Rickson Gracie at a Jiu-Jitsu seminar in Rio de Janeiro (photo by Carlos Ozório)

As a stalwart competitor and instructor, over the course of the red-and-black belt Rickson Gracie’s career he left us at least two priceless lessons.

The first is to have strong enough a mind to fear no challenge, no spar or opponent. You may well not overcome the obstacle before you, but your mind needs to believe it can.

The second valuable lesson is to be well-rounded enough that your best move is whatever your opponent offers you at that moment.

Today, GRACIEMAG.com remembers Rickson’s strong mind and versatile game through a match filmed at the old Copa Cantão, a traditional competition from the 1980s in Rio de Janeiro.

Learn from the Gracie how to train to always pursue complete Jiu-Jitsu—capable of pulling, sweeping, mounting and snagging an arm, if that’s the path your opponent offers.

Did you like that? Share your thoughts with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vquRLRLky20

GMA member Warrior Way of Walled Lake, Michigan welcomed Master Carlos “Caique” Elias for seminars and promotions.

Master Carlos “Caique” Elias received his red and black belt from Rickson Gracie in 2010 and has 20 affiliates.

From the Warrior Way website:

“Master Caique has set high standards for promotion. He believes that the belt requirements keep the reputation of the academy at the highest level and creates better students, fighters and instructors. Personal character and good citizenship also count toward promotion. Respect for your instructor, the academy, and your community members are also important qualities for you to have to be promoted to any level.”

He held a seminar at Warrior Way on November 10 where head of the Warrior Way team, Harvy Berman, received his second stripe on his black belt and Professor Brandon McDaniel received his first on his black belt.

Congrats to Harvy Berman, Brandon McDaniel and all other students who were promoted!

To see more about Warrior Way you can visit their website: www.WarriorWay.com

The post Warrior Way Welcomes Visit from Master Carlos “Caique” Elias first appeared on Graciemag.]]> https://www.graciemag.com/red-and-black-belt-roylers-lessons-in-jiu-jitsu-grit-and-love/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=red-and-black-belt-roylers-lessons-in-jiu-jitsu-grit-and-love Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:59:06 +0000 https://www.graciemag.com/en/?p=44411 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…

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?

The post Red-and-black belt Royler Gracie’s lessons in Jiu-Jitsu, grit and love first appeared on Graciemag.]]>

The personalities to attend recounted old stories, remembered moments from their youth and how sport, especially Jiu-Jitsu, helped build the people they are today. The party also recapped the first four years of Kapacidade, an outreach program where Kyra Gracie teaches Jiu-Jitsu to 150 children who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to benefit from the art.

From masters Robson to Rickson Gracie, the family members stressed the importance of sport as a means for social inclusion, education, skill building, providing discipline, raising self-esteem, and changing the destinies of weakly youths of all origins, so that one day they may become successful professionals.

Renowned brain surgeon Paulo Niemeyer was a presented with an honorary black belt for his meaningful and life-changing work. Sergio Zveiter was promoted to six-degree black belt by his teacher, Rickson Gracie. José de Moraes had an eighth stripe added to his black belt by UFC star Vitor Belfort.

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Kyra Gracie, the only female black belt in the family, received her second stripe from nine-year-old Rayron Gracie. Redley Vigio Gomes, a policeman and red-and-black belt who still teaches despite being paralytic, was paid tribute by his father, Helio Vigio Gomes, a police chief. Now supreme court justice Luiz Fux was honored with the seventh stripe on his black belt, which was rewarded by family patriarch Robson Gracie.

And lastly, Rickson Gracie was given a tribute of his own. The undefeated champion of the family was presented with his eighth stripe by Zé Moraes.

Jacaré with Gigi Paiva / Photos: GRACIEMAG archives

Romero “Jacaré” Cavalcante’s closer friends joke that he finally came out of the woodwork. But the fact is that the founder of team Alliance finally managed to get a few days off from work in Atlanta, Georgia, and flew to Rio de Janeiro to share some of his energy and, of course, the teachings he has developed in over thirty years defending Jiu-Jitsu.

Hence, Saturday Master Jacaré will be conducting a highly sought- after seminar at Alliance Leblon. But don’t get too excited, dear readers, as all the spots have already been taken by the members of the very academy.

But there’s no need to moan and groan, as GRACIEMAG.com will bring you all the highlights from the seminar after the weekend. Check back with your favorite Jiu-Jitsu site for the main lessons conveyed by the red-and-black belt.

Rickson to teach in Belo Horizonte. Photo: Publicity.

Rickson Gracie will teach for the first time in Minas Gerais this October. One month earlier, on September 18 in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, the red-and-black belt taught another successful seminar.

“It was the first time Rickson had been to the ABC Paulista region. We had one hundred students signed up, ninety-nine men and one woman, of all belt colors. It was just like training with Pelé,” said vibrant black belt Marcelo Oliveira, organizer of the event, addressing the event to GRACIEMAG.com.

The seminar counted among its ranks practitioners from Florianópolis, Mato Grosso and Bahia. As is the norm in his classes, Rickson explained the topics to be addressed, started with Jiu-Jitsu history and, next, began teaching basic techniques, mostly, but with some variances that make all the difference.

Rickson will now teach in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, on the coming 16^th of October at a four-hour seminar. For further information, send an email to chokekombat@hotmail.com.

Carlinhos and three more red-and-black belts at 2010 Worlds. Photo: Ivan Trindade

After wrapping up the 15^th Jiu-Jitsu World Championship last Sunday the 6^th, Carlos Gracie Jr planned to head back to Rio de Janeiro from California.

Before the trip GRACIEMAG.com caught up with the founder of Gracie Barra to pick his brain on the level of the event, the promotion of three new red-and-black belts, and the performances of nephew Roger and son Kayron. Check out part of his analysis.

Roger and third absolute title
“Once again Roger demonstrated the effectiveness of simple Jiu-Jitsu, and he deserved the absolute title. For his having fought at Strikeforce just a few days earlier, it was a sign that this phantom of the transition from MMA to sport Jiu-Jitsu is not as insurmountable as it seemed, so long as you have a good grasp of Jiu-Jitsu’s basics.

Standouts of Worlds 2010
“I liked a lot of the matches, and a lot of the competitors. The black belt champions were out of this world, but with a view from the stands one also notices how there are some really good fighters who don’t necessarily make for good matches. There are several reasons for this: the guy’s game is too tight, the opponent doesn’t move either, the guys don’t take risks – so the fight ends up stagnant; there’s none of that back-and-forth action that brings the fans to their feet.
That’s why – regardless of whether they win or lose – Marcelo Garcia, Roger, Kron, Kayron and others appeal to the public, since their matches are fun, you can see something you’ve never seen before at any moment, they rally. I liked Kayron’s matches for that reason.

Tributes
“Professors Romero Jacaré, Maurição Gomes and Sergio Penha had already put in for a promotion to red-and-black belt with the IBJJF. All it takes is making it to 31 years as a black belt, and being able to prove it to the federation.
So we felt it would be cool to hold a tribute to them during the event. The IBJJF delivered a certificate to the three of them, authorizing use of the belt. But the one who delivers the actual belt is their master, or a student in the absence of such a master.

Multiplying numbers of red-and-black belts
“With every Worlds we become more and more predisposed to carrying out such tributes, and we take the opportunity to make clear the criteria that regulates Jiu-Jitsu and promotion to the red-and-black belt. There are a lot of folks out there tying a red-and-black belt around their waists with less than 20 years as a black belt, some with even less than ten. There’s no way for us to control that, but we will always follow and reinforce the universal rule instituted by our grandmasters. So anyone who can prove to the IBJJF they have been a black belt for 31 years will have their rank certified. All the teacher needs to do is show interest and seek out the Federation.”

Observed by 50 other black belts, cousin Rickson and a number of people occupying the spacious new headquarters of Gracie Barra America in Irvine, California, Renzo Gracie carries the red-and-black belt of his master, Carlos Gracie Junior.

Everyone awaited the punch line in the speech, and, surprisingly, the cheerful myth of fighting started gushing copious tears. “Don’t laugh,” he says as he collects himself, before drying the tears and embracing Carlinhos, fastening the new belt around the professor’s waist.

The promotion ceremony held the evening of June 3, 2008 was opened by faithful student Marcio Feitosa, who emotionally handed his command over to black belt and economist Flavio Cachorrinho, who introduced the guest speakers, starting with Rickson Gracie.