Combat Jujutsu in World War II: The Evolution of Miyama Ryu Jujutsu

The story of combat jujutsu as it is practiced today is not merely a tale of techniques, uniforms, or dojo traditions. It is a story forged in the harsh realities of war, refined in the dangerous streets of urban America, and tempered by the disciplined philosophy of ancient Japanese martial systems. Few martial arts lineages so clearly reflect the bridge between battlefield necessity and civilian survival as Miyama Ryu Jujutsu, whose roots trace back to World War II and the lifelong warrior’s journey of Antonio Pereira.

This is not a system born from sport or ritualized competition. It is a combat method shaped by violence, survival, and adaptability, designed for real people facing real threats.

The Wartime Spark: A Lesson Learned in 1942

In 1942, amid the global turmoil of World War II, a young American soldier named Antonio Pereira participated in a military hand-to-hand combat demonstration. At the time, Pereira was strong, confident, and eager to prove himself. When an instructor ordered him to throw a punch directly at another instructor’s face, he complied without hesitation.

What happened next changed the trajectory of his life.

Instead of landing his punch, Pereira found himself suddenly spun off balance, controlled, and locked into a chokehold before he could react. The speed, precision, and efficiency of the response stunned him. In that moment, Pereira realized that raw aggression alone was not enough; there existed a deeper science to combat, one that leveraged balance,

leverage, timing, and psychology rather than brute force.

This brief but powerful encounter planted the seed for a lifelong pursuit: the search for the most effective, realistic, and adaptable martial system possible.

World War II and the Birth of Practical Combat Methods

During World War II, traditional martial arts training was often stripped of ceremony and philosophy in favor of practicality. Soldiers needed methods that worked immediately, under extreme stress, fatigue, fear, and unpredictable conditions. Pereira immersed himself in every form of specialized combat instruction he could find, learning techniques designed for survival rather than competition.

More importantly, he did not simply memorize techniques. Pereira experimented relentlessly, testing what worked and discarding what did not. In some cases, these experiments took place in life-and-death situations, where failure meant serious injury or worse.

Through this process, he began to understand a fundamental truth of real combat:

Techniques must adapt to chaos—or they will fail.

This understanding would later become one of the cornerstones of Miyama Ryu Jujutsu.

A Warrior’s Quest After the War

When the war ended, many soldiers sought peace and normalcy. Pereira, however, carried unanswered questions. He knew there was more to learn—more depth, more refinement, more efficiency to be uncovered.

In the years following the war, Pereira embarked on what can only be described as a warrior’s quest. He traveled from school to school, studying under different instructors, absorbing philosophies, techniques, and methodologies from a wide range of martial traditions.

In 1950, he began formal training in Judo under the Lefcoker brothers. Judo’s emphasis on balance, throws, and control resonated deeply with Pereira, particularly its effectiveness against larger or stronger opponents. At the same time, he began researching something few martial artists of the era considered seriously: how real victims of crime were attacked.

He studied police reports, spoke with victims, and analyzed patterns of street violence. This research confirmed what his wartime experience had already suggested: most traditional martial arts did not fully address the realities of ambush, surprise, multiple attackers, weapons, or confined spaces.

Responding to Real Street Violence

By 1960, Pereira had gathered enough knowledge and experience to begin formal instruction. He opened a martial arts school on Tremont Avenue in the South Bronx, one of the most dangerous urban environments in America at the time.

This was not an ivory-tower dojo. This was a place where students faced real threats daily, muggings, assaults, and violent crime were part of the landscape.

Pereira named his method Combato, a raw, direct system designed to prepare students for street survival.

Combato emphasized:

• Rapid incapacitation

• Close-quarter control

• Adaptability under stress

• Psychological dominance

• Defense against common street attacks

Yet even with its effectiveness, Pereira felt something was missing. Combato worked, but he sensed that deeper principles existed, principles that could unify his system and elevate it beyond a collection of techniques.

Journey to Japan: Returning to the Source

In 1962, Pereira traveled to Japan, determined to study martial arts at their source. This journey marked a critical turning point in his development.

While observing training at the Aiki Kai, a leading Aikido organization, Pereira experienced a profound realization. Many of the principles he had independently discovered, blending with force, redirecting energy, controlling balance, were already deeply embedded in traditional Japanese martial arts.

Rather than abandon his combat-focused approach, Pereira sought refinement. He studied the philosophy, structure, and precision behind these arts, learning how centuries-old principles could be applied to modern combat realities.

His dedication did not go unnoticed. Through relentless training and fierce resolve, Pereira earned significant recognition, including:

• A teaching certificate from O-Sensei Ueshiba, son of the founder of Aikido

• A Ni Dan (2nd-degree black belt) in Judo from the Kodokan, the birthplace of Judo

These honors validated not only his technical skill but his understanding of martial principles at their highest level.

The Fusion of Old and New

Upon returning to the United States, Pereira resumed teaching at his Tremont Avenue school, but now with a transformed vision. He later earned a San Mokuroku in Sosuishitsu Ryu Jujutsu, a Koryu (classical) jujutsu system, under Professor Shitama, the then-current headmaster.

This was significant. Koryu jujutsu represents combat methods developed for samurai on the battlefield, methods designed for armored opponents, weapons encounters, and lethal force.

Pereira now stood at a rare crossroads:

• Ancient battlefield wisdom

• Modern street violence

• Western psychology and culture

Rather than teaching Japanese traditions unchanged, Pereira recognized a critical reality: Western society is different. The mindset, legal environment, and daily threats of urban America required adaptation.

Samurai Principles for Modern Streets

Pereira adapted the physical techniques and mental discipline of the Samurai to fit the harsh realities of the modern South Bronx. He stripped away unnecessary ritual, retained essential philosophy, and emphasized survivability over appearance.

His evolving system combined:

• Judo for throws and balance

• Aikido for redirection and control

• Koryu Jujutsu for close-combat effectiveness

• Karate for striking

• Boxing for timing and footwork

• Western street-fighting tactics for realism

This fusion created a rare martial system, one equally comfortable in a dojo, a dark alley, or a chaotic confrontation.

The Birth of Miyama Ryu Jujutsu

In 1964, Pereira formally named his system Miyama Ryu Jujutsu. Translated as the “School of the Three Mountains,” the name symbolized the convergence of multiple martial paths into a single, unified method. Interestingly, “Miyama” also loosely connects to Tremont, the avenue where the school stood, a subtle acknowledgment of the system’s urban roots.

Miyama Ryu Jujutsu was not a sport. It was not a performance art. It was a combat system, refined through war, tested on the streets, and informed by centuries of martial tradition.

A Legacy of Practical Self-Defense

What sets Miyama Ryu Jujutsu apart is its uncompromising focus on real-world applicability. It recognizes that violence is chaotic, unfair, and unpredictable. Techniques are taught not as rigid sequences, but as adaptable responses rooted in principle.

Students are trained to think, adapt, and survive.

Today, the legacy of combat jujutsu lives on through instructors and practitioners who understand that true martial skill is not measured by belts or trophies, but by preparedness, restraint, and the ability to walk away alive.

Conclusion: Combat with Purpose

The story of Miyama Ryu Jujutsu is ultimately the story of one man’s refusal to accept easy answers. From a wartime chokehold in 1942 to the streets of the South Bronx, Antonio Pereira’s journey reminds us that martial arts are not static; they evolve alongside the world they serve.

In an era where violence still exists, and self-defense remains a necessity, Miyama Ryu Jujutsu stands as a testament to the power of adaptation, discipline, and purpose-driven combat training.

Not for sport.

Not for show.

But for survival.

Note:

Special thanks to the following contributors to this writing:

Dai-Shihan, Hector Negron - San Yama Bushi Ryu (NY), and System Founder. He was a direct student of Shihan Antino Pereira

Shihan, David Colon - San Yama Bushi Ryu

Shihan, Reginaldo Brown Sr. - San Yama Bushi Ryu and Soke, Combination Jujutsu Combination Builders. He was a direct student of Shihan Antino Pereira