Biography
Takeo Yano, known as 'The Eastern Demon,' trained at the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai in Kyoto under Hajime Isogai. He arrived in Brazil in 1934 and fought extensively, including eight or nine bouts against George Gracie. On August 9, 1953, in Recife, he promoted Diniz Camara to black belt — the first documented BJJ black belt promotion. He is credited with introducing heel hooks and leglock techniques to Brazil, acknowledged by Ivan Gomes, Carlson Gracie, and Euclides Pereira. Through his student Francisco Sa, the SAS Team lineage — one of the only surviving non-Maeda BJJ lineages — continues today. He died in 1988 in Belo Horizonte.