Renzo Gracie is the perfect definition of a living legend.

Jiu-Jitsu black belt, fighter, academy owner, father, husband, trainer, menthor and all around nice guy, it’s hard to find someone who does not like him.

Renzo is also one of the best interviews around and GRACIEMAG never missed an opportunity to talk with him.

Here are seven great quotes by him and also some of the greatest moments in his career.

“Jiu-Jitsu is not only the way to make a living, but to be equal to everyone else. When you’re in there, there’s no color, race, religion.”

“I fight to stimulate my boys. It’s not even the pleasure of brawling, but the pleasure of reaching a higher level of knowledge and make my sport more well known.”

“Fighters have to have blood in their eye. Whenever things get rough, it’s time to find your way out.”

“Brother, my claws are sharp since the day I was born. I was born naked, hungry, kicking and screaming. I’m way ahead in the game and that’s why I still have the same disposition I had when i was a kid.”

“Fighting MMA is a form of evolving. It’s the hallowed ground where you are going to try your resources and find out what works and what doesn’t work and also find a way to make things work better.”

“Jiu-Jitsu is all about finishing your opponent and in order to do that you need imagination. I think the secret is to let your imagination flow and allow Jiu-Jitsu to be everything and everything to be Jiu-Jitsu.”

“Despite the result, it was the most fun fight I had in my life.”

Bernardo Faria had the best year of his career in 2015.

He won double gold both at the Pan and the Worlds, finally joining the short list of black belt open class world champions, something he pursued since 2009.

As we celebrate his 29th birthday this January 29, we look into two of the techniques that made his name in BJJ.

Without the deep half guard and the double under guard pass, Bernardo would now be where he is today.

So, let’s try to learn a little bit of what he knows in this two videos below.

First he teaches two drills to get to the deep half.

Then, Bernardo teaches how to perform his trademark double under guard pass.

Alliance’s General, Fabio Gurgel, is celebrating another birthday this Monday, Feb. 18.

He is the man responsible for putting together the most successful competition team in the recent years (alongside Romero Jacaré), which in 2015 won its 10th world title in the teams male division.

Before all that, Gurgel himself was also a four-time world champion and a IBJJF hall of famer.

Let’s celebrate his contribution to Jiu-Jitsu learning one of his crafty techniques.

Carlos Gracie Jr. Photo Gustavo Aragão

Master Carlos Gracie Jr was awarded his red and white belt on April 25, 2015. It means he is now an 8^th degree black belt. This is the last step before the red belt, the highest rank you can achieve in Jiu-Jitsu. GRACIEMAG took the opportunity to talk to Master Carlos and got him to reflect on the meaning of the new belt color and also look back on a life dedicated to the gentle art and the improving of so many people’s lives.

This interview was published on GRACIEMA 219, on June 2015.

GRACIEMAG: What does the red and white belt mean to you?

Carlos Gracie Jr: It meant the recognition of years of dedication to Jiu-Jitsu. It’s like in the military when we get to the next ranking. If I was a general, I would have gotten my fourth star. If I someday get the red belt, that will be the fifth star. The highest anyone can get in Jiu-Jitsu.

If you had to define what Jiu-Jitsu is to you in a few words, what would you say?

Jiu-Jitsu is a mission. It’s a mission that was passed on to me because I was born in the Gracie family and because my father was the precursor of the gentle art. If wasn’t for him, Jiu-Jitsu would not have continued on. So, everyone that came after him worked to make Jiu-Jitsu a tool to bring people together and to better people’s lives. The way I see, Jiu-Jitsu is a powerful tool to make people healthier both physically and mentally. It causes people to meet other people and create a brotherhood of good no matter the origin, social status, ethnicity and gender of each person.

Photo: Gustavo Aragão

Would you be able to point out the greatest benefit Jiu-Jitsu brought to your life?

Jiu-Jitsu made me who I am. It shaped my personality, brought all my friends and all the lessons I learned in life came through Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu is the engine that propelled my life. That’s why I dedicate so much of my daily life to spreading Jiu-Jitsu to as much people as I can. I want people to receive the same benefit from Jiu-Jitsu that I got. I couldn’t imagine how I would be without it.

What would you say to a white belt on his first Jiu-Jitsu class if he had asked you an advice to become a black belt?

Jiu-Jitsu is a guide for one’s life. It’s going to teach you to be humble when you get smashed on the mat. It will teach you to be wise enough to live life to the fullest and enjoy all its stages. It will also teach you that your importance to the world is equal to the benefit you make to the world and to other people. After you die, what will remain is what you left to others. That’s your legacy. So, what I try to pass to the newcomer is that Jiu-Jitsu is much more than a way of fighting, but a philosophy and a great tool to better his life. It’s going to be his greatest master.

Royce Gracie is getting ready to fight once again.

On February 19, he will be fighting Ken Shamrock for the third time on Bellator 149.

“I tried to walk away, but once a fighter always a fighter,” said Royce in a recent interview with GRACIEMAG.

This Saturday, Dec. 12, Royce celebrates his 49th birthday.

Let’s celebrate the date watching a highlight reel with some of the greatest moments of the guy who changed MMA forever.

Dominyka Obelenyte is celebrating her 20th birthday this Thursday, July 30.

By all means a prodigy in Jiu-Jitsu, in 2015 she became the youngest competitor to achieve the gold medal at the black belt open class division of the Worlds.

After the double gold campaign in Long Beach last June, she was compared to Roger Gracie for her powerful top game with strong passes and accurate finishes.

“I accept that comparison because it’s freaking awesome. Who doesn’t want to be compared to Roger Gracie. We are both very lanky and use our length to our advantage,” said Dominyka about the comparison in an exclusive interview on GRACIEMAG #220.

A world champion in all belts, Dominyka has a very bright future ahead indeed.

Let’s celebrate her birthday watching her greatest moment so far, the 2015 Worlds black belt open class final against Monique Elias.

Rafael Lovato Jr

Rafael Lovato Jr. celebrates another birthday this Thursday, June 25.

The 2007 ultraheavy black belt world champion (among many other titles) already made his name in the gentle art.

Celebrate the date with this two videos of Lovato rolling with Marcelo Garcia.

One of the most charismatic personalities of all times in Jiu-Jitsu, Renzo has a cult following of his own.

Know for being such a nice guy always eager to help those in need, Renzo is also known for being fearless on the mat or in the cage.

With a long career both in grappling and MMA, he has a collection of great moments in his life.

We selected five of those great moments accompanied by five lessons Renzo taught us along the way.

1. Renzo Gracie vs. Ricardo De La Riva, Brazilian Nationals, 1993

A classic of old school Jiu-Jitsu. Two of the most famous athletes of all times going head to head in a incredible macth

Lesson No 1: Embrace your inner lunatic – “We choke people for a living. That’s what we are! All we need to do is to embrace our inner lunatic. As you do that, you have a lifetime guarantee of fun!”

2. Renzo Gracie vs. Eugênio Tadeu, Pentagon Combat, 1997

The world famous “lights-out brawl” in Rio. Renzo’s fight with Eugênio was meant to be the high point of a long rivalry between Jiu-Jitsu and luta livre in Rio in the 80s and 90s. Unfortunately, the crowd decided to join the fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PaKER7VSh0

Lesson No2: Don’t ever back up – “The fighter has to have blood in his eyes. Now and then, things get hairy in the ring and that’s when you show your courage. Even if you are exausted, you have to keep on going forward. That’s waht is called courage and either you have it or you don’t.”  

3. Renzo Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba, Pride FC, 2000

The “broken arm fight” also made Renzo famous. His willingness to keep on going despite the gruesome injury made him the poster boy for brave warrior (and also for crazy man).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUeiuHxu9RE

 Lesson No3: The Gracie family history – “Whenever a Gracie fails, another Gracie comes up to straighten up the matter. That’s our history. When Waldemar Santana defeated my uncle Helio, my cousin Carlson came and beat him up.” 

4. Renzo Gracie vs. Pat Miletich, IFL, 2006

The guillotine that ended the fight was born a classic. In a true clash of styles, Renzo score another point for Jiu-Jitsu.

Lesson No4: Focus on your Jiu-Jitsu – “Every Jiu-Jitsu fighter that is a refence in our sport can be a champion anywhere he/she wants. There’s nothing more challenging than what we do. If you have your head and heart in the right direction you’ll have all the weapons to win.”

5. Renzo Gracie vs. Street Muggers, NYC, 2012

He took social media to whole different level with what probably was the first ever live feed of a (near) mugging. Soon enough the bad guys found out how much of a bad decision they had made when they chose their potential victim.

Lesson No5: Cherish the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu – “I’m a fan of our system of self-defense and fighting and frankly I don’t care from where the next evolution comes from, either way Jiu-Jitsu is getting the attention it deserves.”

What about you, dear reader? What was your favorite Renzo moment?

Bernardo Faria turns 28 today! The two-time black belt world champion who currently trains and teaches at Marcelo Garcia Academy in New York City is one of the most recognizable Jiu-Jitsu athletes. His tried and true deep half guard and sweeps are characteristics of this guy’s game and his battles with the Buchecha and Rodolfo Vieira have most likely graced your computer screens.

Check out this interview about the champion to celebrate his birthday:

The four-time featherweight world champion and IBJJF Hall of Famer who is also a ADCC champion, is indeed one of the greatest icons in Jiu-Jitsu history.

In order to celebrate the date, we have selected three videos of Cobrinha doing the two things he’s better known for: competing and teaching.

First, here he is teaching two ways to take the back from the spider guard.

Then, watch him conquer his fourth world title in 2009, against Bruno Frazzato.

At last, here’s Cobrinha at the 2013 ADCC winning the -66kg division against Rafael Mendes.

In celebration of the black belt’s birthday, here is a de la riva sweep that Samir likes to use. If your opponent opens your guard, obtain the de la riva position then kick their knee and sweep to their vulnerable side.

Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzH_j7-D0QE

Michael Liera Jr. is one of the most talented competitors of the new generation of Jiu-Jitsu athletes in the USA.

Training under André Galvão (who also celebrates his birthday today) in San Diego, Liera is only 21 years old.

Celebrate the date watching Liera in action at the 2014 Worlds, when he conquered the lightweight brown belt division.

The final was against fellow Atos JJ member Alex Gisberg.