Speaking of punishments from nature, how do you look at natural disasters such as tsunamis?
Nature cleans; by the way, it is cleaning at this moment. And the worst is yet to come. There are a few things I write, if you wish to hear I’ll read it aloud to you. I started studying nature and consequently studied mankind. You think you know yourselves, but none of you knows what you truly are. [Master Helio leaves the porch to fetch to card indexes in the back of the house. On one there’s a tag reading “Moral traits and on the other “General Issues.] Everything that comes out of your mind is a moral trait. I have listed 58 of them. Don’t notice, I’m ignorant, although not stupid. I always had the intention of giving good lessons, serving as example, correcting other people’s mistakes. But then I realized I had more defects than the people I advised. I began scrutinizing myself, digging deep inside my soul, correcting myself before correcting others. Thus I discovered all that I ended up writing in theses notes. I found out I’m the worst fellow I have ever met. I’m a thief, a criminal… Not that I have committed any of these crimes, but I have thought of so doing, and to me that’s enough. If I think, I am.
Do you want to publish your writings?
I have never thought of it. I don’t intend to convince anyone, this material is nothing but my way of thinking. I don’t want to influence anybody; the fellow either agrees with me or s/he doesn’t. I don’t believe in religion or anything of the sort. I believe nature controls everything in the universe [Pause for reflection]. Am I boring you?
Of course not, Master.
Well then. I am convinced that we are also all controlled. We receive from nature according to our thoughts, words and works. There are people who do nothing wrong, say nothing wrong, but thinks wrongly like there’s no tomorrow. To this day there hasn’t been a single human being who didn’t think wrongly. I am even trying to correct that in myself, not to think bed things anymore. When a bad thought comes to me, I punch its face and send it away.
What was the most negative thought you ever had?
When I was younger I was the worst person in the world. If someone did anything wrong to me, I immediately wanted to kill them. I would never have reached the fighting level I got to if I was a good guy… When I started there were only criminals to fight against, I confronted a human jungle. And to kick an animal’s ass I you must be worse than it, which is my case. Man is the worst animal on the face of Earth.
Are you afraid of death?
Death? [Laughter.] Why fear death? I don’t need anything, I don’t have anything, I don’t want anything. I think it’s silly for somebody to be scared of dying. One should be afraid of being born. I have already told my children when I die I want a party, with no alcohol, no hell raising [general laughter]. But I want a party with music, food… I don’t know if you guys believe in reincarnation, but we all go and come back until the day we no longer have to return. My brother [Carlos Gracie, already deceased] used to say the fellow only stops returning to Earth when he mingles with the Whole. Even when you’re thinking just a little bit wrongly, you come back to continue evolving. Hell, my friends, is right here on Earth.
Why have you isolated yourself from the city and come to live here on this far away ranch in Itaipava, Rio de Janeiro?
I’ve lived here for fourteen years now. You are aware of the crap it is to live in a big city, aren’t you? There is not enough gold in the world to make me leave this place. In Rio [capital of the state] you leave your house and don’t know whether you’re coming back alive.
Don’t you feel lonely here?
Lonely? Do you know what loneliness is? Loneliness is a person not liking his/herself. Loneliness is not having a mental activity. It is hard to find a head that works as quickly as mine. I am 92 years old and none of you can think or discuss more quickly than I. There’s no reason to feel alone. Solitude is a man getting older and not having any friends. Loneliness is a man not having anything to do or think. It’s hell, a disgraceful death. I like living here, no one annoys me, I have no neighbours, the property is huge, I am miles away from the street. For my age, my health condition, the lucidity I have today… That is very rare, may God give you all the same. I have never such good sense in my entire life. It’s hard to find a happier man than me. [Helio lives in Itaipava with his wife, Vera Gracie.]
What are your pastimes here on the ranch?
When there is no student coming to take Jiu-Jitsu lessons, I write, play solitaire… I’m an utter vagabond [laughter]. I even watch television, but find most of the shows awful.
Few people get to your age with so much lucidity. Is there a secret formula for that?
The sternness of age makes me see things as right or wrong. With me there’s no halfway, it’s either yes or no. Try from now on not to answer “maybe, “more or less, “who knows. Simply say yes or no, you’ll see how tough it is.
After all, which is the best move in Jiu-Jitsu?
That depends on the attack the guy is under, but when I fought my favorite move, because against it there’s no tough guy, was the “sleeper, that is, the choke. I think to this day I have only won one fight with an armlock, the rest of my opponents would go to sleep. Since I was thinner than my adversaries, I was always on the bottom, doing guard, and from there I would give the choke. Therefore, to me, the greatest move is the choke-in-guard, for there’s no man who can resist it, they all fall asleep. Or give up.
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