The retirement as a fighter of Euclydes "Tatu" Hatem

"Mestre Tatu" ended his professional career in the 50s. After that he still followed one of his favorite activities, visiting big cities whilst looking for a healthy balance between the hustle and bustle of cities and coziness of the country life. Usually he preferred to continue to train in quieter places, where he pulled and even lifted trucks. It was this training method he had to thank for his strength, he said.

"Mestre Tatu" devoted his time, attention and efforts to teaching and passing on his Luta Livre knowledge and experience as a fighter. He taught Luta Livre in different places and gyms in Rio de Janeiro and the surrounding area. At home, he set up a gym where he also trained fighters and motivated new people for Luta Livre. It is said that the famous fighter Waldemar Santana one day visited him during training and challenged him to a fight. "Mestre Tatu" accepted and threw him to the ground very quickly after the fight started and then tapped him out directly with a choke. This event was witnessed and retold by Hugo Melo, who besides being a Judoka also trained Luta Livre under "Mestre Tatu".

Many sports journalists entertained the idea of “Mestre Tatu” fighting against Helio Gracie. "Mestre Tatu" replied that he had no fear of any fighter, but showed great respect and admiration and said Helio Gracie would be an excellent opponent. However, any possibility of a fight between the two would be on the condition that judogi be worn by both men and "Mestre Tatu" swore after his fight in judogi against Takeo Yano, never to fight again in gi.

The legacy and successors of "Mestre Tatu"

Throughout his life, his fighting career and teaching, "Mestre Tatu" had built up a wide circle of friends and prepared many famous fighters and trainers, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Included among these and of worthy mention were Fausto Brunocilla and Carlos Brunocilla.

Mestre Fausto Brunocilla

One of the most exemplary and important disciples of "Mestre Tatu" was Mestre Fausto Brunocilla.

As "Mestre Tatu" went into retirement and start teaching Luta Livre in Rio de Janeiro in different gyms, judo fighters as well Greco-Roman wrestlers came to him to attend his training. Fausto Brunocilla was a talented student who later distinguished himself as a fighter. As a student of “Mestre Tatu” he has also assisted in the training and preparation of other athletes. His athletes fought in Luta Livre, Olympic wrestling and Vale Tudo tournaments. Some of these fighters fought in Vale Tudo in the 1950s against the Academy of the Gracies. There were names like Fausto Brunocilla, Carlos Brunocilla, Mauro Gonzaga, Hugo Mello, Ricardo Calmon, Baianinho, Alvaro Alemao, Rene Bastos and many others just to mention some of them. As “Mestre Tatú” fell ill, Fausto Brunocilla was the one who assumed the post and responsibility to continue with the work begun by his master. Fausto Brunocilla was also responsible for the education of his son Carlos Brunocilla. "Carlinhos" was already a Luta Livre champion by 1979.

Mestre Fausto Brunocilla died in the early 1980s and placed in the hands of his son the duty of the transmission of the teachings of Mestre "Tatu".

Mestre Carlos "Carlinhos"Brunocilla

Carlos Brunocilla, known as "Carlinhos", was then responsible for continuing the teachings of Mestre Tatu and Fausto Brunocilla. Carlinhos trained many fighters who fought in Luta Livre events and Vale Tudo. He was also integral for the dissemination of the Luta Livre in different states of Brazil, especially the Amazon, where a strong group of Luta Livre fighters preserve and pass on the Luta Livre culture. "Carlinhos" Brunocilla was mentor of well-known protagonists of Luta Livre like Hugo Duarte, Eugenio Tadeu, Denilson Maia, Marcelo Mendes, Flávio Molina, Marco Ruas, Marcelo Bertolutti, Bosco Lima, BIGU, Marcelo Nogueira and many others.

Luta Livre fighters who had distinguished themselves at an international level such as Alexandre Cacareco, Alexandre Pequeno, Marcio "Cromado" and Flavio Santiago Peroba are from the lineage of Mestre Brunocilla.

Alexandre Cacareco was winner of various Brazilian and international MMA events. As an ADCC silver medallist, he also generated a great reputation and respect in submission wrestling competitions, where he defeated reputable BJJ fighters.

Alexandre "Pequeno" was considered the "Rei do Shooto japonês" (eg. King of Japanese Shooto), holding the promotion’s lightweight title for over six years. "Pequeno" was a direct student of Mestre Eugenio Tadeu. Flavio Santiago Peroba also makes noteworthy work in France.

Marcio "Cromado" is the founder and leader of the RFT (Renovação Fight Team). He was a direct disciple of Eugenio Tadeu. To this day, Marcio “Cromado” has made by far the most successful work as a trainer with his Luta Livre and MMA athletes. RFT has active fighters in renowned MMA leagues such as UFC and Bellator. In Europe this task and responsability was given to his disciple and Black Belt Nico Welko.

Carlos Brunocilla, as Fausto Brunocilla and Mestre Mestre Tatu, devoted a large part of his life to the teaching and the significant development and dissemination of Luta Livre in Rio de Janeiro. According to media reports, Carlos Brunocilla was murdered in Rio de Janeiro in 2014.

In Part VIII of these series of articles we are going to present to you an almost deleted part of the history regarding the connection between "Mestre Tatu" as well Luta Livre/Catch with the development of Olympic Wrestling in Brazil.