Mitsuyo Maeda
| Mitsuyo Maeda | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maeda c. 1910 | |||||
| Born | November 18, 1878 Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan | ||||
| Died | November 28, 1941 (aged 63) Belém, Pará, Brazil | ||||
| Other names | Otávio Maeda | ||||
| Nationality | Brazilian (naturalized) Japanese (expatriate) | ||||
| Height | 164 cm (5 ft 5 in) | ||||
| Style | Judo | ||||
| Teachers | Kano Jigoro Tomita Tsunejirō | ||||
| Rank | 7th dan red and white belt in Judo | ||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||
| Total | 7 | ||||
| Wins | 7 | ||||
| By knockout | 2 | ||||
| By submission | 5 | ||||
| Losses | 0 | ||||
| Draws | 0 | ||||
| Other information | |||||
| Occupation | Judōka and prizefighter | ||||
| Notable students | Carlos Gracie Luiz França | ||||
| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 前田 光世 | ||||
| Hiragana | まえだ みつよ | ||||
| Katakana | マエダ ミツヨ | ||||
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Otávio Maeda (born Mitsuyo Maeda [Japanese: 前田 光世]; November 18, 1878 – November 28, 1941) was a Japanese and Brazilian judōka, catch wrestler, and prizefighter who is considered one of the fathers of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He was commonly known by the nickname Conde Koma (Spanish and Portuguese for "Count Combat").
Maeda was the head of the second generation of Kodokan judōka, and was integral to the martial art's expansion into the United States during the 1900's. Along with Soshihiro Satake, he pioneered judo in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and other countries during the following decades, eventually becoming a naturalized Brazilian citizen and a promoter of Japanese immigration to Brazil.
Maeda was fundamental to the development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including through his teaching of Carlos Gracie and others of the Gracie family. His accomplishments led to him being called the "toughest man who ever lived".