Pedro Hemeterio

Pedro Hemetério de Araújo (1923–2009) was a legendary martial artist who made history as the first non-Gracie to achieve the rank of 9th-degree Red Belt in jiu jitsu. Born in the remote state of Ceará, he became one of the top fighters for the Gracie family during the 1940s and 1950s.

The “Okra-Man” Nickname
He was nicknamed “Homem-Quiabo” (Okra-Man) by the media after a high-profile fight in São Paulo against a Japanese competitor named Akio Hyoshiara. The name stuck because Hemeterio was incredibly slippery and found a way to slide out of every single submission or hold Akio attempted.

How He Met Carlos Gracie
A Wartime Venture: During World War II, Carlos Gracie made a fortune trading coffee and Babassu coconuts to Europe. In 1942, Carlos moved to Fortaleza to invest his wealth in real estate and began teaching the local police special forces.

The 77-Man Tryout: A local club sponsored a 3-month intensive BJJ course with Carlos for four selected men. Out of 77 hopefuls who showed up for physical trials, a 20-year-old Hemeterio was chosen.

The Last Man Standing: Halfway through the brutal course, the other remaining student quit, leaving Hemeterio as the sole graduate. Carlos grew so fond of him that he offered to pay half of his own police academy salary to Hemeterio’s parents so they would let him pursue Jiu-Jitsu full-time as his right-hand man.

Moving to Rio and Fighting a Gracie
Impressed by his brother’s star pupil, Helio Gracie invited Hemeterio to train at the main academy in Rio de Janeiro. Hemeterio lived and fought in Rio for four years, serving as an elite enforcer for the family name.

Notably, he even fought against a member of the family—George Gracie—and defeated him. At the time, George had split from his brothers Carlos and Helio to form a rival school, making the match highly contentious.

Organizing the Sport & Later Years
Later in life, Hemeterio relocated to São Paulo, where he became a foundational figure in structuring the martial art. He was instrumental in establishing the region’s very first governing body, the São Paulo Jiu-Jitsu Federation (FPJJ).

Master Hemeterio passed away on October 11, 2009, at the age of 86 due to a prolonged heart condition.