Royler, still a Jiu-Jitsu black belt, gets the party ready. Photos: Gustavo Aragão.

There’s no journey involving greater patience and determination than that of a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. Maybe just getting across the city of Rio de Janeiro during rush hour traffic on Friday. Even so, the mats at Gracie Humaitá academy were packed at 8:30 pm last Friday night, when the GRACIEMAG.com team rolled in.

Just one man was missing. The man. “Want me to call him again?” a student asked Royler Gracie, who was waiting for his brother Rickson to show up for the red-and-black belt delivery ceremony.

Royler still remembers the day he was promoted to black belt. It was right there, in that same dojo just at a different wall, early in the 1980s. “I got it from Professor Helio,” he says with pride.

Upon receiving his red-and-black belt in the presence of his wife, Vera, his daughter, and a number of his “children” and brothers from Jiu-Jitsu, Royler is visibly moved, especially when addressing the women in his life—his wife and four daughters. “I already had three daughters when I was world champion. What my career is a lesson of is that there’s always time to start; you are the author of your own destiny.”

Even retired, “with no desire to compete anymore,” as he says, Royler expounds on some lessons and moments of inspiration, now with a red-and-black belt around his waist.

Royler adjust the red-and-black Jiu-Jitsu belt after receiving it from brothers Rolker and Rickson. The ceremony ebbed between laughter and tears.

1. SET GOALS FOR YOUR JIU-JITSU AND GET ORGANIZED

After Rolker Gracie opened the ceremony, Royler’s older students—from Vini Aieta to Breno Sivak to Rickson Gracie, who showed with his foot bandaged and a fierce bout of the flu—were called on to make speeches.

“A good portion of the Gracie family went to the USA, and perhaps we wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t. But we know how important our mission is, that of staying behind and holding fort in Rio de Janeiro, and now we help strengthen Jiu-Jitsu culture and healthy eating by being a a part of the city’s culture,” said Royler. “Brazil’s culture!” added someone else. World culture, to which we can attest.

Someone brought up the determined and organized side of Royler, who would always take not of goals, training plans and positions to teach on paper, and he would fulfill them always.

2. PERSISTENCE SET JIU-JITSU PRACTITIONERS APART FROM THE REST

Called on to speak, our GMA Bruno Panno, head instructor at Gracie Sydney, did a good job of illustrating what Royler is like as an educator. “When I was a kid, my mother would threaten to tell my dad on me, and I didn’t care. So she’d threaten to tell Royler, and I tremble with fear and stop what I was doing right away,” he recalled. “Of the 40 students who started with me, only I made it to black belt. And that’s what distinguishes us from the rest, that persistence it takes to make it to black belt that we take with us to other aspects of life.”

3. ROYLER: TECHNIQUE, GRIT, HONOR AND LOVE

With each speech made, a facet of Royler’s career was brought to the forefront. For being of slight frame, for years he was considered the most technical competitor of not just the family but of world Jiu-Jitsu. For his temperament and looks, there were many who felt he was the spitting image of Grandmaster Helio Gracie. For the grit and courage he showed on the mat, he inspired a number of aces from the new generation.

Once Rickson had finally gotten through the Rio de Janeiro gridlock, he took his turn to speak and mention another side of Royler. And both the speaker and the addressee shed tears.

“There was a time in my career, in the 1990s, when I’d go to Japan to fight alone, since my family felt at the time that it needed only to support only those fighting in the USA. Royler went against the grain and went with me. To me he isn’t just a symbol of honor and technical refinement, he’s a symbol of brotherly love that I will carry in my heart the rest of my life.”

Rolker, Royler and Rickson at Gracie Humaitá dojo

What do you think, GRACIEMAG.com-reading colleague, what moment from Royler’s career made the biggest impression on you?

A Royler Gracie and Vini Aieta student, Morango fought under the UFC banner on two occasions, drawing one and losing the other. Camões, husband to multiple-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion Letícia Ribeiro, left the UFC in March of 2010 after tapping out to Kurt Pellegrino, and since then he has won two fights at Tachi Palace—the latest of which came over TUF winner Efrain Escudero.

Although returning to prominence now, Morango has been around the block in MMA, as you can see below in the 1997 fight between Morango and Anderson Silva at an event in the city of Campo Grande, Brazil.

UFC on FX 1 will take place January 20 in Nashville, Tennessee, with Melvin Guillard versus Jim Miller as the main event. Also on the main card, Brazil’s Vagner Rocha squares off with the hard-nosed Mike Brown. Check out the full card:

UFC on Fx 1
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
January 20, 2011

Melvin Guillard vs Jim Miller
Pat Barry vs Christian Morecraft
Charlie Brenneman vs Daniel Roberts
Mike Brown vs Vagner Rocha
Jorge Rivera vs Eric Schafer
Ryan Jimmo vs Karlos Vemola
Duane Ludwig vs Josh Neer
Kamal Shalorus vs Habib Nurmagomedov
Nick Denis vs Joseph Sandoval
Reza Madadi vs Fabricio Morango

GMA member school Gracie Temecula South will be the stage for the 1st North American Gracie Humaita Annual, this Saturday, November 12th.

The event will gather schools under the umbrella of Gracie humaita all over the USA, Canada and Mexico.

It will feature a Jiu-Jitsu tournament for all belts and self-defense techniques competition.

For more info, go to gracietemeculasouth.com, thegraciesandiego.com.

GMA member Armando Basulto will have a very special guest this Saturday, October 29th.

The leader of Basulto Academy of Defense, in Waynesville, NC, will host a Royler Gracie seminar.

The three-hour class kicks off 10:00AM, at the Tuscola High School.

Royler is also a GMA, as a leader of Gracie San Diego, in California.

For more info, go to wncbjj.com or call (828) 230-5056

GMA member Bruno Panno has a special invitation to make.

On November 13th, he will be promoting the Royler Gracie Cup 2011, in Alexandria, Australia.

The event is open for all academies and will have the presence of twotimes absolute world campion, Alexandre Ribeiro.

The costs goes as follows:

From 10/10 to 23/10 – $35 plus $5 for absolute division

From 24/10 to 30/10 – $40 plus $10 for absolute

From 31/10 to 06/11 – $50 plus $15 for absolute

From 07/11 to 09/11 – $55 plus $15 for absolute

All participants will get a free t-shirt.

For more info, go to graciesydney.com

GMA member Johnny Faria got the third degree to his black belt today.

The professor at Gracie Humaita San Diego was part of a group graduated by master Royler Gracie, in a ceremony at Gracie Delmar.

Royler wrote about it on Twitter: “Congratulations to the back belts that got a new degree. Johnny, Elias, Rizada, Nick and new black belt Marc Lawson.”

Congrats to all!

For more info, go to graciecompetitionteam.com

Photo: Gracie Bali

The GMA has added its first member in Indonesia.

Black belt Paulo Tavares, after five years in Australia, has moved to the Indonesian island to help spread the gentle art in yet another corner of the world.

At the school’s website, Tavares talks about what made him move: “After living in Australia for over 5 years, teaching and spreading the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at the land down under, it was with great honor that I received Royler Gracie’s invitation do be the responsible to spread the authentic gentle art in Indonesia. Here I am now, teaching, surfing and making very good friends.”

The grand opening ceremony took place last October 3, with Royler and Kyra Gracie and over 200 others in attendance.

Royler explained why he chose Tavares for the task:”I’ve been coming here since the 80s and it’s been my dream to have an affiliate here. It is always great to have someone who’s been with me since white belt, so he has all the technical knowledge required to be a representative,” he told Kid Peligro’s ADCombat.com.

Tavares added:”I am very happy to be a representative of Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie family in Indonesia. Gracie Bali is different from most academies around the Globe as we have an open door policy that fits this great place. ”

Gracie Bali is not only a Jiu-Jitsu academy but also a tourism agency. If you decide to spend some time training there, they will arrange other activities, such as surfing lessons, sightseeing and more

For further info, go to graciebali.com

The seminar at Gracie North Carolina / Basulto Academy of Defense is scheduled for Saturday, October 29th, 2011.

The class lengths from 10:00AM to 1:00PM, in Waynesville, North Carolina.

Come learn the gentle art directly from the source, Master Royler Gracie, in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.

For more info, go to wncbjj.com or call 828-230-5056.

Amazon Forest Combat 1
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
September 14, 2011

Masakatsu Ueda defeated Royler Gracie via unanimous decision;
Paulão Filho and Satoshi Ishii fought to a draw;
Ronys Torres defeated Drew Fickett via TKO at 0.47 min of R1;
Antonio Braga Neto submitted Maiquel Falcão via armbar at 4:26 min of R2;
Jordan Smith defeated Karo Parisyan via split decision;
Daniel Acácio defeated Sérgio Junior via KO at 2:50 min of R1;
George Clay submitted Anthony Birchack via rear-naked choke at 1:29 min of R1;
Marcos Alexandre Capitão defeated Daniel Roupinol via unanimous decision;
Dileno Lopes submitted Adson Jander via guillotine at 1:15 min of R1;
Rivaldo Junior defeated André Leocádio via split decision.

Royler and Ueda at weigh-ins / Publicity photo

Amazonas is one of the states to have produced the most top-flight fighters in Brazil – beasts like José Aldo, Ronaldo Jacaré, Wallid Ismail, Xande and Saulo Ribeiro and so many others. The tradition of the land is Jiu-Jitsu, and there was no lack of it on a gala evening of fighting that included Royler Gracie’s farewell MMA fight.

The Gracie was unable to outdo Masakatsu Ueda in the main event. He lost by split decision, with the Japanese fighter controlling the action. Royler had a good moment in the first round, landing a takedown. But Ueda managed to work his way out and then control the tempo with solid kicks. He deserved to win by unanimous decision but a win is a win.

“I’m so happy to have fought a phenomenon,” said Ueda on Brazilian television channel Combate.

Royler (5w, 5l, 1d) bids farewell to the rings having fought one of the best fighters in Japan at present. At 45 years of age, the Gracie fought for three rounds against the 33-year-old Ueda (14w, 1l, 2d).

“I want to apologize to the public, but just being here, at my age, is a lot harder than being in front of a TV. My endurance wasn’t what it once was but I honored what I’ve done my whole life,” he said.

“My opponent is a dangerous one; I know him well. Regardless of the outcome, I ended things just right,” said Royler in closing, adding that he would like to see more support for Brazilian athletes.

In the other fights on the card, Antonio Braga Neto wasn’t in the main event but his win over Maiquel Falcão was definitely the best fight of the night. Braga was practically knocked out in the first round, literally driving on automatic, having taken an endless stream of strikes from his opponent’s heavy hands. The second round saw the black belt go for the takedown and use the Jiu-Jitsu savvy that has won him world championships, passing guard and finishing with a tight armbar.

“I’m not just Brazilian, I’m a ‘caboclo’ (term for indigenous people) from Amazonas!” He shouted, to a delirious crowd.

Ronys Torres took just 47 seconds in knocking out Drew Fickett, notching his eighth back-to-back win; Daniel Acácio put away Sergio Junior by knockout in 2:50 minutes. Marcos “Capitão” Alexandre used his Jiu-Jitsu to earn a unanimous decision over also black belt Daniel “Roupinol” Aguiar. The low point of the evening was Paulão Filho’s draw with Japanese Olympic judoka Satoshi Ishii. Even Paulo didn’t buy the draw:

“I must confess that I feel I didn’t win. But I’m ready to fight him again to settle this matter,” admitted Paulão, who was applauded for his sincerity.

In the all international bout, Jordan Smith overcame former UFC fighter Karo Parisyan. Also noteworthy was George Clay’s submission win over Anthony Birchack.

Check out the complete results:

Amazon Forest Combat
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Masakatsu Ueda defeated Royler Gracie via unanimous decision;
Paulão Filho and Satoshi Ishii fought to a draw;
Ronys Torres defeated Drew Fickett via TKO at 0.47 min of R1;
Antonio Braga Neto submitted Maiquel Falcão via armbar at 4:26 min of R2;
Jordan Smith defeated Karo Parisyan via split decision;
Daniel Acácio defeated Sérgio Junior via KO at 2:50 min of R1;
George Clay submitted Anthony Birchack via rear-naked choke at 1:29 min of R1;
Marcos Alexandre Capitão defeated Daniel Roupinol via unanimous decision;
Dileno Lopes submitted Adson Jander via guillotine at 1:15 min of R1;
Rivaldo Junior defeated André Leocádio via split decision

Yesterday afternoon, weigh-ins for the AFC were held in the Amadeu Teixeira arena with the stars of the show and some illustrious presences, like Royce Gracie, Lyoto Machida and Cristiano Marcelo. Weigh-ins took place in an orderly manner, with some unforeseen occurrences, as with the case of Dileno Lopes, who was set to fight Mexico’s Dany Martinez, who failed to show up and offered the organization no explanation.

The USA’s Drew Ficket, who’s set to fight two-time UFC fighter Ronys Torres, was way off weight when his turn to step on the scale came, but the fight will go through anyhow. Royler Gracie and his opponent weighed in without a hitch, as did the rest of the cast of the show, set to begin at 8pm Brasília time, 7pm Amazonas and Eastern Standard time. Check out the complete card:

Amazon Forest
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Royler Gracie vs Masakatsu Ueda
Paulão Filho vs Satoshi Ishii
Antonio Braga Neto vs Maiquel Falcão
Alexandre Capitão vs Daniel Roupinol
Jordan Smith vs Karo Parisyan
Dileno Lopes vs oponente a confirmar
George Clay vs Anthony Birchack
Sérgio Junior vs Daniel Acácio
Rivaldo Junior vs André Leocádio

Royler, 45 , in Manaus / Photos by Arthur Castro

All’s set for Amazon Forest Combat, a new MMA promotion about to hold its maiden event this August 14 at the Manaus, Amazonas state’s Amadeu Teixeira arena. Top among the fights on a stellar card is Royler Gracie’s farewell MMA fight against Shooto champion Masakatsu Ueda, hometown Jiu-Jitsu world champion Braga Neto against one-time UFC fighter Maiquel Falcão, and two-time UFC fighter from the nearby village of Manacapuru Ronys Torres taking on also-UFC veteran Drew Ficket.

The arena

Among those lending their prestige to the event, Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, José Aldo and Royce Gracie will all attend the event, and UFC referee Mario Yamasaki will control the action in the cage. The promoters are expecting a packed house, with 12,000 spectators filling the stands.

Today, the 13th, marks the official weigh-ins, to be attended by ticket holders.

After some evening training sessions with former UFC fighter Fabricio Morango to get used to the equatorial climate, the four-time world champion of the Gracie family revealed his strategy.

“I don’t have one, to tell you the truth. I don’t go in with a pre-established strategy, I just dance according to the music. I ready for whatever comes, and I have faith in our family’s Jiu-Jitsu,” said the 45-year-old Jiu-Jitsu teacher, always with a smile on his face.

Final preparations for weigh-ins in the gymnasium

“I’d like to invite all Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in Manaus to come and root for me. I ask that they don’t look at it as a fight between Royler and another fighter but between Brazil and Japan. The local fans, as well as those from across the nation, will be key in my victory,” said the Gracie.

Royler showing he's a fan of the local fish

Amazon Forest Combat
September 14, 2011
Arena Amadeu Teixeira, Manaus, Brazil

Royler Gracie vs Masakatsu Ueda
Josh Burkam vs Roan Jucão
Paulão Filho vs Satoshi Ishii
Antonio Braga Neto vs Maiquel Falcão
Alexandre Capitão vs Shanon Slack
Jordan Smith vs Karo Parisyan
Ronnys Torres vs Drew Ficket
Dileno Lopes vs Danny Martinez
George Clay vs Anthony Birchack
Sergio Junior vs Daniel Acácio
Rivaldo Jr vs André Leocádio

With a wrestling background, Ueda, back in his college days, beat a well-known rival, his compatriot Kid Yamamoto, who now fights in the UFC. Check out a video of Ueda’s only loss ever – by submission – in the video below:

Royler, who arrived in Amazonas state early to get used to the hot and humid climate, said he’s ready for anything, as he gets ready for Amazon Forest Combat, where he will be having his final fight.

“Having my farewell fight in Brazil was a priority to me. Fighting here has a different feeling to it, especially in Manaus, one of the world’s greatest breeding grounds for MMA and, mainly, Jiu-Jitsu fighters,” the Gracie told Terra website reporter Eduardo Cruz. “The card exceeds all expectations. You can tell they’re investing heavily, bringing in a lot of people from abroad. My mind and body are in synch, in perfect working order. I had a good training camp in California and had the chance to train with a bunch of professional MMA fighters, even some from the UFC and Strikeforce.”

Amazon Forest Combat is set to go down at 8pm on September 14 at the Amadeu Teixeira Arena, a venue with a 12,000-spectator capacity. Mario Yamasaki will be head referee for the event.

Professor Royler has already set up shop in Manaus, where he’s staying at the sumptuous Tropical Hotel, which even features a zoo on the premises. The biggest beasts, however, can be found in the lobby. Check out the card released by the event’s promoters:

Amazon Forest Combat
September 14, 2011
Amadeu Teixeira Arena, Manaus, Brazil

Royler Gracie vs Masakatsu Ueda
Josh Burkam vs Roan Jucão
Paulão Filho vs Satoshi Ishii
Antonio Braga Neto vs Maiquel Falcão
Alexandre Capitão vs Shanon Slack
Jordan Smith vs Karo Parisyan
Ronnys Torres vs Drew Ficket
Dileno Lopes vs Danny Martinez
George Clay vs Anthony Birchack
Sergio Junior vs Daniel Acácio
Rivaldo Jr vs André Leocádio

The class at Gracie Temecula South was a success, with over 100 participants.

Guimarães talks about the event: “Among the 100, we had the illustrious presence of Royler Gracie, Xande Ribeiro, Leticia Ribeiro, Kid Peligro, Regis Lebre, Eduardo Rocha, Fabrício Morango, Johnny Faria, Tinguinha, among others.”

Ricardo has sent us some pictures of the event.

For more info, go to gracietemeculasouth.com

Sponsor to martial arts aces like Royler Gracie and judo’s Ronda Rousey, Fuji Sports has a sweet offer for GRACIEMAG.com readers. All you have to do is click “like” on the fightwear brand’s Facebook page and you automatically enter the running for a prize giveaway that includes gloves and MMA accessories. Drop by there to give it a click and win some prizes.

To find out more about this GRACIEMAG partnership helping us spread the gentle art around the planet, click here.