{"id":14463,"date":"2022-03-01T20:43:22","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T20:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fightersvault.com\/?p=14463"},"modified":"2022-11-03T19:53:26","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T19:53:26","slug":"luta-livre-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fightersvault.com\/luta-livre-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Luta Livre: History, Famous Fighters & Influence On MMA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Luta Livre is an incredibly effective Brazilian martial art that has produced dozens of world-class fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we discuss the complete story of luta livre. We look at how Euclides Hatem developed the martial, a list of famous luta livre fighters, and the infamous story of the BJJ vs luta livre rivalry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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What is Luta Livre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luta Livre is a multi-discipline martial art developed by submission wrestling champion Euclides Hatem. It evolved in Brazil during the early 1900s at the same time BJJ developed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The martial art includes elements of catch wrestling<\/a>, judo, pankration, and, later on, muay thai. In English, the name luta livre means free fighting, precisely describing martial art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Styles Of Luta Livre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luta Livre Esportiva:<\/strong> This style of luta livre refers to no-gi submission grappling. Its techniques are similar to catch wrestling<\/a>, even though it developed independently in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luta Livre Vale Tudo<\/a>:<\/strong> This is effectively Brazilian MMA before the UFC<\/a> exploded in popularity. In other words, MMA or no-gi grappling plus striking.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The History Of Luta Livre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The story of luta livre begins with the martial art’s creator Euclides “Tatu” Hatem. Euclides was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1914 to a Lebanese family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was an athletically gifted kid that got the nickname Tatu (armadillo) due to his stocky and muscular physique. At 14, Hatem attempted to become a professional rower but was unsuccessful at his attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When that failed, he began taking catch wrestling<\/a> classes at the Associa\u00e7\u00e3o de Crist\u00e3 de Mo\u00e7os in Rio de Janeiro (The Young Men’s Christian Association In Rio de Janeiro).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatem immediately showed immense potential at catch wrestling<\/a>. His coach believed that he could compete in grappling at a high level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Hatem Begins Competing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After years of training, Hatem wanted to test himself against other wrestlers and grapplers. He would begin competing in catch as catch can wrestling, pro wrestling, and vale tudo<\/a> matches in the 1930s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 1935, Mestre Tatu had already made quite a name for himself in grappling and fighting. He was beating some well-known wrestlers at the time, like an Italian wrestler named Attilio and Brazilian Bogma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Euclides became so well versed in chokes that many of his opponents requested that they not be allowed in their matches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the 1930s, Hatem was considered one of the best wrestlers and fighters in the world. Not only was he well versed in wrestling, but he was also considered a submission expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Hatem’s Last Matches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the 1940s arrived, Hatem continued competing in various competitions and won nearly all of them. In 1942, Tatu was challenged to a match by Carlos Gracie’s oldest brother George Gracie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

George was considered the top athlete of the Gracie brothers and the one with the shortest temper. Gracie had also trained with many of Hatem’s teachers and knew his style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This wouldn’t matter as Hatem dominated every minute of their fight and would win by submission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatem would later face Takeo Yano for the 3rd time and win the trilogy against his old friend. One of Hatem’s last matches was against Russian wrestler Leon Falkenstein, who was known as “Homem Montanha” (Mountain Man).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things got heated before their match due to Falkenstein requesting that the match be fixed. This upset Hatem, and he took it out on Falkenstein in their fight by beating him in just 37 seconds. Homem Montanha would demand a rematch, but with the same result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatem Opens The First Luta Livre School<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the 1950s, Hatem was retired from fighting and wanted to turn his attention to teaching. He would open the first luta livre school to teach his martial art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Mestre Tatu was unofficially retired from competition, Waldemar Santana did come to his school and challenge him. He quickly defeated Santana, who would eventually become a student of Hatem’s later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Euclides would continue teaching luta livre for the last decades of his life until he passed away in 1984. He was considered a sports hero in Brazil, and his legacy lives on through his students that still teach luta livre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Martial Arts Used In Luta Livre<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Luta<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Luta Livre is an early Brazilian MMA version that includes different fighting disciplines. Some of the martial arts used in luta livre include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n