Taka Watanabe began his BJJ training at age 13 in Brazil, moving to Japan at age 20.  Starting a federation in Japan not once, but twice was his way of breaking away against a new set of rules and dramatic changes that could stifle Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.   Taka (and Rickson Gracie) with the JJFJ, break from the pack.

BJJ Legends: I’ve got a couple of questions here about Rickson Gracie’s Federation in Japan but first I’d like to find out more about you. Did you train with Rickson here in the States or in Brazil?

Takamasa Watanabe: No. I started with his student Marcelo Behring. He died when he was 33 or so. I am his purple belt. That’s in Brazil. I started when I was 13 years old. I came to Japan when I was 20. Until then I trained all the time in Brazil. Then I continued teaching here in Japan. Now our academy is called Axis but it was called Gracie Japan. I only started teaching straight from Rickson Gracie after I came to Japan.

Missy Beaver (AKA Miss (Ms) Fit) demonstrates the Kettle Bell Dead Lift (for the Royler Gracie Issue of BJJ Legends - Jiu-Jitsu Legends Get Jiu-Jitsu News





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