Geo Omori
{{short description|Japanese judoka (1898–1938)}}
{{Infobox martial artist
| name = Jyoji "Geo" Omori
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| birth_date = 1898
| birth_place = Tokyo, Japan
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1938|3|2|1898||}}
| death_place = Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| death_cause = Food poisoning
| martial_art = Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo
| teacher = Tokugoro Ito
| rank =
| students = Luiz França{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/luiz-franca|title=Luiz Franca - BJJ Heroes: the jiu jitsu encyclopedia|author=BJJ Heroes|encyclopedia=BJJ Heroes: the jiu jitsu encyclopedia}}
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{{Nihongo|Jyoji Omori|大森 城司{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}, 大森 譲治,{{cite journal|author=奥田照幸|title=最初にVTバーリトゥードを戦った知られざる柔道家「ジオ・大森」の生涯|date=June 2022 |publisher=BABジャパン |journal=月刊秘伝|issue=414 |pages=93–97 }} 大森 譲次|Omori Jyoji|1898 – 2 March 1938}}, Geo Omori or George Omori{{Cite book |url={{NDLDC|3033807/39}}|author=池田重二| date =1 May 1958|title=ブラジル日本移民人国記|edition =|volume=上巻|publisher=日伯文化出版社|location=日本|page=26 |id= |isbn= |quote=|editor=}} as he became known in Brazil, was a Japanese-born Brazilian martial artist who is credited for being one of the creators of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.[https://books.google.com/books?id=FaTfuuIlmqcC&dq=geo+omori&pg=PA33 Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation, Volume 2] edited by Thomas A. Green, Joseph R. Svinth
Early life and education
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.{{Cite book|url=https://play.google.com/store/books/details/O_Livro_Proibido_Do_Jiu_Jitsu?id=zo9RBQAAQBAJ|title=O Livro Proibido Do Jiu Jitsu|last=Serrano|first=Marcial|date=2010-02-14|publisher=Clube de Autores|language=pt}}
Immigration and career
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.aloisiosilvabjj.com/index.php/history/history-of-brazilian-jiu-jitsu|title=History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu|author=|first=|date=|website=aloisiosilvabjj.com|publisher=|access-date=}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://mmahalloffame.com/world/nomineeprofile/242/Geo-Omori|title=MMA HALL OF FAME Nominee » Geo Omori|last=|first=|date=|website=mmahalloffame.com|publisher=|access-date=}} His other students included Carlos Pereira.
Fighting career
Omori was one of the first prominent mixed martial arts competitors of his era.{{cite web|url=http://www.global-training-report.com/reyla_rev_chp6.htm|title=Chapter 6. O Jiu-Jitsu Como Profissão|last=|first=|date=|website=global-training-report.com|publisher=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416033954/http://www.global-training-report.com/reyla_rev_chp6.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 16, 2013|access-date=}} He helped to initiate the Vale Tudo trend 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/3/6/1360095/bloody-elbow-book-review-catch|title=Bloody Elbow Book Review: Catch Wrestling Round Two by Mark Hewitt|work=Bloody Elbow|date=6 March 2010|access-date=13 November 2014|archive-date=13 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113084259/http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/3/6/1360095/bloody-elbow-book-review-catch|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://agbook.com.br/book/147382--GEO_OMORI__O_Guardiao_Samurai|title=GÉO OMORI - "O Guardião Samurai", por Marcial Serrano - agBook - O seu livro Publicado 100% gratuito e sob demanda|website=agbook.com.br|access-date=2019-02-16}}
Death
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Omori, Geo}}
Category:Martial artists from Tokyo
Category:Deaths from foodborne illnesses
Category:Martial arts school founders
Category:Japanese emigrants to Brazil
Category:Brazilian male mixed martial artists
Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing judo
Category:Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:Japanese practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:Brazilian male judoka
Category:20th-century Japanese philanthropists
Category:20th-century Brazilian sportsmen
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