Mario Yamasaki

Mario Yamasaki
Born	Mario Yamasaki December 14, 1963 (1963-12-14) (age 47) São Paulo, Brazil
Residence	Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	Brazilian
Style	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo
Teacher(s)	Shigueru Yamasaki, Shigueto Yamasaki, Marcelo Behring, Otavio de Almeida
Rank	4th degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[1] 4th degree black belt in Judo
Occupation	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, MMA referee
Notable school(s)	Yamasaki Academy
Website	http://www.grappling.com

Mario Yamasaki (born in São Paulo, Brazil on December 14, 1963) is a mixed martial arts referee licensed in many states, most recognizable from his duties with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as well as founder and chief instructor of the Yamasaki Academy in the USA. Yamasaki is a veteran of over 180 fights in the UFC, Strikeforce, WEC, EliteXC and Pride Fighting Championships.^[2]

Biography

Yamasaki was born in São Paulo, Brazil, the oldest of two sons born to Shigueru Yamasaki.^[3] Yamasaki’s family has been teaching martial arts in Brazil for two generations. His father is half-Japanese.

Yamasaki and his younger brother Fernando, originally began training in judo as children under their father Shigueru an 8th degree red and white belt in the art^[3] and their uncle Shigueto Yamasaki.

In 1986, at the age of 22 Yamasaki began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under 5th degree black belt Marcelo Behring (a black belt under his father Flavio Behring and Rickson Gracie^[1]), who began teaching jiu-jitsu at the same gym in São Paulo where Yamasaki taught judo.^[3]

Yamasaki’s training under Behring would only last a short time as he would soon move to the United States, traveling frequently back to Brazil to continue his jiu-jitsu training under Behring, until the latter switched gyms. Yamasaki would continue his training jiu-jitsu under his brother Fernando, who had begun training under Otavio de Almeida and Roberto Lage.^[3]

On January 2002, Otavio de Almeida, president of the Federação de Jiu-Jitsu Brasileiro de São Paulo, Brasil (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation of São Paulo, Brazil) promoted Yamasaki to 4th degree black belt.^[1]

UFC career

Yamasaki first became affiliated with the UFC (then owned by Semaphore Entertainment Group), when both he and his brother helped the promotion organize their first event in Brazil, UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil in São Paulo. After the event, Yamasaki spoke with UFC referee 'Big' John McCarthy if there were any referee positions available with the company, and was told that the company was looking for someone, marking the beginning of Yamasaki's career as an MMA referee.^[3]

Personal

Yamasaki lives in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania with his wife and children, where he co-owns and operates a chain of Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools.^[1] Yamasaki comes from a martial arts family. Both his father Shigueru Yamasaki and uncle Shigueto Yamasaki are high ranking judoka in Brazil. His brother Fernando Yamasaki holds black belt ranks in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo. His cousin Shigueto Yamasaki, Jr. is also a judoka who represented Brazil at the 1992 Summer Olympics.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Yamasaki Academy >> Instructors URL accessed on October 16, 2010.
2. ^ List of bouts officiated by Mario Yamasaki at Tapology, http://tapology.com/search/mma-fights-by-referee/mario-yamasaki
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Tatame Magazine >> Mario Masaki Interview. URL accessed on October 16, 2010.
4. ^ JudoInside >> Shigueto Yamasaki, Jr. Competitor Profile URL accessed on October 16, 2010.

External links

• Yamasaki Academy
• List of bouts officiated by Mario Yamasaki at Tapology.com

Persondata
Name	Yamasaki, Mario
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	year=1963
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Date of death
Place of death