Wrestler Beats Jujitsu Man

On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1905, St. Louis sports fans were treated to a special match between local professional wrestler George Baptiste and traveling Japanese jujitsu practitioner Arata Suzuki.  Baptiste delighted local fans by quickly defeating Suzuki in two straight falls.

George Baptiste was a professional wrestler and all-around athlete, whose powerful swimming saved many St. Louisans from drowning including St. John Nepomak’s priest, Father T. J. Mora in 1900.  By the time of this match, Baptiste had just turned 40 and was coming to the end of his career.  Baptiste had one more big victory for his fans.

Arata Suzuki was one of a number of Japanese grappling masters, who left Japan to tour the world in the early 1900s.  Many of these men studied Judo at the Kodokan under Jigoro Kano but still referred to the art as jujitsu outside of Japan.

Suzuki also could have been one of the disenfranchised Japanese jujitsu practitioners, whose style had been eclipsed by the victories of the Kodokan men over them in competitions.  Whatever his background, Suzuki was challenging wrestlers and boxers to a match.  George Baptiste accepted the challenge.

When the men met at the Tivoli Hall, the first fall was supposed to be contested under “jujitsu rules” with both men standing.  The only way to win the fall would be to throw the other contestant to the mat much like a modern judo competition.

However, Suzuki agreed to allow the match to end catch-as-catch-can style as well.  Suzuki’s decision allowed Baptiste to make a quick night of it.

After the pre-match handshake, Baptiste in regular wrestling tights matched with Suzuki in a traditional kimono.  Baptiste and Suzuki each went for a single leg takedown but missed.  Suzuki threw a kick to Baptiste’s leg but missed.  Baptiste grabbed the leg and dropped Suzuki on his back.  Suzuki displayed his lack of wrestling knowledge by staying on his back, where Baptiste pushed both shoulders to the mat for a quick fall in two minutes and ten seconds.

To begin the second fall, Suzuki rushed in and out like a karate fighter landing a few kicks on Baptiste.  Baptiste closed the distance and brought Suzuki down on his side.  The jujitsu stylist wriggled free and came back to his feet.

Baptiste quickly took him back down to the ground.  Suzuki wrapped his arms around Baptiste trying to setup a submission hold.  While Suzuki tried to move into position for a submission, Baptiste placed his knee on Suzuki’s chest and pinned him to the mat.  Baptiste took the second straight falls in two minutes.

Later that same year, Baptiste met touring World Wrestling Champion George Hackenschmidt in St. Louis.  During this encounter, Baptiste was on the wrong end of the quick fall.  The aging local favorite decided to retire from the ring.  Arata Suzuki fades from history.

Did you know about these early mixed martial arts bouts?  What do you think led to Baptiste’s quick victories?  You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page, Twitter profile and Google+ page.

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