Mitsuyo Maeda
Mitsuyo Maeda introduced judo to Brazil in November 1914. Maeda was a member of the Kodokan, and one of judo's five top groundwork experts. Judo founder, Kanō Jigorō sent Maeda as something of an ambassador to broaden judo practice on a worldwide level. Maeda introduced judo (designated 'Kano Jiu-Jitsu' in that period) to Carlos Gracie, the first of several in his family that would take up the sport and eventually mold it into Brazilian jiu-jitsu, sometimes referred to as "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu".