Georges Mehdi : Brazil's Judo legend
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- This video discusses the career of French Brazilian Judoka Georges Mehdi and his career as a kodokan student and teacher in Brazil, and his relationship with the Gracie Family and Japan.
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#Judo #BJJ #Graciejiujitsu
Forgot to mention that he passed away recently in 2018!
The person responsible for Gracie Barra Manaus and also a teacher for Ronaldo Jacaré, is called Henrique Machado, he is a student of the sensei Medhi, Flavio Beringh and his children were all students of the sensei Medhi, several others like Mario Sperry and others from the Carson Gracie team, some Brazilian Olympic medalists are Medhi students, Flavio Canto's choke was taught to him by Semsei Medhi, so the importance of Medhi for technical improvement in bjj is undeniable
I had the honor of hosting a seminar with Sensei Medhi at my Dojo in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, back in April, 1998, for the local chapter of the USJF. He arrived a day early, which gave me the opportunity to have dinner with him and great conversation about Judo and it's role in Brazilian Jujutsu. He was a great man, who loved all aspects of Judo. Like all serious Judoka of his generation: He knew that the Gentleness of Judo was not just about the flowing techniques. But also in the way you lived.
I'll try to remember the details of that conversation as accurately as possible: He did not speak any English other than a few words and sentences. His Japanese was fluent. His wife spoke English quite well. She acted as translator.
At that time Sensei Medhi was an 8th Dan in both Judo and Aikido. I'm glad to hear he was promoted to 9th Dan. Which is a rank that is largely based upon your contribution to Judo. If anyone was skilled enough to have that rank: It was him.
He did not tell me his BJJ Rank. Even though he was one of the real leaders in what was being called BJJ: He was pretty disgusted with what was going on in the BJJ scene in Rio. Many of the BJJ schools were participating in street fighting as a way to test their skills and Cocaine was the drug of choice. He didn't want to have anything to do with BJJ.
He did tell me his Dojo was considered the training center for the elite BJJ practitioners national team. The Gracies were not on that team. He also told me that every Gracie that was in the US, (not just Rickson) would spend six months training at his dojo before they came to the US to fight or teach. And yes the Gracies did try to capitalize on his reputation and made a claim that he was trained by their father. Which was an over exaggeration. He learned very little from them and went to Japan to train.
He didn't tell me the details of his time in Japan. I thought he told me he spent the better part of 18 years there. I know he studied at the top Judo University in Japan and was well respected for his skill.
The day of the Seminar he asked me to Randori with him. He was in his 60's and I was 37. My Sensei, Noriyasu Kudo, a Kodokan, 6th Dan, who had a Dojo in Springfield, Massachusetts was in the process of promoting me to 3rd Dan. Although I was not a world class competitor: I had the skills to back up the rank.
Both Sensei Medhi and Sensei Kudo were old school Judoka. You didn't mess around with gripping strategies. You just grabbed and tried to throw each other. As soon as he gripped my Gi: I could feel his strength and balance were like a world class competitor in their 20's. Despite trying everything I could to throw him. I couldn't even get him off balance. Sensei Medhi threw me around like a beginner. It was the best randori I had ever had.
AMAZING my brother!!! He is a treasure of this world & martial arts. I greatly admire this man from the bottom of my heart. A great man. He represents Judo, Brasil & Japan beautifully.
Thank you
@@Chadi Chadi my friend have you ever thought about a documentary or book like what Robert Drysdale did? If you need contacts for Judo in Brazil I can help :)
@@rangelo8908 haha i am currently writing one, when I'm done I'll let you know;)
@@Chadi can't wait my friend!
Sensei Medhi practice in Tenry University, Anton Gessing also, in the same time. I went there in 1999, his name, and my Sensei are writing in a wall, only a few non japanese.have the name in this wall. The level of Judô in Brazil and Bjj did grows a Lot because of Sensei Medhi. Is a lot of Crazy historys of him, and ereryone respect and like him. Very hard, strong, and in same time lovely person.
Thank you for sharing Guilherme, wish i met him
Can you share some of these stories with us? I read about something he would do with a broom, but I did not get it quite well
Does his dojo have a website? I want to make it a to-do list place to practise someday
Really great to see Mehdi here! I am glad my wife and I could spend a few hours with him at his dojo. He was such a gentleman, a very nice presence, and an incredible judoka. In Brazil he was and will continue to be a huge reference for us all.
Even in the turbulent 90s, with the rivalry between bjj and other arts (luta livre, muay thai), it is told that Mehdi and his dojo were firmly respected.
Keep up the good work, my friend!
Thank you I truly appreciate it!
A Jordanian black belt received received his belt from him, named samy aljamal, who is now teaching the first Jordanian in UFC, ali alqaisi. No wonder why his pic was all over judo social media when he passed away, because he accomplished a lot of the impossible. Thanks for the video Habibi.
Thank you
I had the honor of hosting a seminar with Sensei Medhi at my Dojo in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, back in April, 1998, for the local chapter of the USJF. He arrived a day early, which gave me the opportunity to have dinner with him and great conversation about Judo and it's role in Brazilian Jujutsu. He was a great man, who loved all aspects of Judo. Like all serious Judoka of his generation: He knew that the Gentleness of Judo was not just about the flowing techniques. But also in the way you lived.
I'll try to remember the details of that conversation as accurately as possible: He did not speak any English other than a few words and sentences. His Japanese was fluent. His wife spoke English quite well. She acted as translator.
At that time Sensei Medhi was an 8th Dan in both Judo and Aikido. I'm glad to hear he was promoted to 9th Dan. Which is a rank that is largely based upon your contribution to Judo. If anyone was skilled enough to have that rank: It was him.
He did not tell me his BJJ Rank. Even though he was one of the real leaders in what was being called BJJ: He was pretty disgusted with what was going on in the BJJ scene in Rio. Many of the BJJ schools were participating in street fighting as a way to test their skills and Cocaine was the drug of choice. He didn't want to have anything to do with BJJ.
He did tell me his Dojo was considered the training center for the elite BJJ practitioners national team. The Gracies were not on that team. He also told me that every Gracie that was in the US, (not just Rickson) would spend six months training at his dojo before they came to the US to fight or teach. And yes the Gracies did try to capitalize on his reputation and made a claim that he was trained by their father. Which was an over exaggeration. He learned very little from them and went to Japan to train.
He didn't tell me the details of his time in Japan. I thought he told me he spent the better part of 18 years there. I know he studied at the top Judo University in Japan and was well respected for his skill.
The day of the Seminar he asked me to Randori with him. He was in his 60's and I was 37. My Sensei, Noriyasu Kudo, a Kodokan, 6th Dan, who had a Dojo in Springfield, Massachusetts was in the process of promoting me to 3rd Dan. Although I was not a world class competitor: I had the skills to back up the rank.
Both Sensei Medhi and Sensei Kudo were old school Judoka. You didn't mess around with gripping strategies. You just grabbed and tried to throw each other. As soon as he gripped my Gi: I could feel his strength and balance were like a world class competitor in their 20's. Despite trying everything I could to throw him. I couldn't even get him off balance. Sensei Medhi threw me around like a beginner. It was the best randori I had ever had.
Sensei Mehdi: "Jiu Jitsu é Judô mal feito"!
He was my teacher in Rio de Janeiro when I was a child. Great to see this posting! 🙏
Good video topic again! Mehdi sensei appears in my book in the chapter about Japanese taking their culture to Brazil, starting in 1908 aboard the Kasato Maru. Of course, sensei was much later than 1908 and not from Japan! lol 😆 It covers a swathe of time!
Awesome! What's your book called
@Chadi Aikido in Japan and The Way Less Traveled. The other chapter you might like is "The Fable of Fusen", in the Epilogue. Could be the basis for a video for you. Send me a mailing address to beijingaikikai@gmail.com and I will mail you one. Keep up the great topics and content. You've been a much needed voice online. 👍
Dear Chadi
The very first old video that your are presenting is the match between Kimura and Helio Gracie. Sensei Mehdi is not in this video. It is a mistake, sorry.
He was Algerian not French just like Zinédine Ziadane
2:15 This is crazy cuz I'm literally watching this right after my BJJ class. I'm still in my Gi pants and about to drive home (yes I know that sounds dirty but I forgot my change of pants). today we practice throws in fact we've been practicing throws for the last month. Because our instructor understands that most bjj only focus on the ground and forgets striking and throwing. this week I'm finally getting comfortable being thrown. When we started rolling I asked everybody if we can start standing. I tried my throws which I suck at but I made sure Not to pull Guard. I'm up keep focusing on throws so I can get good at it because to me Jiu-Jitsu is the son of Judo. There for it's not complete without knowing how to throw.
Hahaha it's okay the pants thing is common, and yes learn your throws you'll be a killer on your feet and off your back
Great videos, Chadi! I’m a BJJ practitioner, but I still get a lot from your channel. Are you in the United States?
I train judo BJJ based in France
Hello, when will a book on George
Rickson learnt from Mehdi and alot others Gracie familly members he said gracies practiced judo but sucked at nage waza , he has a clip along carlso Gracie. Gracies fear Mehdi and why never fighting him gracies always feared good grapplers or fighters like marco raus or bus rutten
Golden information thank you
@@Chadi Jose Mario Sperry and Amaury Bitteti were a black belts under Sensei Mehdi
Sorry you mentioned Sperry
@@Chadi Rolls gracie (the late older brother of Rickson Gracie and previous Gracie champion before Rickson) learnt judo from Medhi as well
@Chadi do you still practice jiu-jitsu or do you only do judo
Priority is judo 5x a week, bjj 2x a week in the morning
Incredible.
Thanks man it's very good that you give us all this knowledge I hope you continue the good work and your life to be fulfilling enough to be happy! Good work!
Thank you so much i truly appreciate it
His name sounds arabic. What are the origins?
Tunisia
Algerian
Was he a practicing Muslim by any chance?
He wasnt Muslim.
@Chadi he also thought master Barbosa who has b9 jiu-jitsu academys.
Master Barbosa would definitely be a good video .