Carlos Gracie Sr

Today is the birthday of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu patriarch, Grandmaster Carlos Gracie Sr.

He would be 113 years old if alive.

Congratulations and thank you for all the great knowledge you’ve passed on to us BJJ practitioners and martial artists.

We’re keeping the legacy alive.

As a way to remember this great men, here are some teachings he left us all, as GRACIEMAG published on its cover story for issue #154.

Here are the words of wisdom from the Grandmaster himself:

1. “With Jiu-Jitsu I learned, above all, the great lesson, which was to get to know myself profoundly”

2. “Brute physical force is worth nothing against the science of the samurais”

3. “The Jiu-Jitsu adept should, above all else, bring prestige to, love and defend the great sport we practice”

4. “It is when fighters tire that fights really start to stall”

5. “To eat wrong is the worst kind of poison”

6. “Valdemar Santana wanted to make headlines and went to find them challenging the very man who taught him to fight. A common trend was repeated, the revolt of the creature against his creator”

7. “Have a bunch of kids. At least one of them will bring you joy”

8. “Never fight against the person, but against his movements”

9. “The habit of lighting a cigarette is a social stupidity. Imagine it being socially elegant to have two cylinders that exhale smoke through nostrils. would you imitate that too?”

10. “Spend the greatest amount of time perfecting yourself, and no time criticizing others”

11. “Promise yourself you will be too great to feel disquiet, too noble to feel cholera, too strong to feel fear and too happy to feel contradictions”

Carlos Gracie Sr.

Stretching is often something that people forget to do at the beginning or end of a training session, because they are very excited to start, or tired to do anything else. Many people, when they do it, they do only a small stretch run and so do not get all the benefits of stretching.

When you do not stretch before training, there is a higher risk of muscle strains occur or even permanent damage. To prevent this from happening is fundamental the elongation of each part of your body before you start your exercise routine. At first, you may find it difficult to stretch, but the more you do, the faster you will become part of your routine. This is a habit that is worth having. It only brings benefits.

According to the physical education specialist, Adriana Gracie, Stretching the body offer a number of health benefits, ranging from posture correction, pain relief, muscle relaxation, until the release of “welfare hormones”, such as serotonin. During stretching, a massage of the organs” occurs. The massage of the intestine, for example, facilitates the course of the food, while moving the pancreas contributes to the process in which helps stabilizing the blood sugar.

We are born with good posture, balance and a body ready for movement. However, as we age, gravity, lack of exercise and repeated everyday activities – such as driving or carrying a bag on one shoulder only – can lead to hardening of the positions they assume over time and cause poor posture. For example, if the shoulder muscles are compressed, your back may be arched, weakened abdominal muscles cause pain in the lower back, as the column tends to overwhelm yourself to compensate for the lack of support from the abdominal region. Stretch corrects posture and strengthens muscles in a balanced way, working on both sides of the body.

Stretching can help you be more aware of your own body, to discover their potentials and weaknesses, and the most tense and stiff areas. If some exercises seem challenging or a bit uncomfortable, it means they have found a point tense or stiff, and your body is responding to the stimulus. Other stretches are lightweight and simply release endorphins, the substance responsible for the well-being. These substances secreted by glands, spread throughout the body and nourish the muscles and organs, causing you to feel comfortable and refreshed. While the body and mind relax, heart rate and blood pressure are stabilized. This is one of the reasons why stretching at work is important: it is the ideal time to recharge.

If you are a BJJ athlete or practice any physical activity regularly, you should know that stretching would bring you many benefits like improve your performance, reduce the risk of injury, correct posture and relieve tension and pain. It keeps the muscles flexible, facilitating mobility and makes the transition from inactivity to activity to be performed without overloading the body. It is very important to stretch before and especially after exercise to protect the body from injury. Stretching while your muscles are warmed up is the ideal time to expand the movement. Perform physical exertion and not stretching then can lead to stiffening of the muscles and cause muscle strain. Do you want to have an ” impossible to pass” guard? Or do you want to make it tough to submit you with arm bars or foot locks? Start stretching your body today!

Kayron Gracie

Book Cover Carlos Gracie

The World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will also be the setting for the launch of the biography of one of the most important figures in Jiu-Jitsu history.

Carlos Gracie, The Creator of a Fighting Dinasty, is the English version of the book released in 2008 in Brazil.

Carlos Gracie’s life and the saga of his family are told in a biography written by his daughter, Reila Gracie. Carlos was more than the creator of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

As an athlete, he had memorable bouts, which packed gyms and stadiums in Rio de Janeiro, where he lived with his family. As a teacher, he shaped future champions who would revolutionize the sport, such as his brother Hélio and son Carlson.

Author Reila Gracie, 54 , mother of the 10-time World Jiu-Jitsu champion Roger Gracie , from Rio de Janeiro, is an arts publisher and president of the Carlos Gracie Cultural and Sports Association.

Among the internationally recognized artists she publishes are: Cildo Meireles, Anna Maria Maiolino, Waltércio Caldas and Antoni Muntadas. As a silk-screen printing teacher, she has worked with psychiatric patients at the Colônia Juliano Moreira.

The World Jiu-Jitsu Expo takes place October 18-19, at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Marcus Buchecha, Leo Veira, the Mendes Bros, Rodrigo Cavaca & Robert Drysdale, Augusto Tanquinho & Mackenzie Dern, Jean Jacques Machado, Caio Terra and Roberto Cyborg will be teaching seminars.

All seminars at the WJJE will be in the gi.

Three IBJJF events will take place during the Expo: IBJJF Pro League, the American Nationals Kids and the Long Beach Open.

Nine superfights are also already confirmed:

Gianni Grippo vs. Augusto Tanquinho

Nino Schembri vs. Vitor Shaolin

Robson Moura vs. Marcos Parrumpinha

Tim Spriggs vs. Leo Nogueira

João Assis vs. Rolles Gracie (no-gi)

Caio Terra vs. Jeff Curran

Samir Chantre vs. Baret Yoshida

AJ Agazarm vs. Bruno Frazatto

Kit Dale vs. Ricardo Rezende

For more info and for tickets, go to worldjiujitsuexpo.com.

Go to ibjjf.com to register for the tournaments.

Royce Gracie, a symbol of Jiu-Jitsu efficiency as an art of defense, during a visit to the Valente brothers in Miami. Photo: Disclosed

You’ve certainly heard that Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most complete self defense systems that are useful for women, senior and children.

But how does this work in practice?

The grandmasters Carlos and Helio Gracie developed a program of 36 basic lessons, involving about a hundred Jiu-Jitsu techniques. From the repetition of such movements, the student prepares his or her subconscious to react by pure reflex to a variety of attacks by angry people.

Valente brothers, professors at Gracie Miami, faithful to the method, show in this video how the techniques work and how they fit well to women.

Go to a Jiu-Jitsu gym and ask for a sample class. And don’t forget to take women you love with you.

Rorion Gracie talks the Gracie Diet in miami

GMA member school Gracie Miami, under the Valente Brothers, will have a very special guest nex October 27.

Master Rorion Gracie will be in Florida to talk about his recently published book on the Gracie Diet.

From 2pm to 5pm, the red and black belt will teach how you can get healthier with the nutrition system Carlos Gracie Sr created.

The cost is $ 120 but if you take a family member you pay only $180.

VB, CTC and  GU members pay $90 or $135 with one family member.

Every participant will get a $40 “be healthy” gift (limited to one per family). 

For more info, go to graciemiami.com or call (305) 354-2060.