Carrying on the Torch with Fernando Yamasaki

Interviewer: Madison Castanera-Bartoszek

Interviewee: Fernando Yamasaki

Instructor: Amanda Freeman

February 12, 2019

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Table of contents:

Interviewer Release Form………. Page 3

Interviewee Release Form………. Page 4

Statement of Purpose………. Page 5

Biography………. Page 6

Historical Contextualization Paper………. Page 8

Interview Transcription………. Page 16

Interview Analysis………. Page 52

Bibliography………. Page 57

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Interviewer Release form:

Castanera-Bartoszek 3

Interviewee Release Form:

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Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of this project was to have a better understanding of the sport Jiu-Jitsu and to go into depth of the history behind the fundamentals of martial arts as well. I chose this topic because it is something I am passionate about and I wanted to share with others. This Oral

History Project made me realize that there is more to the sport than the average martial art.

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Biography: ​ ​

Fernando Yamasaki was born on the ninth of August 1967 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He grew up with his father, mother, and older brother, Mario. Fernando was born right into the world of martial arts and soccer, due to his father and his culture. While growing up he was very independent during the day until he got home for dinner. He would stay outside with his friends all day playing soccer or just hanging out on the streets. Even though Fernando Yamasaki had the freedom to do certain things while growing up, his father still tried his best to keep him protected from the militarized government up until he was 16 years old. Growing up in the world of martial arts, Fernando Yamasaki got to understand the basics of Jiu-Jitsu and Judo and started to love those sports. It became his biggest passion, and still is to this day. By the time he got to high school, he was accepted into a private school for his grades and for the wrestling program.

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A lot happened for Fernando Yamasaki at the age of 16; he finally received his Black Belt in

Judo, which is a huge accomplishment to have at such a young age. He had to go through a very intense test to be able to get the Black Belt, so it was well deserved. Then at the age of 19, he earned his Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu, which is near impossible these days. Having that Judo and wrestling background definitely helped him achieve that goal. Fast forward a few years, he helped UFC( which stands for ultimate fighting championship) come to Brazil and became a referee for the sport in the process. He moved to the United States, for good, in 2003, where he then started many academies with his brother, Mario, and his business partner, Neto. Today he owns over ten academies over the world and is still growing and sharing his passion for Jiu-Jitsu to all.

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Historical Contextualization Paper:

Jiu-Jitsu Main Events

Jiu-Jitsu is not a sport people hear about on an average day, unlike soccer, football, or basketball. It is not just about training, fighting, and winning, there is a lot more that goes into the sport itself. This unique and underappreciated sport goes back around one hundred year ago in Bygone, Japan. This sport was created to teach patience, agility, and obedience. There are lots of competitions, every year, where people compete for international titles. The youngest age people can compete is 4 years of age, all the way up to whenever the student feels ready to stop.

These student athletes can also be disabled or have a prosthetic, and still be able to compete in world competitions without any problems. Jiu-Jitsu does not just teach the student to fight and defend, it also teaches respect, honesty, discipline, and many more aspects to life everyone should have. Instructors have all different types of ways to teach the students on how they should perform on and off the mat. As a kid or teen on the mat, one’s coach is always on top of their student, like a parent figure, asking about outside activities, such as education and home life. The student’s mentor always puts 110 percent of themselves to every student and makes sure they stay on top of their responsibilities. When the sport Jiu-Jitsu was created, it wasn’t meant for this certain type of lifestyle, it was used to fight against the enemy.

There are a lot of reasons why Jiu-jitsu was created, such as conventional attacks against the enemy, preventing war, and self-defense. In the early 1900s, Jiu-Jitsu was created to use as a weapon during war time in Japan.1 This is important because during this time period, the army was trying to find different tactics to defend against the enemy. Over the years, Jiu-Jitsu became

1 A History of Japan: page 368

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more popular to everyday people. During the 1950s self-defense forces were put into place, so more of the population could have a chance to learn the art form and not just the military. While

Japan was in attack, people started fleeing to Brazil for a better place to live. A man named,

Mitsu Miata, also came to Brazil to help the japanese. He was the one who founded Jiu-Jitsu in

Brazil, and helped the sport grow popularity as well. He learned the sport from the Japanese government and wanted to teach others about the sport. Jiu-jitsu originates from Judo, which was also created in Japan, but as a martial art. Judo was created in 1882 and is known as the gentle art.2 The creators of Jiu-Jitsu took aspects of Judo and incorporated moves into the new art form,

Jiu-jitsu. Judo is all about takedowns and controlling the opponent until they tap or forfeit.

The Japanese military wanted to get rid of any type of limitations on military defense, so the people in charge or war weapons thought this would be a great way to solve a question that has been asked for a significant amount of time. That question is, what new war tactics could the military use that was not tied to handheld weapons.3 The people came up with Jiu-Jitsu, but the government was not pleased with this suggestion. This caused a lot of people to be upset and want to rebel against the military. The civilians were not satisfied with the idea of using a martial art on the field because they thought it would not be fair for the Japanese army. The Japanese community thought the military would only be using Jiu-jitsu as their weapon, but that is not the case, it is only one of many, and the people of Japan misunderstood that.4 The army Decided to show the citizens Self-Defense forces to show them that it was okay to use Jiu-Jitsu on the battlefield and that it was made for this specific use. The people of Japan refused to listen and did not accept the martial art into their culture, during this period. Jiu-Jitsu was sadly all about

2 A History of Japan: page 368 3 The Japanese of Today: page 112 4 The Japanese of Today: page 112

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politics during that time when it was used specifically for war. This became a huge topic because the government did not like this idea at first, but they made a compromise and decided that the best idea was to use jiu-jitsu as one weapon, but no the main weapon nor the only one. They thought this new idea would contradict the new constitution of Japan that they had in place for the pre-war system. The Military wanted to use this technique whether people agreed with it or not, so they continued to do it. This brilliant idea worked perfectly for war times.5 In 1954, another self-defense group was put into place to and is still alive and running.

Back when Jiu-Jitsu was just uprising, the soldiers did not use Gi’s, a uniform the students wear during practicing Jiu-Jitsu.6 The importance of clothing during Jiu-Jitsu could make or break from winning a fight. Nowadays, people wear Gi’s which are made out of different materials such as cotton. The Gi companies have different styles to choose from, but if the student picks the wrong Gi, it could make them lose their match. The Gi has to be tight fitted on the person's body, so that their opponent has no room to grab. Grabbing the opponent's Gi in

Jiu-Jitsu, is tremendously helpful, and that is a huge factor while training Jiu-Jitsu. Back when

Jiu-Jitsu was just uprising, the people would wear silk dresses that would go to around floor length, this fabric was breathable and comfortable to move around in. Although this silk fabric is easy to move around in, There is a lot of material for the students opponent to grab, which leads to a disadvantage. The war philosophy, What the Japanese used during battle and sports Judo are similar but different at the same time.7 The Judo and Jiu-Jitsu fights would go on for about ten minutes when the sports were just starting, now they are four to sometimes sixteen minutes. At first, the opponents only used basic techniques and then progressively gained the ability to do

5 The Japanese of Today: page 112 6 Jstor Images: Jiu-Jitsu techniques 7 The Japanese Today: page 368-369

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different moves. There are different styles of Jiu-Jitsu, one, on the traditional ground, two, on a soft mat, and three, Sunjin, which is Jiu-Jitsu on the beach. These three are the most common types, and all have different intensities. Wrestling is the base for every martial art, all of them have similar techniques. Judo’s ideas followed the way of pliancy, meaning flexible, supple, and adaptable8. Jiu-Jitsu has the same morals as Jiu-Jitsu because it originated from Judo. This is an armed and unarmed sport, this made people scared to try the sport because they did not want to get hurt, that is why many people tend to stay away from the martial arts due to that reason. No specific period surrounds everything about Jiu-Jitsu. There are dozens of little events that happen every year that create Jiu-Jitsu to be better known and that builds it to the sport that it is today.

There are people in the Jiu-Jitsu and Judo world that have formed it into what Jiu-Jitsu is today.

Ronda Rousey is a woman who has grit, who is strong, and competitive. She is a role model to thousands of people for what she is known for. Ever since she was little she always knew she wanted to be a fighter in the martial arts world. This would be a struggle for her to start due to her trouble with breathing.9 This made it harder for her to follow her dreams, but it did not stop her from doing what she wanted to do. She started off doing Judo, the sport that Jiu-Jitsu originates from, and she would train every day. One day Ronda set a goal for herself, and that was to be in the Olympics. She trained hard every day until she had no more energy left in her.10

It took her a long time to get to where she was during her life. There were a lot of people who didn't believe in her or didn't think that she would make it, but that just made her want to work harder, to show those people that she does have what it takes. In 2008 she ended up in the

8 The Japanese Today: page 368 9 Segura, Melissa. 2012. Accessed 2012. https://www.si.com/vault/2012/11/05/106252299/ronda-rousey-lays-the-smack-down. ​ ​ ​

10 Segura, Melissa. 2012. Accessed 2012. https://www.si.com/vault/2012/11/05/106252299/ronda-rousey-lays-the-smack-down. ​ ​ ​

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Olympics for Judo and ended up winning a bronze medal. Ronda was the first woman in

America to win an Olympic medal in Judo.11 Judo is almost exact to Jiu-jitsu, and Jiu-Jitsu is originated from Judo, so having that Judo background helps Ronda out tremendously in the long run. That achievement made her want to exceed to a higher level, so she decided to keep training every day and just as hard.

In 2012, Ronda was training in her gym and was spotted by UFC, ultimate fighting championship, and they wanted her immediately in their league. The UFC is a huge MMA industry, that millions of people watch just like any other sport. The UFC goes all around the world to find the best and most top notch fighters to be in their league. At the time she didn’t know what she was getting herself into but thought it would be a fantastic opportunity for her to grow in her passion. That year she trained with all type of professional mentors to get her ready for her primary events. In 2013 she had two main events. One on February 23 against Liz

Carmouche, which she won by submission. On December 28 she fought against Miesha Tate and won by submission once again. This is when the UFC know they did right by picking her. She is a fierce competitor that doesn't give in. In 2014 she had another two main events against Sara

Mcmann and Alexis Davis and won both of them by knockout. The next year she had three fights and won against Cat Zingano by submission and Bethe Correia by knockout. Then something record-breaking happened Holly Holm against Ronda Rousey, Holy knocked Ronda out.

Everyone was shocked by what just happened. No one expected it. Then Ronda had a year to get back to her best to beat her next opponent, Amanda Nunes. Amanda had wanted to fight Ronda

11 Segura, Melissa. 2012. Accessed 2012. https://www.si.com/vault/2012/11/05/106252299/ronda-rousey-lays-the-smack-down. ​ ​ ​

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for a very long time, and when she finally got her chance, she was not afraid. Amanda knocked

Ronda out in the first round, and once again everyone was astonished. It was time for Ronda to call it quits on her UFC career. She is no long longer a part of the UFC and now she is newly signed to the WWE, world wrestling entertainment.

Lawrence, a journalist wrote about the principles of Jiu-Jitsu and how they are somewhat similar to the principles of Gladiator fighting in Greece. Gladiator fighting started around 246

BC. The fighters would borrow each other's strength against their opponents as a tactic in the ring. Lawrence believes there is a mysterious strength to jiujitsu that people still don't understand to this day, and that is correct. No one ever knows how or what that strength is until the fighter feels it.12 Jiu-Jitsu relies on the person's strength unlike gladiator fighting, which you have weapons. The journalist also compares Jiu-Jitsu to a game of chess because the grappler has to think ahead of time, and not at the moment, otherwise, they will be one step behind the opponent. One last thing Lawrence brought up was people like to teach Jiu-Jitsu on their own so they get a better understanding of what is going on with the move itself. Then, the student would go to a place of practice, for Jiu-Jitsu, and would see if their way is any different from the instructors and to see if they need to fix the move up at all.13 This way of learning instructs the student on how to do it multiple ways, if ever in a different position or situation. Lawrence describes the Jiu-Jitsu experience as unique and something that everyone should try once.

12 Catron, Douglas M. 1983. Accessed 1983. ​ https://www.jstor.org/stable/3187245?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=jiujitsu&searchUri=%2Faction %2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Djiujitsu&refreqid=search%3A99fc926dee8e86706c8495cede2c4dcc&seq=1#metad ata_info_tab_contents

13 Catron, Douglas M. 1983. Accessed 1983. ​ https://www.jstor.org/stable/3187245?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=jiujitsu&searchUri=%2Faction %2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Djiujitsu&refreqid=search%3A99fc926dee8e86706c8495cede2c4dcc&seq=1#metad ata_info_tab_contents

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For women to be doing Jiu-Jitsu is less seen over men doing Jiu-Jitsu. This ties back to

Japan during wartime, and how the military was men, so they got a head start to the sport. That made Jiu-Jitsu a more male dominant sport, just like wrestling, football, and more. Seeing women doing Jiu-Jitsu is different and more uncommon, but is a good thing to see. In the pictures, the women are doing multiple different moves and step by step photos of certain

Jiu-Jitsu moves.14 This is in the early 1900s, right around when Jiu-Jitsu was created. This is

Japanese jiu-jitsu, and it is a very elegant and free-flowing sport.

There is a lot that goes into the, behind the scenes, of Jiu-Jitsu. There are a bunch of unspoken rules, that not everyone likes to follow, and that can be disrespectful. When someone who is apart of an academy and decided to leave that place to go to a different academy is showing disrespect to the people on the team and the instructor theirself.15 This is a sign of dishonor because that student is taking their knowledge from their academy and taking it to a different place and sharing their experiences and techniques with others.16 Of course, there are a lot of other unspoken rules in Jiu-Jitsu, but Lawrence went into depth about how it is compared to gladiators, and have learned that it's a lot more than just the fighting aspect of it.

14 Catron, Douglas M. 1983. Accessed 1983. ​ https://www.jstor.org/stable/3187245?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=jiujitsu&searchUri=%2Faction %2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Djiujitsu&refreqid=search%3A99fc926dee8e86706c8495cede2c4dcc&seq=1#metad ata_info_tab_contents

15 Catron, Douglas M. 1983. Accessed 1983. ​ https://www.jstor.org/stable/3187245?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=jiujitsu&searchUri=%2Faction %2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Djiujitsu&refreqid=search%3A99fc926dee8e86706c8495cede2c4dcc&seq=1#metad ata_info_tab_contents

16 Catron, Douglas M. 1983. Accessed 1983. ​ https://www.jstor.org/stable/3187245?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=jiujitsu&searchUri=%2Faction %2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Djiujitsu&refreqid=search%3A99fc926dee8e86706c8495cede2c4dcc&seq=1#metad ata_info_tab_contents

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There are two different news articles that are significant events that happened in the world of

Jiu-Jitsu. The first one is about how the first Jiu-Jitsu academy in Canada and how it was formed.

This academy is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style, which focuses more on floor grappling, and the family, Gracie, created this. This academy ignores modern methods and gives more attention to the traditional methods, which are easier to learn and teach.17 This is a big deal in the Jiu-Jitsu world because it is bringing a somewhat new sport, at the time, to a new country, which is a huge deal. Each mentor or instructor has different ways to teach, but all have the same base. Having different types of Jiu-Jitsu academies is a good idea because it shows the students different ways and makes people think differently.

A world champion in Jiu-Jitsu, Michelle Nicolini, is an honor to have someone like her on the mat. Michelle Gives the students knowledge on the mat that can help then become better

Jiu-Jitsu players. It also helps her becomes more improved in the sport as well. 18Michelle also states the feeling you interact with, on the mat and after, is indescribable and only something the person can feel if they try the sport for their self.

Many historians on my topic are saying different things. Some say it is a homosexual experience and some say it is not just about the sports itself, it's more about respect, morals, and being patient. There are many different ways to interpret the sport itself, and everyone has their

17 Sport, The Advanced. 1994. Accessed 1994. ​ https://www.google.com/search?q=newspaper+jiu+jitsu&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwgtHTgsPe AhWOslkKHRHwCD4Q_AUIEygB&biw=1440&bih=767#imgrc=wZ6EN8pENPK6HM​:.

18 Sport, The Advanced. 1994. Accessed 1994. ​ https://www.google.com/search?q=newspaper+jiu+jitsu&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwgtHTgsPe AhWOslkKHRHwCD4Q_AUIEygB&biw=1440&bih=767#imgrc=wZ6EN8pENPK6HM​:.

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own experience with Jiu-Jitsu. Most of them are positive, but if Jiu-Jitsu is not the sport for that person, that student will know for sure if it's for them or not.

Martial arts as a whole is something that is not looked at a lot in this world. UFC is big, but not Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. These sports are not talked about as much as say soccer and football, because it is a somewhat new sport, compared to others. Jiu-Jitsu is misunderstood throughout the 1900s all the way through today. There are many different perspectives that journalists, historians, and everyday people depict Jiu-Jitsu to be this sport that is just like karate. The real truth is, that it is nothing like karate. This sport teaches so much more than just fighting. It teaches people how to act with respect off the mat as well. With all the different people in the

Jiu-Jitsu community, the public is wanting to join. Overall, Jiu-Jitsu is a relatively new sport to the world and has much more growth ahead of itself.

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Interview Transcription:

Madison: okay, hello this is Madi, and I am interviewing Fernando Yamasaki on the topic of Jiu-Jitsu as ​

th a part of the American century oral history project. The interview took place on January 8 ​ 2019 at ​ Yamasaki Academy located in Rockville. This interview was recorded using an iPhone. So the first question I have for you is, What was it like growing up in Brazil during the 1970’s?

Fernando: I think my experience, you know my childhood was great because I could play in the street ​ was very safe and but it was a kinda weird because you know we always listened to adults conversations and I remember my father saying some things that oh, you cannot say this you cannot say that because we had a kind of militarized government kind of dictatorship style. And uh and then when I was around 16 years old that was the transition to the democracy so now a days I can figure out what what is it was or how much my father had suffer because of it.

Madison: yeah. How would you describe Brazil during your childhood? ​

Fernando: Very fun uhhh I could play in the street I remember you know hanging with my my friends as ​ soon as we come back from school like um around 5:30 I remember my mom used to say aye Fernando make sure you come back home before dinner. Right, which is around 8 8:30 so sometimes we used to go to school in the morning deprends the the Brazils a little different and if we had the option to in the morning school so we’d be back by lunch and then we have the whole day to play. The same thing you know before the sun goes down come back home, take a shower, get a dinner, get ready to sleep, and the next day so it was fun.

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Madison: That sounds nice and relaxing ​

Fernando: Yes ​

Madison: What are some of your fondest childhood memories? ​

Fernando: Playing soccer with the friends you know all day long brazil has like uh like a a typical parties ​ there is a Brazil is a very catholic country so then we uh we have un in June we have a two saint an saint anto saint Anthony I believe in English and saint john which is we have a huge party and then you know hanging out by hanging out with my friends so we have uh we used to have to promote the party in in our school so then we have to collect you know uh gifts a lot of other things that we could throw a good party so it was fun.

Madison: Wow that sounds fun. Did you start soccer before Jiu-Jitsu? ​

Fernando: Everybody Brazil since we are born I think my first gift was together was a ball and a Gi ​

Madison: Oh wow ​

Fernando: so you know every child we play we play soccer its a it’s a it’s a sport that you can play ​ anywhere right you just need a ball so it's easy and cheap.

Madison: yeah, yeah. Um can you tell me a bit about your education growing up in Brazil? ​

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Fernando: I mean I think it’s the same here. I think mostly when I got to the high school level then I had ​ a scholarship to go to private school because of my skills because of my uh uh Judo, wrestling rights so I was I was a fortunate kid.

Madison: That’s cool. How long did it take you to get your black belt? ​

Fernando: In Judo it was when I was 16 and Jiu-Jitsu is was I think 8 19 years old. When I got the first ​ time.

Madison: What did you train every single day to get… ​

Fernando: Yes ​

Madison: your black belt? ​

Fernando: Yes ​

Madison: And that was because of your dad do you think? ​

Fernando: you see I think uh it was part of me I always love you know I always have good home models ​ so my father my uncle right I always since I was child if you ask me I remember people ask me oh what do you wanna do when when you grow up. I wanna have a martial arts school. Back in the days I wanna do Judo I wanna do like my father I wanna do like my uncle.

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Madison: did your dad promote you? ​

Fernando: Yes ​

Madison: Did he own a… ​

Fernando: I mean uh but in in in Judo you can promote your student up to a brown belt and then you ​ have to go to a federation you have to work and s and uh uh you have to help in competition you have to work on the table, with the scoreboard the time keeper and the when you about to get the test they put you to help as a referee so you have to work through one year for free.

Madison: Oh wow ​

Fernando: Yes. Voluntary and then after that you can participate in the test you have to fight against 5 ​ people you have to win at least three and then you have to the the kata, the forms and then you have to demonstrate you’re you’re your technical skills and then at at the end of the day they tell you if you get promoted or not.

[FOUR MINUTES AND FIFTY-EIGHT SECONDS] ​

Madison: oh wow. What happens if you don’t beat three people ​

Fernando: If you fail? ​

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Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: If you fail you get do they they have two tests during the year right maybe one I think its in ​ April another one in November. If you fail this one, you gotta do the second one in November

Madison: If you fail like both of them like. ​

Fernando: You gotta keep on trying till you get promoted ​

Madison: o wow okay. What age did you start Jiu-Jitsu? ​

Fernando: I started Jiu-Jitsu I think I was 17. First time that I tried I was 16. ​

Madison: For Jiu-Jitsu? ​

Fernando: yeah, A friend of mine from judo used to train Jiu-Jitsu. And let say I used to teach in one ​ corner, the Jiu-Jitsu academy was in the other corner of the road and I didn’t know so this friend of mine stopped by and I knew him he was in national team, Judo national team. Hey Fernando you know you wanna try jiu-jitsu say yeah sure. And then after I finish my class I used to go with him and people used to turn me upside down kick my but I had no clue. And then I used to go on and off but not training for good right not seriously and then one day my brother came home and said Fernando there is a guy from Rio he’s teaching my school I I want u to come and try it no never pay attention to my brother when when he invited me so months later my brother he said you know Fernando the guy I’m training with him he’s kicking my butt I say okay lemme try so I went once no no no sorry and then I got invited to a tournament

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friend of mine say hey Fernando there is jiu-jitsu tournament I went on Friday he explain me the rules and then Saturday I went to compete. I end up losing because I was not prepared for the rules. But then the guy came ohhh when I when he walk to the competition venue everybody was like bleh bleh moving around I said feels like somebody very important was walking by and then I say who’s that guy, oh that’s

Marcelo Behring oh who’s mar oh marc and then I I figure out that my brother was training with him.

Madison: Ohhh ​

Fernando: That was the guy my brother mentioned so and then Marcelo went to compete so he he won ​ the competition and then at at the end of the competition he got on the mat and say aye if somebody wants to come roll with me I’m here. And then I raised my finger and said I wanna do it.

Madison: Do you think that helped you? ​

Fernando: and then I say oh my brothers Mario OHH YEAHH YEAH I know your brother you know we ​ train sometime your brothers a cool guy and then he starts standing up and I was a judo guy I said don’t you want to go to the to the ground with me? Said no let's stand standing up. I said you sure? Said yes.

Okay, and then on the middle of competition and everybody WOAHHHH I said opp I did something wrong here he stood up back again he said hey man that was a good throw beautiful and we I play a little bit with him and then he pull me to the ground in five minutes he tapped me out more than 20 times.

Madison: Oh wow. ​

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Fernando: and I say you know what I wanna training with you and then Monday after the competition ​ that’s when I started training with Marcelo. I think it was around 1985.

Madison: So how old were you then? ​

Fernando: I think uh lemme see around 20, no 18. ​

Madison: Do you think getting, like starting like when you started Judo, do you think your background of ​ Judo helped you?

Fernando: yes because I was all uh grappling related martial art. ​

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: so the difference between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu are the rules. Jiu-Jitsu emphasize more the ​ ground fighting and Judo more the stand up, the throws and the takedowns. But if you see in Judo we have armbars we have chokes, right. As in Jiu-Jitsu we have throws we have take downs. But it is is the focus is is different.

Madison: Yeah, who brought Jiu-Jitsu to brazil? ​

Fernando: uhh Mit his name is um Mitsu Miata or count coma he used to work for the Japanese ​ government . and after I think the first world war. A lot of people left Japan to Brazil. And he used to work for the Japanese government and he went to Brazil to support the Japanese families in Brazil. And

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of course I think he he needed also the support from the Brazilian families right while he was in in Brazil.

And in exchange for friendship he started teach couple families, not only the Gracie family. Father family,

Gracie family, favo family. So couple other families. But the Gracie family are the one the made jiu-jitsu, or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu very famous.

[TEN MINUTES AND TWO SECONDS]

Fernando: And that’s why they named the brand Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. ​

Madison: huh, okay. How was it like growing up with your dad? ​

Fernando: I think now I understand better, that I have a father, I have a master, and I have a friend. ​

Madison: Mhm. ​

Fernando: so a man that you know he gave me who I am right now. ​

Madison: yeah ​

Fernando: and I’m great I’m I’m grateful because he’s 85 Years old. He’s still of the mat, he’s still ​ teaching, he’s still sharing his knowledge. There is not retirement for that man.

Madison: haha yeah. Do you still look up to him? ​

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Fernando: EVERYDAY I call him thanks to technology that I can facetime with him everyday. And I ​ make sure before every morning that I come to my school.

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: I give him a call say hey how are you how’s everything you know this what’s going on at the ​ academy this what’s going on with my life, how are you. So he’s my best friend.

Madison: That’s good. Does he still do Jiu-jitsu in Brazil? ​

Fernando: yeah uh uh see uh now he’s gonna start to teach again because ​

Madison: Oh Really!! ​

Fernando: I start to pushing him I say you know what why you not teaching you know why yeah yeah ​ yeah and uh I think today we were we on the way here we were having conversation he gonna start a teach again.

Madison: That’s so cool! Is he excited about it? ​

Fernando: Oh yes, very! ​

Madison: That’s awesome! ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 25

Fernando: can you imagen 85 years old man…. ​

Madison: Haha No! ​

Fernando: Excited to be back on the mat? ​

Madison: No yeah. ​

Fernando: That’s my father! ​

Madison: where is he gonna teach? ​

Fernando: and you see the the the the funny part he is outside the uh capital of Sao Paulo, its at the beach ​ so he needs to drive two and a half hours.

Madison: Whaa, everyday?! ​

Fernando: It's gonna be twice a week. ​

Madison: Oh my gosh ​

Fernando: Yep. ​

Madison: wow, what made you come to America? ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 26

Fernando: the land of opportunity. ​

Madison: Did you wanna have an academy in America rather than Brazil? ​

Fernando: you see my brother moved here before in 1988. I move here 1989. But ha, because of the cold, ​ I didn’t have a girlfriend, was very hard. I said you know what, back to Brazil. So then I stay in Brazil until 2003. And then I decided to come back because UFC was growing, the academy was growing I said now its it’s the opportunity so I move here in 2003, we had two schools.

Madison: Okay ​

Fernando: After a year we had nine schools and then after three more years we had 15 schools. So I think ​ the opportunity here was…

Madison: Big. ​

Fernando: Huge! So that’s why I decide to… ​

Madison: Uh so what made Mario, your brother, move back to Brazil? ​

Fernando: I think uhh because of UFC, so they they branch out into Brazil big time. And there’s a ​ company called TRX, its suspension training. So this uh type of training was made from one of our

Castanera-Bartoszek 27

student, he was a former navy seal, and then we made this this uh, Mario made this decision to move back to Brazil and open up the TRX down there too.

Madison: How was it bringing the UFC to Brazil? ​

Fernando: Was a great opportunity because a lot of people was were trying to make and even people ​ more famous then us like Vitor Belfort a uh the Gracie family. I think when you are in the right place in the right time, which is happens to my brother, I call my brother said Mario, I have somebody that wants to invest in UFC. Find a way. And I hung up the phone with him. And then he started moving around. He called the UFC owner, president.

Madison: Oh wow. ​

Fernando: Aye my name is Mario Yamasaki, you know and Mario starts to explain he said okay we're ​ going two weeks

Madison: So it only took two weeks to bring it to Brazil? ​

Fernando: Yeah. ​

Madison: Wow ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 28

Fernando: And then we tried to improve everything that we could, to arrange the UFC President to went ​ to, go to Brazil and UFC 17.5 when happened, with the two crazy brothers, Mario and Fernando

Yamasaki.

Madison: Hahaha. That’s cool, How is it like to Referee in UFC? ​

Fernando: You see in exchange on the UFC, 17.5, the UFC owner came to me say Fernando as a ​ gratitude what I can do for you? I say, put me to ref. I wanna referee. Said okay, your gonna do two of the alternate fights because back in the days we have to use we have to have two alternate fights. And then I referee first time in the UFC. Was a great experience. It's still, now even more because it’s a famous sport everybody knows. It’s a good publicity for the business, for myself, for my image. So it's always good to be on TV.

Madison: How long have you been reffing UFC ​

[FIFTEEN MINUTES AND TEN SECONDS]

Fernando: since uh, my first UFC was 1998. ​

Madison: And when was the last time you did it? ​

Fernando: The last time why I think was last year. ​

Madison: And who were the two opponents that you were reffing? ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 29

Fernando: Oh my god, I don’t remember right now. My bad my bad. ​

Madison: Was it a main event or… ​

Fernando: No no no no no no. I did I did ref main events ​

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: Because when you when you go referee UFC, usually it's 12 bouts or 10 bouts ​

Madison: Yeah. ​

Fernando: So then sometimes that call three referees and then or they call they call four so then we start ​ to… so if I referee the first bout, and then I’m gonna referee the fourth, and then so on.

Madison: That’s cool. What made you open up an academy… right here? ​

Fernando: Right here? Oh well my brother opened up the first academy in 1993 in Rockville, like two ​ miles away from here. And then we start to get more and more students and he open up in a bigger space.

And then in 2005, the same thing, the the good problem so were were didn’t have much space and the number of students was too big. And then we decide to move to this space here, which is where where we are now.

Castanera-Bartoszek 30

Madison: Are you looking to move again, your academy? ​

Fernando: as soon as I have more students, if I need it, yes. ​

Madison: Tell me about Neto, your business partner. ​

Fernando: Neto is my, he started when my family when I think he was four years old, he started with my ​ uncle, training Judo. And then when he was 13 year old he started training Jiu Jitsu, with me. And he was assisting my cousin, in a Judo. And then when he was… 16 years old.

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: My cousin was training for Olympics, he was very busy, I say, Neto, Come work with me. ​ When Neto was be was 17, I said, there is an opportunity for you. I gonna send you to America, you gonna help my brother. Says, Okay what I need to do? He said you only gonna be teaching. What I’m asking you, and Neto come from a very simple family. Fathers a taxi driver, his mom was sick entire life, so didn’t have much income. And his father made all the sacrifice, in name of the family. I said what I want you to do, no matter what happen to you, you have to send 500 dollars a month to your family, to support.

Madison: Yeah. ​

Fernando: so Neto did it, He bought a house for his family ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 31

Madison: Oh wow ​

Fernando: So his father being a taxi driver he bought a new car for his father. So they open up a new ​ business, so he start to help his family with whatever money he made in here so, was very honored to see.

And then uh one Mario says, Fernando you gotta come here i'm opening a brand new business. And I don’t have nobody to lead this school, so do you wanna buy it? I said, are you gonna sell to Neto? Yeah but Neto has no money. I said this is what we gonna do, so with the monthly money that the school, that grows income, Neto will pay you from that money. Do you agree with that? Yes I agree with that. So then

Neto took over the school. I think that was in 2001. In 2003, as I explained before, so from two schools, we need to expand the business, and Neto said, Fernando, come here and then both of us will pay Mario. I said good, and then I move here, brought my family, this is where we are right now.

Madison: Are you happy you chose Neto as your business partner? ​

Fernando: I couldn’t have better business partner than him. ​

Madison: That’s good. What do you think the core values of Jiu-Jitsu are? ​

Fernando: I think, it depends from school to school. I think here, friendship, respect, honor, community ​ spirit, loyalty, there are some core values that money cannot buy.

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: And those are the values I wanna teach. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 32

Madison: yeah ​

Fernando: So I think that’s more important than to have a gold medal, is to have somebody with a gold ​ medal in life, a better human being, with values not values.

Madison: How do you feel when people… like compare Jiu-Jitsu to Karate or something? ​

[NINETEEN MINUTES AND FIFTY-EIGHT SECONDS]

Fernando: HAHAHAHAHA… I laugh ​

Madison: haha, really? ​

Fernando: Yeah because you see nobody nobody you know what is Jiu-Jitsu about ​

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: Because there’s a different forms of Jiu-Jitsu as well. There’s a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, there’s a ​ German Jiu-Jitsu, there’s a Italian Jiu-Jitsu, so every single country, they have their own style. And here was are in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is another style and uh, you know I’m always happy to explain, I’m always happy to share, and make people understand about my sport.

Madison: How is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu like different from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu or German Jiu-Jitsu or Italian? ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 33

Fernando: I would say the the the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu is more with the striking uh the the the German ​ Jiu-Jitsu as well, the Italian, the start with more of the Karate, and then the do like a kind of wrist lock, more like a aquito. And then if you grab on the Gi, you have to throw or take the person down. And the

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is more like a ground fighting right.

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: I think its… Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu versus the other styles of Jiu-Jitsu, we look for efficiency, we ​ look for self defense. So we now, we never gonna try to become an Olympian sport, because we don’t look for the sport integrity thing, we look more towards the self defense and protect people.

Madison: What do you like more Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, or Wrestling ​

Fernando: Everything. ​

Madison: Everything, together? ​

Fernando: Yes, because it’s all related, you know I think wrestling and Judo you know, great sports the ​ athleticism in those sports, very high. And that’s one of the things I learn, to train myself, to push myself.

Beyond the limit.

Madison: Yeah ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 34

Fernando: Because to be an Olympian athlete, if you push yourself to the limit, your average. Right, your ​ just an athlete. And to become an Olympian athlete you have to push your limits everyday. Right, and that’s what I tell to you guys.

Madison: yeah ​

Fernando: There is no bad day, there another day and if you start fighting like, oh this is my first fight, ​ oh you you start to find excuses not to win. You can’t be that person, you have to wake up everyday, open your eyes, big smile, jump outta the bed and (clap clap), Give your best. That’s what I learned through

Judo and wrestling. There’s not bad days. Imagine that I have to cut maybe 20 pounds in ten days.

Madison: That’s a lot. ​

Fernando: That’s a lot, especially for me. You see, imagine, I’m 5’6” I had to weight, back then, 114 ​ pounds. Now I have 175 pounds imagen how it was right, so and then are you gonna complain or are you gonna do what you have to do. I have to do because it was my dream. So nothing could stop me, or would stop me to achieve what I had to achieve, and that’s what I did for my life.

Madison: Was it had to lose the weight this past year, for those competitions you had? ​

Fernando: The final week is always the critical week because that’s when you already you know, your ​ body fat is pretty low, and then you have to manage the water in your body, so but, you’re you’re used to,

I’m used to it.

Madison: Mhm. What could you tell my about the Gracie family. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 35

Fernando: I think the Gracie family, especially Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie in around 1940 or or ​ around 1930 those guy are, they were ahead of times in terms of marketing, thinking. How could imagen,

Carlos Gracie had 21 siblings. Car no Helio Gracie… 19. They both create their own armies. Right they made their kids…

Madison: Yeah. ​

Fernando: … fighters, right, elite fighters. I never heard a story like that. Right and then his older son, ​ Horion Gracie, move to California, start to teach Jiu-Jitsu in a garage, going to seminars, teach people what about you know, educated what was Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Start to work as a stunt in movies, and then starts to teach movie starts. Right, so I think the family is ahead of time in marketing…

Madison: Yeah. ​

Fernando: … Pushing ourselves I think um interpreters, all of them, great sales people, amazing. So I ​ think they are leaders.

[ TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES AND EIGHT SECONDS]

Madison: Do you have any rival schools? ​

Fernando: Well, I mean I I would say, every other school that competing against my students they are… ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 36

Madison: Yeah, yes. ​

Fernando: Rivals. But we try to make it a friendly way, because we have to give everything on the mat, ​ but as soon as we finish, we are martial artists. We need to respect each other. We need to show friendship, we need to show respect. That’s why you can tell your experience every time you finish a competition, I make sure that you go across the mat and you shake your partners hand or your opponents hand. As the coach, as the family, whoever is on the opposite side we gotta make sure that we understand…

Madison: show respect, yeah ​

Fernando: … we show respect. ​ Madison: Yes. Who was your instructor growing up? ​

Fernando: My father. ​

Madison: No one else, just your father? ​

Fernando: As I grow up? ​

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: yeah, my father… and then when I start Jiu-Jitsu around 1985 86 Marcelo Behring. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 37

Madison: Did you ever hate Jiu-Jitsu at any point of your life? ​

Fernando: Nooo ​

Madison: Never? ​

Fernando: More and more I love more and more. ​

Madison: Oh really. ​

Fernando: You see I’m a I’m a I don’t know if I’m if I’m crazy or something, but I’m always watching ​ videos, you know I’m always, Instagram if I show I have a my savings on Instagram. Right I have

Jiu-Jitsu moves…

Madison: Oh really? ​

Fernando: … That I think is good for the students to then for not to forget about I open, I watch, I study, ​ and then I try to teach the students.

Madison: Do you enjoy teaching adults or children more? ​

Fernando: I think now, I enjoy teach kids. ​

Madison: Why is that? ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 38

Fernando: Because kids, the soul is pure. If they like you, they’re gonna smile to you and there gonna ​ come back, they never gonna fake. If they don’t like you, they’re gonna walk away or they’re gonna grab mom and (whining) I don’t like this, and they go away.

Madison: Do you like teaching like kids, little kids, or like the whole… ​

Fernando: All ages. ​

Madison: Oh, all ages? ​

Fernando: Because I think through my experience not only, I use Jiu-Jitsu as a tool, to inspire that human ​ being. To make sure I put a positive impact on their life, that one day there gonna come back to me and say you know what, the lessons that I gave that I that I receive from this house was very important to my life, that’s how I get paid for. Is a life lesson. Again, it’s not the gold medal that people put around their neck because that’s gonna get old, full of dust, people lose, people forget. But the life lesson that we learn here is for your whole life.

Madison: Did your dad influence you to do what you do right now and the way you teach? ​

Fernando: Everyday. Everyday. I think I brought my father uh two months ago here, and I was inspired ​ to see him teaching and the most important to me that he doesn’t speak English…

Madison: English, yeah. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 39

Fernando: and how can he communicate with the kids, the little ones. Three years old, four years old, ​ and make the kids move around understand that that he was talking about.

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: And learning ​

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: That’s something else. Right , so it’s a type of thing that I don’t have yet, but I’m trying to ​ learn.

Madison: Did he always, did you always wear a Gi during training… ​

Fernando: Always. ​

Madison: … besides no Gi. ​

Fernando: Yeah I mean, wrestling you have to use the funny hahah singlet right! ​

Madison: Yeah yeah haha ​

Fernando: But yes, yes. Unless the practice doesn’t require Gi, and hen shorts and rash guard. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 40

Madison: How did you end up with so many affiliates… ​

Fernando: I think uh, I understand your question in a different way. I think the way that I show respect. ​

Madison: mhm ​

Fernando: That I always step on the mat wearing a white Gi ​

Madison: A white Gi ​

Fernando: That represents my soul. Always clean. Always pure. ​

Madison: Oh is that why you make us wear white Gi’s? ​

Fernando: Yes, yes. Because you see the meaning of the white Gi. This is your soul. Your soul always ​ need to be clear, white, and pure. The belt knot, always needs to be tight and sharp because this is the power of your mind.

[TWENTY-NINE MINUTES AND FIFTY-NINE SECONDS]

Fernando: so if your belt is not tied correctly or not properly and the knot is loose, that means you don’t ​ have a focus and you don’t have a strong mind. That’s why it's always very tight.

Castanera-Bartoszek 41

Madison: Do you feel disrespected when you wear black Gi’s or blue Gi’s when you tell them to wear ​ white Gi’s?

Fernando: I think I’m trying to teach a lesson for from so people it takes more time than the others, but I ​ respect, you know, people choice. But I think uh in particular case for us here, we have a white canvas.

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: The the the the the black… ​

Madison: It stains it, yeah ​

Fernando: … And the blue stains the the the the the canvas. ​

Madison: ummm… how did you end up with so many affiliates around the world? ​

Fernando: I think Uhhhh… the similar attract each other, and people that likes, my lifestyle, the way I ​ teach, the way I see things, right and uh the way I organize my school. People come to us and say look, and most of the affiliations, they are students that started here.

Madison: Oh really ​

Fernando: And they become a black belt under me. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 42

Madison: what was the first affiliate that opened outside of America? ​

Fernando: Outside the America… I think uhh I was teaching in Brazil, my brother open a school here. ​ And then we had the first affiliated school in New Jersey, in Somers Point. Where it was two police officers, they went to Brazil to train with me. S they used to come every every six months. Spend the week with me, they used to bring me here, so it was nice.

Madison: What did you, what would you be doing if you didn’t own an academy?... or is that all you’ve ​ known?

Fernando: That’s all I’ve known. ​

Madison: So nothing…? ​

Fernando: I wanted to, first time I came here in 1989… uh I have no school to train because Jiu-Jitsu was ​ not popular. And then I went to Georgetown University to train Judo, so then I started training there. And then I start to work as a truck driver because I had to pay my bills and uhh I start to see my future, as a truck driver, you know moving to a straight truck to a tractor trailer. That was… you know moving from a brown belt to a black belt…

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: … I said you know what this is not for me. That’s why I left and went back to Brazil. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 43

Madison: How did you handle people who mis oh sorry… misunderstood UFC or Judo? ​

Fernando: HAHAHA… there is a lot of people. NO I fight UFC. And then I start to laugh because it a ​ type of person that need to be educated to understand what is a martial art and the difference between one martial art to the other.

Madison: What would you like to happen in the near future for Jiu-Jitsu as a whole. ​

Fernando: uhh… It’s a very big question. I think first of all, the federation get bigger maybe one day try ​ to be part of the Olympics, which is gonna be very hard…

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: … Because the political move is not only you know us winning to become Olympian sport. ​ Because I think the biggest picture for all the athletes, is one day to participate in the Olympic games. I think that would be my dream.

Madison: When did Judo become part of the Olympics? ​

Fernando: 1964 ​

Madison: Do you ever try, like did you ever think that you could make it to the olympics? ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 44

Fernando: That was my dream. You see I try I started try in Judo, but Judo in Brazil was high high high ​ level. It’s the same as wrestling here.

Madison: Oh okay ​

Fernando: So then uh I found an opportunity in wrestling. I qualified myself in for three Olympic games. ​

Madison: Oh wow. ​

Fernando: Korea 1988, Barcelona 1992, and Atlanta 1996 but because of political problems in Brazil I ​ was in the same weight division of the son the president of the federation, so. I didn’t make it.

Madison: That’s annoying. ​

Fernando: Yes. ​

Madison: Beside your father, who influenced you the most? ​

Fernando: Marcelo Behring, my Jiu-Jitsu master. ​

Madison: Do you still talk to him? ​

Fernando: He passed away 1994 ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 45

Madison: ohhhh ​

Fernando: But I brought his son, last year here. So his son lives in London. ​

Madison: Okay ​

Fernando: His name is Kywan Gracie Behring. So his mom is from the Gracie family, his father Marcelo ​ Behring, Imagen!

[THIRTY-FOUR MINUTES AND FIFTY-SIX SECONDS]

Madison: oh wow yeah. ​

Fernando: Right! One of the toughest family in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu he has both of it. ​

Madison: Is that what you want for Enzo too? ​

Fernando: I think I want Enzo to have a good college degree first, I want uh Enzo my my my goal for ​ Enzo is to make him a black belt and participate in every single competition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I believe the competition teaches you a lot for your person life. The confidence, the preparation, the insecurity, the fear. So there is a lot of things that you have to do, as a competitor, that is gonna make your life better. The winning is just a small part, But the preparation that it involves for you to be a high level athlete prepares you for life in a better way. So, that’s what I want for my competition team, not only for my son.

Castanera-Bartoszek 46

Madison: What was the longest you have gone without training? ​

Fernando: I think right after surgery. Uhhhh that I had to stay… You see in 1989 I had a problem on my ​ knees and I have a problem on my hand that requires a major surgery, a reconstruction. 1991, before the

Olympics, I decide to do the surgery before the tryouts. It was four months… not it was six months the the the Olympic tryout. And then I went to the doctor I said this is my problem the doctor said you gonna be released eight months after the surgery. Which is the surgery oh the the the tryout was would be in six months.

Madison: Yeah, so you wouldn’t make it. ​

Fernando: I said but I’m gonna recover myself in four months… the doctor said it’s it’s impossible. I ​ said alright, let's do the the surgery i’ll do my best. So then, on the fourth month I went to the doctor, I said look, I think that I’m ready.

Madison: Mhm. ​

Fernando: The doctor said, I think your crazy. I said why don’t you come to the physical therapy, once, ​ and see me doing the therapy said, okay I’ll be there tomorrow. And then the doctor challenged me and said look… I was doing my physical therapy on the trampoline… I says you need to jump as high as you can and when I clap (clap) my hands, you need to stop. Said okay bomb… jump jump jump, he clap the hand and boom, I stop.

Castanera-Bartoszek 47

Madison: Wow. ​

Fernando: Says this is impossible. Do it again. And I start to jump… clap (clap) his hands, I stop. So I ​ did five times.

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: Said okay, you can go back and compete. Thank you! ​

Madison: Oh wow was that like haha ​

Fernando: You see, I like to take challenge and uh I think uh this is a comp competitors mind. ​

Madison: Mhm. ​

Fernando: We we we get challenged everyday ​

Madison: Yeah. ​

Fernando: And we need to overcome. Right, we don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves. Right, it’s ​ like a dog who’s licking its own wound. We don’t do that. You you you have a wound, you have to go fight. Tape it and go.

Madison: Is there anything else you wanted to talk about that we didn’t cover? ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 48

Fernando: I wish that every person would have a chance to participate, at least for a year to understand at ​ least, what is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, to understand what is self-defense.

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: For everybody, not only women. I think there’s no uhh fragile gender, right. I think ​ everybody’s fragile. As you can see, a week ago, a student of mine, 6’4”, 230 pounds. Out of nowhere somebody came after him, punched him on the face, with a key, almost got him blind, and luckily he knew a little bit of self defense he knew a little bit of Jiu-Jitsu, that he could have stopped, or the situation could be worse. So, the world is changing I think uh you know only carrying your gun is not a is not enough…

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: I we need a a de-escalate situations. ​

Madison: Mhm ​

Fernando: And I think uh Jiu-Jitsu is a good tool for you know, you understand aa your limitations uh ​ feel safer and more confident. Especially peoples that go to college. They gonna be drinking for the first time, so people are gonna be using drugs…

Madison: Yeah ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 49

Fernando: … abusing from drugs. It’s important to understand, you know what is life. And Jiu-Jitsu is a ​ good part of life.

Madison: Do you think it’s difficult to teach Jiu-Jitsu and confidence at the same time like those life ​ morals?

Fernando: Those two walk together because, now I’m gonna ask you a question. ​

Madison: Okay. ​

Fernando: How many times you get an elbow in your face training Jiu-Jitsu? ​

Madison: Every time ​

Fernando: Hahaha. How many times people hit you on the face or in your body that hurts you, and you ​ have to keep on going?

Madison: Every time I spare. ​

Fernando: your building your confidence because you are under pain all the time, and you have to deal ​ with that. Did you stop fighting because somebody hit you on the face or somebody hit your body.

Madison: No, it makes me wanna try harder…. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 50

Fernando: ohhhh you see that that’s the hardest step in your life. Do you feel safe walking on the street? ​ You think you can neutralize somebody?

Madison: Yes, but no at the same time. Like confidence wise, I wouldn’t.. ​

Fernando: You see you understand when you have to protect yourself, and you have nowhere to go. And ​ your in the corner. There’s a thing called adrenaline and cortisone.

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: there gonna pump in you right away ​

Madison: yeah ​

Fernando: and you will do it. And I’m sure that you will do it. ​

Madison: Yeah ​

Fernando: And that’s that’s the beautiful part of Jiu-Jitsu is the confidence that you have inside of you ​ and I know, that it is you know, when you, I I I I I tell people that you’re gonna open you’re trash can. It is a trash can because it is a bad feeling. But you have to put it out. And you have to understand, that’s why fighting, you deal with this everyday, and the confidence is on you.

Madison: Alright, that’s all I have to ask you. ​

Castanera-Bartoszek 51

Fernando: Thank you very much! ​

Madison: Thank you so much for letting me do this. ​

Fernando: My pleasure! ​

[FORTY-ONE MINUTES AND FIFTY-SEVEN SECONDS]

Castanera-Bartoszek 52

Interview Analysis:

History is built up on facts about a specific event and time. Majority of the facts have to come from the event itself and not just peoples opinion on what they think happened. History is important to today because it’s what shapes this world today, and without it, there would be nothing to base our background on. We, as Historians, have to think about others knowledge and opinions as well. History can be subjective thinking but it also has to be accepted and have proof as to why it is history. On the other hand, some historians, such as Tuchman, believe in only straight facts. If it is not a fact she does not know whether or not to agree with the statement or not. In the end, facts are more important than interpretation.

Oral History is different than other historical sources because it is someone else opinion on that specific moment in history. Historical sources are just facts that are directly from the event itself.

As an Oral Historian, it is important to get a grasp of the relevance of certain historical terms that help the reader have a better understanding of what is happening in the text.

Fernando Yamasaki he is biased about his life because that's all he knows and thinks about his success as a businessman. He looks at his past and realizes that he was successful with what he did and used every opportunity he has and used it to his best ability. Another key term is evidence, his evidence comes from himself, his business partner, his father, his brother, and his coach. Collecting them all into his evidence to make it his own. Fernando's achievements form his life because of all of those people in his life, he is able to run his academy the way he does.

It's not just Jiu-Jitsu, it’s also being able to learn respect and being able to understand discipline.

Unconscious Preconception is a big one because he doesn't realize that he has had the mindset of

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jiu-jitsu and judo all of his life. He doesn't realize that since that's all he knows, he will think that people who are not fans or trying Jiu-Jitsu have a negative mindset towards the sports. He thinks everyone should try it, even if they don't think it’s for them, they don't know if it's not for them if they don't have an open mindset. Top-down history is portrayed because Fernando Yamasaki is a top-down person, in the eyes of history, because he is famous in the world of MMA. Everyone who watches or participates in MMA knows his name and all of his accomplishments. For him to be on the higher pedestal is inspiring for many because it shows that wherever you are in your life, there is still a chance for you to be successful. Also, Fernando Yamasaki is also a bottom-up person because he is an immigrant who came here for a greater opportunity and so he could support his family in a larger way.

Some strengths of an Oral History as a historical source is getting someone else’s ideas to get a better understanding of what the event actually is. Some weaknesses of oral history as a historical source is if the interviewer doesn’t know what they are talking about.

During the Interview, I found a few quotes that I would like to highlight because I feel as though they portray the overall reasoning for this interview. “Because to be an Olympian athlete, if you push yourself to the limit, your average. Right, your just an athlete. And to become an

Olympian athlete you have to push your limits every day. Right, and that’s what I tell to you guys.” This is an important quote because it shows what Fernando's mindset is and how he teaches his students to have that type of mindset as well.

This is a quote that represents what Fernando has gone through to live by that every day of his life and be able to teach it as well.“I think through my experience not only, I use Jiu-Jitsu as a tool, to inspire that human being. To make sure I put a positive impact on their life.”

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Jiu-Jitsu to Fernando is not just the sport, it’s everything that surrounds that sport as well. It has impacted his life for the greater good, so he wants that for everyone else in his life as well.

Throughout Fernando's life, he has accomplished a number of achievements that make him who he is today. “That was my dream. You see I try I started try in Judo, but Judo in Brazil was high high high level. It’s the same as wrestling here.” Having a role model like Fernando, makes hundreds of his students feel like if they can put their mind to it, they can do it. For

Fernando to do something that huge as to go out and try to get into the Olympics, is inspiring.

By having Fernando as my teacher, he has taught me to be myself and not think about what others care or say because other people cannot be the reason you change, you yourself have to be the reason. “And I think uh Jiu-Jitsu is a good tool for you know, you understand aa your limitations uh feel safer and more confident.” Having Jiu-Jitsu as a tool to figure out who you are as a person can really help. When he first started Jiu-Jitsu he was excited, but not everyone has that feeling towards the sport. Sure, some people might say it’s not for them, but how would they know if they have never tried the sport. People just see it as a sport, but it is much more then that if you couldn’t tell.

Not trying something new could make yourself not push yourself to the limits, to be the best version of yourself you must push yourself or else your not actually trying to be the best you can be. “I tell people that you’re gonna open you’re trash can. It is a trash can because it is a bad feeling. But you have to put it out. And you have to understand, that’s why fighting, you deal with this every day, and the confidence is on you.” I find this important because I agree with the analogy 100%. How are supposed to feel happy and confident about yourself, if you can't deal

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with the sadness first? Sure, if there is a lot of garbage, it's going to be hard to throw the trash away all at once, but once you realize that it’s doable, there is no stopping you.

Something that surprised me while Fernando Yamasaki was telling me about his past, I was realizing how many steps go into getting a Judo black belt. I feel like getting a Black Belt in

Jiu-Jitsu vs getting a black belt in Judo are pretty similar in the conditions one has to endure. For a Black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, you don’t have to go through a course to get the belt, so that is something that I learned while interviewing Fernando.

In my context paper, I explained the basics of the sport itself, and then as my paper went along, I went more into depth about the history in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. In my transcription, I talk a lot about how Fernando has shaped his life into what it is right now and how hard he worked for everything in his life. I didn‘t go into much background information about Jiu-Jitsu, I stuck to mainly what has been going on in the past 20 or so years.

I think the historical value of my interview was to be able to get a better understanding as to why Jiu-Jitsu is where it is right now. To me, it was very interesting to see a different perspective on the business world of the sport and to see everything that goes into having an academy and students as well. My sources for my context paper were different from what I was asking during the interview because I wanted to understand everything surrounding the sport. In my context paper I learned about the history of the sport, but in the interview, I had an understanding of what Jiu-Jitsu is today and also getting into the specifics with Fernando and his ideas, opinions, and thoughts. Something people could from my interview is Fernando's background, childhood, and how he has become who he is today. It is very interesting to see how far he has come just in the past 15 years.

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What I have learned from the Oral History process was very beneficial to me because I got to learn more about one of my biggest passions, Jiu-Jitsu, and also be able to make others educated on my topic. It was interesting to see how many facts and sources there are about

Jiu-Jitsu. It is a pretty well-known sport in the world, but of course, people usually count it as karate when it is nothing like that at all. I find it very fun to be able to teach people the actual art of Jiu-Jitsu and not just the basic facts. I also learned so much during this assignment and I’m happy that I chose a topic that interests me as well.

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