2) Mitsuyo Maeda

Maeda was a classically trained Japanese Kodokan Judo player, or Judoka. He trained in the school created by the young Japanese intellectual and jiu-jitsu practitioner named Kano Jigoro during the mid-Meiji era. He joined the Kodokan dojo in 1897 and became a graduate student after his promotion to first degree black belt (shodan) on January 8, 1899. He trained under the instructor-chief, Yokoyama “Devil” Sakujiro, and rose rapidly to a fourth degree black belt (yondan) in the newly established belt ranking system created for modern jiu-jitsu.

Japan gained an international platform after their victory in the Russo-Japanese war. As the world saw them as a modern and advanced fighting force they began travelling to share their skills with allies. Maeda made his way to the West Point Academy in the US and then headed south through Mexico and South America. He began putting on exhibition-style 'strong man' fighting events and gained money and fame. His teacher, Kano Jigoro, disapproved of this showmanship and Maeda fell out of favor with his school in Japan. Maeda was now on his own and wrestled whoever was willing to take him on as travelled south under the wrestler name 'Count Koma.'