LUTA LIVRE:
BRAZILIAN NO-GI SUBMISSION WRESTLING
Luta Livre was created by Euclydes “Tatu” Hatem in Rio de Janeiro. Hatem was one of the greatest Catch Wrestlers/Grapplers that ever lived and remained nearly undefeated throughout his career.
Luta Livre is a Brazilian No-Gi Submission Grappling Art rooted deeply in Catch Wrestling with a dose of Old School ground based Judo. Euclydes “Tatu” Hatem began teaching Catch Wrestling techniques to others in Rio de Janeiro in 1927 while experimenting with some of his own innovative techniques.
”Tatu” welcomed and fought in many challenge matches with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champions culminating with his major victory over George Gracie in a Catch rules bout in 1942 when he submitted George Gracie with a reverse Double Wrist Lock.
The Art continued to expand when one of his students, Euclides Pereira defeated Carlson Gracie in 1968. The Luta Livre Art focuses heavily on takedowns, ground fighting and unlimited submissions due to their importance in Vale Tudo matches. The ground fighting includes the vast use of leg locks, which in the past was nearly completely ignored by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In the 1970s Luta Livre was strongly influenced by the father and son duo Fausto and Carlos Brunocilla. The Brunocilla’s were Tatu’s pupils and were in turn responsible for graduating many Luta Livre Masters.
Also around the 1970s, the art of Luta Livre was influenced by Roberto Leitão, a practitioner of Judo and Wrestling. Leitão also articulated the “Theory of Grappling”, sometimes referred to as “Theory of Luta Livre.”
Some of the Art’s recent prominent Grapplers & High level Mixed Martial Artists & Grapplers including UFC Champions are; Marco Ruas, Pedro Rizzo, José Aldo, Glover Teixeira, Murilo Bustamante, Renato Sobral, Rousimar Palhares & 2024 ADCC Champion, Mica Galvao
LUTA LIVRE INFORMATION & BRIEF HISTORY VIDEOS:
VIDEO CREDITS: DIDOS: YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@DIDOS
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SNAKE PIT U.S.A. MMA’S LUTA LIVRE LINEAGE:
Rufino dos Santos > Euclydes “Tatu” Hatem > Carlos Brunocilla > Hugo Duarte > Joel Bane
OUR HEAD COACH JOEL BANE IS A 5th DEGREE BLACK BELT & THE FIRST-EVER NORTH AMERICAN TO BE PROMOTED TO BLACK BELT IN LUTA LIVRE BY 9th DEGREE RED BELT/GRAND MASTER HUGO DUARTE.
