Euclydes Hatem
Euclydes Hatem | |
---|---|
Born | 16 September 1914 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil[1] |
Died | September 26, 1984 | (aged 70)
Other names | Tatu |
Style | Luta Livre |
Notable students | Marco Ruas[2] |
Euclydes Hatem (Portuguese:
Biography
Early life
He was born into a Brazilian family of Lebanese origin.[3] At 14 years old, after an unsuccessful career as a rower, Hatem started learning catch wrestling at the Associação de Cristã de Moços in Rio de Janeiro. From his childhood he received the nickname of "Tatu" ("armadillo") for his short, stocky build, which did not impede him from showing skill for the art.[2] His main teacher was the legendary Orlando Americo da Silva or "Dudú", who also taught George and Hélio Gracie and defeated Geo Omori in a match.[4][5]
Fighting career
After years of training, Euclydes turned professional and got into the fighting circuit of the time, which fluctuated between
In 1937 Tatu faced Japanese
Three years later, Hatem participated in the Copa Mundial Benito Valladares, where the winner would face French wrestling champion Charles Ulsemer. Not only did Tatu win the qualifier, but he also drew with Ulsemer. They faced again two months after, and this time Euclydes won by armlock in a match refereed by
In 1942, Mestre Tatu returned to Porto Alegre to answer the challenge written down by George Gracie, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu exponent who had also trained in catch wrestling under Hatem's teachers. The match between them was celebrated to a great expectation, with Euclydes winning by rear naked choke at the second round. According to Brazilian historians such as Elton Silva, many people erroneously think he won the match via an Americana lock because of a newspaper picture from the match, but that picture was from the first round and George had managed to escape from that lock.[8][9] Supposedly, he showed himself so dominant that Brazilian promoters dismissed the chance of a rematch, which Gracie didn't ask anyway.[7]
After an unbeaten tour through Argentina in 1947, Hatem had a rubber match with his old enemy Takeo Yano, winning again by submission. The same year, Tatu was pitted against Russian superheavyweight Leon Falkenstein, nicknamed "Homem Montanha" ("Mountain Man") for his 330 ib and large height. Falkenstein had contacted Hatem to discuss the possibility of a worked match, but Euclydes refused, and negotiations got so heated that newspapers echoed them. However, when the match happened, Hatem defeated him in only 37 seconds.[7] The Russian demanded a rematch after training with several vale tudo exponents, but results were again a victory by submission for Tatu.[7]
Retirement
Tatu ended his career in the 1950s. After his retirement, he founded a gym and started teaching his fighting style of
References
- ^ a b "האתר הרשמי של עמית חכים - The Founder - Tatu". amithakim.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26.
- ^ ISBN 9781554908448.
- ^ LutaLivre Academy. "The history of Luta Livre and Vale Tudo in Brazil. Part II". Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "The history of Luta Livre and Vale Tudo in Brazil - Part I -Luta". Livre Academy.
- ^ "The history of Luta Livre and Vale Tudo in Brazil. Part III". Luta Livre Academy. Archived from the original on 2015-11-06. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
- ^ a b c d e f "The history of Luta Livre and Vale Tudo in Brazil. Part V". Luta Livre Academy.
- ^ a b c d e "The history of Luta Livre and Vale Tudo in Brazil. Part VI". Luta Livre Academy.
- ^ T.P. Grant. "MMA Origins: Carlson Gracie Changes Jiu-Jitsu and Vale Tudo". Bloody Elbow.
- ^ "History Of Luta Livre & Reasons For Lack Of "Mainstream" Popularity". Bjj Eastern Europe. 4 July 2015.