Geo Omori

Born in Tokyo, Omori joined the Kodokan school in 1907 at age 9 and gained his black belt in 1915 at age 17. He learned under Tokugoro Ito and was a training partner of the famed Sanpo Toku.[3]

After moving to Brazil in 1925, he taught Jiu Jitsu and Judo in Rio de Janeiro, and in 1931 he opened a school in São Paulo in Edificio Martinelli, the first skyscraper in Brazil.[4] Omori is considered instrumental in the foundation of Brazilian jiu-jitsu by establishing the first Jujitsu school in São Paulo. He would later instruct another key Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu founder Luiz França.[5] His other students included Carlos Pereira.[2]

Omori was one of the first prominent mixed martial arts competitors of his era.[6] He helped to initiate the Vale Tudo trend of the 1920s and 1930s in Brazil.[5] Geo had an extensive fight history engaging fighters of various styles including capoeira, boxing, and wrestling.[5] A 1928 issue of The New York Times highlighted one of his fights against a "negro" capoeira fighter, in which Geo Omori won.[5] He fought many members of the Gracie family including George Gracie and Carlos Gracie.[5] His feud with Carlos Gracie is well documented.[7][8]

His premature death in 1938 was attributed to food poisoning.[9]