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 mɐˈedɐ]),^[2] was a Japanese judōka (judo practitioner) and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions, also being one of the first documented mixed martial artists of the modern era for he frequently challenged practitioners of other martial arts and combat sports. 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.

Mitsuyo Maeda, born in 1878, was from a small town called Aomori, located north to the Japanese island of Honshu.

His father taught him Sumo, earning him the nickname “Sumo-kid.” He attended Hirosaki School where he tested his mettle with school yard fights.

He began to study classical Jiu-Jitsu before joining the Kodokan, the most famous Judo academy.

Jigoro Kano, combined and refined many styles of ancient Jiu-Jitsu to create Judo, *in 1964, it was recognized in the Olympic Games, in Tokyo.

Kano’s modified the art removed many striking waza and empathized throws and submissions.