Mitsuyo Maeda, also known as Count Combat (Conde Koma in Portuguese), was a Japanese Judoka from the Kodokan whom was sent by Kano Jigoro to spread the art of Judo through Europe and North, Central, and South America. He did so through public demonstrations of Judo and No Holds Barred challenge matches against martial artists, wrestlers, and football players.

In 1917, Carlos Gracie, the 14 year old son of Gastao Gracie, witnessed one of Maeda’s Judo demonstrations and was impressed. Maeda agreed to take Carlos on as a student. Carlos then later passed his learnings on to his brothers, one of which was his youngest brother Helio.

In 1925 Carlos and Helio opened the first Jiu-Jistu academy in Rio De Janeiro. In addition to their academy, they also wanted to prove the effectiveness of their style. Helio would go on to have 19 professional fights. However, the most notable match would change the course of Jiu-Jitsu was with his former student, Valdimir Santana. This match is the longest recorded fight in history at 3 hours and 42 minutes, in which Helio lost.

A year later to avenge the family name, Helio’s nephew and oldest son of Carlos, Carlson, then only 17 years old challenged Santana. Carlson won. After an undefeated fight career, Carlson opened up his own academy and his aggressive style of Jiu-Jitsu became one of the most sought after styles in Rio De Janeiro.

Carlson Gracie Arrebentacao Team was home to Murilo Bustamante, Marcus Silveira, Andre Pederneiras, Vitor Belfort, and the man whom Carlson considered the most technical black belt, Ricardo Liborio.

Quite a few years down the road, Liborio set out to expand this brand of Jiu-Jitsu and reunited with Marcus and Marcelo Silveira in South Florida. In 2002, merging Boca Black Belt Academy in Boca Raton, Fl. with The Silveira Brothers Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Miami, Fl. they formed the American Top Team. Later that same year, Din Thomas joined the newly formed team.

In 2005, Din Thomas (with Andre ‘Gigueto’ Soarez) moved to Port St Lucie to spread the seed and opened American Top Team Port St Lucie. A year later, Ricardo Liborio branded Din with his black belt. In 2010, Din and American Top Team continue to spread the art and opened an academy in Stuart, Fl. known as Treasure Coast American Top Team.