This is a translation from a blog post made by author Masuda Toshinari on December 26th, 2009. Source Link

In this months edition of “Gongu Kakutougi” featuring “Why didn’t Kimura Masahiko Kill Rikidozan,” the judo and traditional jujutsu fighters who traveled the seas over 100 years ago were introduced.

Fukuoka Shotaro was one of them.

Compared to Maeda Kosei (Conde Koma) who is sitting behind him, it’s obvious that he was quite large. Since he was over 180 cm tall (about 6ft) he must have weighed close to 100 kilos. He traveled to north america prior to Maeda. When they met in New York they hit it off well and as entertainers repeatedly took part in different types of combative martial arts fights.

After parting ways with Maeda, Fukuoka made his way to Europe to take on fights. He eventually made his way to Argentina with other traditional jujutsu martial artists. The spread of Judo (jujutsu) in south america came at a much earlier time with Fukuoka than Maeda.

Maeda eventually arrived to Brazil where he taught Judo. Those skills became known as Gracie Jiu Jitus and eventually Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. A question we must ask however, how is it possible that the Judo taught by a genuine Kodokan judo practitioner be turned into “Gracie Jiu Jitsu” instead of “Gracie Judo?” Additionally, how is it possible that a technique developed by Kosen Judo (currently Nana Tei Judo) known as the leg triangle choke, exist in the brazilian jiu jitsu skill sets?

I dove deep into these questions in my writing. There is no mistake that the roots of modern day mixed martial arts comes from the Judo that crossed it’s way into Brazil. It must be important for Japan’s judo society to leave this proud history in print.

Masuda Toshinari