Long before I ever considered I could make a buck or two writing about this sport I was sent a tape titled Vale Tudo Japan 1994, thus beginning my obsession with Rickson Gracie.
Before his younger brother Royce was dominating the competition and showing off the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to North America Rickson linked with the Shooto organization to bring Vale Tudo to Japan.
Vale Tudo was the brainchild of Helio Gracie, much like the early Ultimate Fighting Championship’s this was simply a showcase for the art of submission grappling and over the years turned into a brutal, bash-up-derby of competition, now this was coming to the land of the rising sun.
Although the Vale Tudo Japan series would eventually be a launching pad for Rumina Sato, Caol Uno, Hayato Sakurai and Takanori Gomi, early on it was just another showcase for Rickson Gracie who took back-to-back championships over less than superior talent, the second of which is documented in his documentary Choke, a film that should be on your shelf, otherwise shame on you.
The concept was seemingly laid to rest in 1999 with abysmal numbers year after year without the inclusion of Gracie, seemingly a Strikeforce Challengers of it’s time but was resurrected in 2009, a decade after it’s last showing was a relative success, most notable for Takanori Gomi’s final fight before joining the UFC ranks.
Now Shooto’s figurehead made the announcement to bring the event back this Christmas Eve as they look to link with fellow Japanese MMA promoters from Pancrase and DEEP to promote a super-card to try and shoot an injection of adrenaline into the heart of the kakuotogi scene in Japan.
Maybe it’s just that geeky thirteen-year-old inside me but I am thrilled for the return of the concept and will deliver more on this as the story develops.
