Name Geo Omori Role Martial Artist | Died 1938, Brazil Notable students Luiz Franca | |
Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo | ||
Geo Omori (died 1938) was a Japanese-born Brazilian martial artist, and one of the creators of judo-based martial arts in Brazil.
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Biography
Born in Tokyo, Omori joined the Kodokan school at 9 and gained his black belt at 17. He learned under Tokugoro Ito and was a training partner of the famed Sanpo Toku. After moving to Brazil, he opened the first jujitsu/judo school in Brazil in 1909. He taught in Rio de Janeiro, and in 1925 opened a school in São Paulo. He was instrumental in the establishment of Brazilian jiu-jitsu by establishing the first Jujitu school in São Paulo. He would later instruct key Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu founder Luiz França. His other student included Carlos Pereira.
Fighting career
He was one of the first kings of mixed martial arts of his era. He sparked the Vale Tudo craze of the 1920s and 1930s in Brazil. Geo had an extensive fight history engaging fighters of various styles including capoeira, boxing, and wrestling. A 1928 issue of the New York Times highlighted one of his fights against a "negro" capoeira fighter, in which Geo Omori won. He fought many members of the Gracie family including George Gracie and Carlos Gracie. His feud with Carlos Gracie is well documented. One place of a documented fight of his was Circus Queirolos, a Brazilian Circus. His death in 1938 was attributed to food poisoning.