Valdemar Santana


Valdemar Santana , born 1929-1984, sometimes known as Adema Santa, was a Brazilian martial artist who trained in Capoeira under Mestre Bimba and in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Hélio Gracie. He was also trained in Luta Livre and Boxing.

Biography

He is famous for fighting his former master Hélio Gracie in 1955. Valdemar fought for the original Gracie Academy for many years but had a falling out with Hélio. Gracie and Santana decided to settle their differences in a Vale Tudo match. After more than three hours and forty minutes of combat, Santana knocked out Gracie with a soccer kick to the head.
After his fight with Hélio, Santana was challenged by Carlson Gracie, Hélio's nephew. Carlson and Santana had, according to Carlson Gracie, six fights, with Carlson winning two and the other four being declared a draw.
He also fought Masahiko Kimura 1959. Kimura won the first match, and the re-match was a draw.

Masahiko Kimura vs. Valdemar Santana

went to Brazil again in 1959 to conduct his last Professional Judo/Wrestling tour. He was challenged by Valdemar Santana to a "real" submission match. Santana was a champion in Gracie Jiujitsu and Capoeira. He was 27 years old, 6 feet tall, and weighed 205 lbs. Kimura threw Santana with seoinage, hanegoshi, and osotogari. He then applied his famous reverse ude-garami, winning the match.
Santana requested a rematch under vale tudo rules, and, this time, the result was a draw after 40 minutes in a bout in which both competitors reportedly drew blood. Kimura fought this match despite having an injured knee; he was pressured by the promoter and police to fight against his doctors orders.

Career highlights