“
O Rei dos Fouls
”], and “Clown of Boxing” [“
Palhaço do Pugilismo
”] it was probably a natural transition for him. Tony continued catch wrestling until at least 1953 when he was in Brazil to face Antonio Rocca in series of matches in São Paulo (
Diario Carioca
19-8-53). Catch probably paid less than boxing but in compensation he didn’t have to be punched in the face by people like Joe Louis and Max Baer. Even less painful was movie acting. Tony had a small but illustrious career in Hollywood, appearing with Marlon Brando (and two other Joe Louis KO victims, Tami Mauriello and Abe Simon), in
Sindicato de Ladrões,
or as it was called in North America,
On the Waterfront
(
Cine Reporter
12-11-55). He also appeared in the musical comedy
The Best Things in Life are Free
(
Cine Reporter
13-7-57), and the drama
Wind across the Everglades
(
Cine Reporter
12-12-59). All three were major motion pictures and one was a certified classic. (Not bad for a man whose claims to fame were that he could throw a hard left hook and liked beer).

11.
Jornal de Noticias
6-3-48.

12.
Jornal de Noticias
10-3-48.

13.
Jornal de Noticias
14-3-48,

14.
Gazeta de Noticias
19-7-41;
O Impracial
22-7-41; 24-7-41.

15.
Jornal de Noticias
17-3-48.

16. In 1946, or sometime before, Ruhmann suffered a serious arm injury [“
há já algum tempo, sofreu perigosa fratura num dos braços
”] and was not expected to be able to recover sufficiently to fight again [“
houve quem pensasse que Rumã não pudesse mais exercer sua atividades de lutador
”]. But he did (
Mundo Esportivo
1-11-46).

17.
Jornal de Noticias
20-3-48, Concerning Adhemar de Barros, see chapter 17.

18.
A Noite
7-5-48. At the time Olaguivel (as spelled Olaguibel) was 32 years old and depending on the source and time, weighed between 112 and 150 kilos. He was 129 kilos at just about the time that George signed to meet him (
Diario do Paraná
21-6-47).

19. Gracie 2008, chp. 28.

20. See chapter 14.

21.
Diario Carioca
25-5-48, p. 11.

22. According to Gracie (2008, chp. 28), t
he book was divided into five chapters, titled
Conhece-te a ti mesmo
[Knowing Yourself],
Mente sã
, [mental health],
Corpo sã
, [physical health],
Álcool
, [alcohol] and
O Fumo
[smoking].

23. Gracie, 2008, p. 232.

24.
Diario de Noticias
3-7-48.

25.
Paranã-Norte
22-7-48. The article incorrectly stated that Yano was undefeated in South America. It also mentioned that he had enjoyed great success in Curitiba among other cities. In fact, the Torneio Internacional de Lutas Livres appeared in Curitiba at Pavilhão Olimpico from June 5, 1947 (
Diario do Paraná
21-6-47). Evidence is lacking for how long the company remained in Curitiba but Yano’s next appearance was in Rio February of 1948.

26.
Diario de Noticias
, 31-7-48.

27.
Diario de Noticias
31-7-48.

28.
Gazeta de Noticias
31-7-48.

29.
Diario de Noticias
31-7-48.

30. Boskovic 2005.

31. DaMatta 1984, cited in Duarte 2011, p. 35 See also Holston 2007 for discussion.

32.
Diario de Noticias
31-8-48.
Diario Carioca
31-8-38.

33.
Diario Carioca
9-9-48. Some reports said that Karadagian was from Argentina, which was not unlikely. Many immigrants to Brazil first went to Argentina or other countries (Sanchez-Albornoz 1986, p. 128).

34.
Correio da Manhã
6-11-71. The Brazilian press continued to use the name Cassius Clay in addition and in preference to “Muhammad Ali” throughout the 1970’s and even beyond (Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali after dethroning Sonny Liston fight in 1964). When Rickson Gracie, in the 1980’s, cited as an example of an excellent boxer, he mentioned “Cassius Clay”. Incidentally, it was not because he was afraid of wrestlers that Clay/Ali did respond to Karagadian’s challenge (if he noticed it at all, or took it seriously―he was after all the foremost master of attracting media attention by challenging people). He did fight a pro wrestler named Antonio Inoki (real name Inoki Kanji). Coincidentally or not, Inoki had lived in Brazil and his brother operated a karate school in Ipanema (Global-Training-Report.com/shotokan.htm).

35.
Diario Carioca
14-9-28;
Jornal do Brasil
14-9-48.

36.
A Noite
20-9-48.

37.
Diario Carioca
18-9-48.

38. Roberts 2010, p. 249.

39.
Sports Illustrado
26-9-40. p. 29. In “
Pugilismo: Victimas do Ring
”, Alcides Peter Santos recalled some of boxers who lost their lives or otherwise suffered as a result of their ring activities. One example was the Brazilian boxer Belmiro Alves, who died sometime after his fight with Cabo Verde. However, he mentioned even more boxers who did not suffer after long careers and many who prospered. Ironically, one of those was Joe Louis, whose crushing financial problems were yet to come.

40.
Diario Carioca
25-9-48.

41.
Diario Carioca
25-9-48.

42.
A Noite
9-1-0-48.

43.
O Radical
12-7-41. Baronti made his debut on Saturday July 7, 1941, against North American Tom Hanley.

44.
Diario Carioca
2-10-48.

45.
A Manhã
3-10-48.

46.
Diario Carioca
16-10-48.

47.
Diario Nacional
12-9-28. [“
o publico que frequenta a nossa casa não tem prazer em apreciar muitas vezes a mesma luta
”].

48.
Diario Carioca
23-10-48.

49.
A Noite
25-10-48.

50. In December of 1947 George called Antonio Rocca a “fake champion and offered to fight him for free [
de graça
], behind closed doors [
de portas fechadas
], for the press (
A Noite
4-12-47). He made the same offer to all other
bichos papões
[boogey-men, or “imaginary monsters”] who had the audacity to pretend to be authentic champions.

51.
A Manhã
31-10-48. [“…
tão brilhante figura fez quando da sua estréla na semana passada
”].

52.
A Noite
28-10-48.

53.
A Manhã
31-10-48;
A Noite
1-11-48.

54.
A Manhã
31-10-48.

55.
A Manha
5-11-48.

56.
Diario Carioca
5-11-48.

57.
Gazeta de Noticias
6-11-48.

58.
Esporte Ilustrado
2-12-48, p. 6. [“
Dá um beijinho nele, bojudo; senão tua mãe tebate
[sic]
por teres machucado o menino. Isso sim, não e marmelada. Ė uma luta familiar, pois esses dois baiacas são irmãos
”].

59.
A Noite
8-11-48.

..

Chapter 26

1949

1.
A Noite
4-6-49 [“
sua diffusão em nosso meio, porem, não foi metodiza, surgindo os aproveitadores que se incumbriam de desmoraliser a terrivel arma de defesa dos japoneses. Aos poucos o jiu-jitsu foi desaparecendo até chegar ao estado atual de quase esquecimento
”].

2.
A Noite
28-5-49;
Diario da Noite
31-5-49.

3. A Noite Illustrada
12-7-49.

4.
Diario Carioca
13-3-49, p. 4 [“
Justamente quando os esportes do ringue tinham caido num ostracismo lamentavel reviveu a Federação Metropolitana de Pugilismo e entrou com disposição para recomeçar uma luta perdida, isto é, trabalhar pelo amadorismo, quer no pugilismo, quer na luta livre
”].

5.
Diario Carioca
13-3-49, p. 4 [“
As temporadas internacionais de ‘catch-as-catch-can’ tiveram um objetivo de parte da Federação Metropolitana de Pugilismo: angariar fundos para difundir o pugilismo amador
”].

6.
Diario da Noite
21-11-49.

7.
Diario Carioca
22-8-58.

8. See Hoare 2011 for an excellent discussion of this aspect of judo history.

9. Older forms of expression were “
valer tudo
” and “
valendo tudo
.” What they meant concretely depended on the contract for each particular match, but they always implied some degree of striking, either genuine or simulated, in addition to grappling, usually but not always
sem kimono
[without kimono].

10. “….at least since the late nineteenth century physical torture [in Brazil] has been routine in interrogating non-elite prisoners…..under normal police procedures suspects were treated according to their apparent social status” (Skidmore 1988, p. 125). Most fighters would fall under the classification of “non-elite”. Later, the security agencies stopped discriminating. They tortured everyone.