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The BJJ Story
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Francisco Hemeterio

Francisco Hemetério helped introduce jiu-jitsu to Natal in 1971 and taught Banni Cavalcanti before a military transfer.

Biography

Francisco Hemetério is one of the figures a 2014 academic article places at the introduction of jiu-jitsu in Natal in 1971. The regional history identifies him as the brother of Pedro Hemetério, a student of Hélio Gracie. It places Francisco alongside Master Kawamura among the people who introduced jiu-jitsu to the city, while distinguishing Francisco's line from the traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu Kawamura taught there. The article names Banni Cavalcanti as Francisco's student. It says Francisco was later transferred to another city because of his military duties, after which jiu-jitsu activity in Natal went quiet. Banni then sought further instruction in Recife and later helped jiu-jitsu grow across Rio Grande do Norte. BJJ Heroes provides another view of the teaching line. On its Bianca Andrade profile, it lists Pedro Hemetério to Francisco Hemetério to Banni Cavalcanti, continuing through Diojone Farias to Andrade. The same profile lists world championship titles among Andrade's achievements. Those are Andrade's accomplishments; the lineage entry documents the continuation of a teaching chain that includes Francisco.

Sources for this profile

  • Pablo Delano Porfírio Arruda and Bertulino José de Souza, Revista Diálogos, vol. 1 no. 1 (2014), p. 74.(opens in a new tab)

    • A 2014 academic article identifies Francisco Hemeterio as the brother of Pedro Hemeterio, a student of Helio Gracie, and places Francisco and Master Kawamura among the people who introduced jiu-jitsu in Natal in 1971.

      Where in the source: Printed p. 74 (eighth PDF page), local-history section; anchor: 1971.

      Accessed:

    • The same article says Francisco later transferred to another city because of his military duties, after which jiu-jitsu activity in Natal went quiet for a period.

      Where in the source: Printed p. 74 (eighth PDF page), paragraph beginning “Após a transferência”.

      Accessed:

    • After Francisco's transfer, the article says his student Banni sought further instruction in Recife and later helped jiu-jitsu grow across Rio Grande do Norte.

      Where in the source: Printed p. 74 (eighth PDF page), Banni paragraph; anchor: “viaja para Recife”.

      Accessed:

    • The 2014 article distinguishes Francisco Hemeterio's jiu-jitsu line from the traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu taught in Natal by Master Kawamura.

      Where in the source: Printed p. 74 (eighth PDF page), local-history paragraph; anchor: “estilo japonês”.

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, Bianca Andrade profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes publishes the lineage Pedro Hemeterio to Francisco Hemeterio to Banni Cavalcanti.

      Where in the source: Bianca Andrade Jiu Jitsu — Lineage.

      Accessed:

    • The published lineage continues from Francisco through Banni Cavalcanti and Diojone Farias to world champion Bianca Andrade, documenting the later reach of Francisco's teaching line.

      Where in the source: Bianca Andrade Jiu Jitsu — Lineage; Main Achievements.

      Accessed:

  • FJJRN, História da FJJRN, undated, Banni Cavalcanti section.(opens in a new tab)

    • The Rio Grande do Norte federation says Banni Cavalcanti began his jiu-jitsu journey in 1972 with local teachers and later founded the state federation.

      Where in the source: Banni profile: Formação e Conquistas; Fundação e Legado da FJJRN.

      Accessed:

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