Mitsuyo Kosei Maeda, who was born in 1878, became a member of Kodokan Judo in 1896, as former jujitsu scholar. Having superior skills and performing outstanding judo techniques within very shortly he became one of the best students there.
Sensei Kano, who was promoting judo around the world and interested to gather approval from the Westerners in order to have it added to the Olympic program, in 1906 sent two of his students to the East Coast in the States: one was Tomita, his first student and veteran of the Police Tournament of 1886 and the other was Kosei Maeda, quite younger and in shape in order to face eventual challenges.
As most of the judo players of his time, also Maeda was faced with a mixed martial arts challenge almost immediately after his arrival in the States. At the Military Academy of West point he faced a strong American football player, who charged him right away and pinned him to the ground while between his legs. The victory was assigned to the American, however Maeda, who did not consider the pin valid, as per the jujitsu and Kodokan rules at that time, continued and went for an arm lock. The football player surrendered.
Because of the different opinions on the matter, it was decided to repeat the fight, but this time against Tomita, as he was the oldest, had a higher judo rank and was considered stronger. The football player charged again and won right away humiliating Tomita by defeating him immediately. After this embarrassing episode the two Japanese separated: Maeda remained on the East coast, while Tomita went to the West coast.
Maeda was in the States in order to promote Kodokan Judo, but did not have enough money to make a living, so he continued his "mixed martial arts" experiences facing both wrestlers and boxers. He combined his jujitsu knowledge with the Kodokan Judo and being a smart innovator was able to get rid of the less efficacious jujitsu and judo techniques giving rise the style, that he later promoted: "Brazilian Jujitsu".
He toured North, Central and South America and even fought in England and in Spain, where he picked up the name of Count Koma, with which he became famous continuing his mixed martial arts fights.
His behaviour was not appreciated by the Kodokan and even though he used to be one of the best students with the most exceptional judo techniques, he was banished from the Kodokan. Some people assume, that this was the reason he picked up the pseudonym of Count Koma.
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