“THE LEGEND OF THE LOST ART” 

Professor Antonio Pereira, how he liked to be addressed, this humble man, founder of Miyama-ryu Combat Ju-Jutsu, passed away July 17, 1999  at the age of 76.

This fascinating legend was born in Caguas, P.R., November 27, 1922 and arrived in New York City at the very young age of seven.  His first exposure to Ju-Jutsu training was in 1943, as a young American soldier; where he participated in hand to hand combat demonstrations given by commandos. During this demonstration, he was ordered to punch one of the demonstrators in the face, when suddenly he found himself gasping for breath from a choke hold. So began the Ju-Jutsu career of this practitioner, one that would span over 5 decades. During World War II, Professor Pereira learned as much as he could about these specialized fighting methods from the commandos, with whom he had served as a sniper for the U.S. Army.  He continued to experiment and practice with the techniques, refining them sometimes under life and death situations.

After the war, his quest for additional knowledge leads him to many schools in search of martial arts prowess.  In 1960 the former solder began to share his knowledge and consequently opened the “Tremont School of Judo and Ju-Jutsu” to the public for the first time in South Bronx, New York city.  The founder taught a rough and tumble fighting style which he called “Combato”, meaning “The way of Combat”. The puzzle was not complete until he embarked on a journey to Japan, with a plan to study from the source or Mecca of Japanese Martial Arts and gain a better sense of martial principles.

On arriving at the AIKIKAI (Aikido World Headquarters), the realization struck that this was a similar to what he had been doing all along, yet more refined.  So fierce was Pereira’s resolve, and so dedicated his commitment to learning, that he was awarded a teaching certificate from Kisshomura Ueshiba.  He also trained extensively in Judo (Kodokan). “When I entered the Kodokan, they asked me what rank I was. I told them that I was nothing, you tell me what I am”, stated Pereira. At the time Professor Pereira was 31 and was practicing with Shodan and Nidan that were 15, 16, and 17 years old.  During his six months stay, and eight hours of Martial Arts practice daily, he lost more than 35 pounds. When the testing period arrived, Sensei Kotani, who was in charge told him to test for Nidan instead of Shodan; which he passed. This was true attestment Pereira’s ability.  He also received instruction in Sosuishitsu Ryu Ju-Jutsu from Professor Shitama Fukuoka and was awarded a San Mokuroku in this style of Ju-Jutsu

Upon returning to the United States from Japan, Pereira Sensei began to teach Aikido at the Tremont School of Judo and Ju-Jutsu. However, Aikido was not suitable for the residents of the Bronx, who needed more aggressive self-defense techniques.  

Pereira Sensei said: “I’ve returned ready for a new beginning. Now I know what I was doing. But being Hispanic, I had everything against me. Imagine to “survive” with an Oriental Art. It was almost impossible”.

Professor Pereira began putting all of the pieces together and created a new Ju-Jutsu system, one that would fulfill the needs of his students. He wanted a self-defense system for the streets of the South Bronx, one for “our culture and my people”, as he said.  Pereira said, “We think, fight, eat, and hate differently – those are the fundamentals of our techniques”. He adapted the physical techniques of the Orient to the mind-set of the modern urban citizen.

In effect, he created one of the few combat methods suitable for today’s streets.  The founder called his method Miyama-ryu Combat Ju-Jutsu, which means, the School of the Three Mountains; this being the English translation for Tremont and assumed the title of Shinan which means originator.

“The defining characteristic of Miyama-ryu is simplicity”, stated the Professor.  “If a technique is too complicated you will freeze under pressure, which could be fatal”.

Miyama-ryu Combat Ju-Jutsu revolves around the concept of the “Omaza” or complete technique.  An attack is met head on with either an aggressive block or an evasion.  This is followed by an unbalancing technique such as a strike to the vital area; then a major punishing technique is employed.  This could be a joint lock, wrist turn, choke hold, or a projection. Now stunned, he is struck again on the ground.  He is then immobilized with a joint lock.

Miyama-ryu Combat Ju-Jutsu workouts are spirited and aggressive, yet there are no injuries.  Practice sessions are conducted as safe as possible, while maintaining realism.  

For his efforts, Professor Pereira was elected to the Ju-Jutsu America’s Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1985, and became president of the Dai Nippon Sosuishitsu Ryu Ju-Jutsu.

Professor Antonio Pereira, the few who really knew you will never forget you and will always maintain our loyalty to the Miyama-ryu Combat Ju-Jutsu system.  We will never forget your words “My way or the highway”and “If the technique doesn’t hurt, it’s not Miyama-ryu”    

In honor of Shinan’s passing,  the month of July of every year has been declared Shinan’s Month, in which every dojo will host a series of activities related to remembering the life of this pioneer in the martial arts. 

Shinan Pereira died in July 1999 and with him the era of Tremont as the center of Miyama Ryu came to an end. Miyama Ryu Combat Jujutsu has branched out from the tough streets of the South Bronx to several countries on several continents.

Not only is Miyama Ryu Combat Jujutsu taught to civilians, but it has been used in the design of courses for United States Federal agents, taught at police and law enforcement academies across the world and is still being refined today by three Dai-Shihans, D'Arcy Rahming, Dr. William Duke and Robert Aviles Sr., and International Executive Board led by Shihan Omar Echavarria.