MMA Pioneer Helio Gracie Remembered
Gracie family patriarch and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu pioneer Helio Gracie died in early 2009 in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 95. Its impossible to overestimate his influence on martial arts, and particularly his pathbreaking role in what is now the sport of mixed martial arts. The Gracie family name will forever be synonymous with Brazilian sports, jiu-jitsu, MMA and the UFC”not only due to Helios own accomplishments but the legacy he created both by training others and through his family.
Helio Gracie began his training in mixed martial arts early, and by his teenage years was already teaching judo. While he had no problem mastering the theoretical aspects of judo, he found that many of its techniques were less effective for a practitioner with a smaller build. Along with his brother Carlos, Gracie began to work out his own fighting system by adapting many of judo’s techniques and making them more a product of leverage rather than brute strength. This led to the creation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), frequently called Gracie Jiu Jitsu in his honor.
Gracie also had a professional fighting career of his own, taking on champions from other fighting disciplines in an early version of modern MMA. These bouts were arduous, unregulated affairs with arbitrary rules and no time limits. By his own recollection, Gracie fought 15 times against the top opponents of his time. He began his career in’32 by submitting professional boxer Antonio Portugal in just 32 seconds. Later that year, he fought American catch wrestler Frank Ebert to a draw after the ringside doctor ordered the bout stopped after an ungodly fourteen ten minute rounds.
His most famous battle was against Japanese judo legend Masahiko Kimura, resulting in a rare loss for Gracie. Despite the setback, he fought bravely and may have actually enhanced his legend after refusing to submit to a reverse arm bar (the same modern MMA submission that now bears Kimuras name). Only after his arm was broken did his brother Carlos throw in the towel.
Gracie’s greatest impact, however, may have been through his progeny which is an important part of Brazilian sports and mixed martial arts even today. Royce Gracie is well known as the first UFC superstar, while sons Rickson Royler, Renzo have also achieved considerable fame in professional MMA. At the time of his death, Helio Gracie was a 6th Dan Judo black belt and the only living 10th degree master of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The cause of Gracies death was officially given as natural causes. His last words will go down as a fitting envoi to a man who gave so much of himself to fighting:
“I created a flag from the sports dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection and nerves of blood.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
Further Reading...
Creating A New E-mail Address And Learning More About Using E-mail
META: An email is a fast way of communicating with your family and friends or with your business associates no matter which part of the world you are in.
Make Money with Autoblogs
Blogging is the most profitable online activity for ordinary people like most of us and in fact, many in United States left their job and do Blogging full time.
Blogging & Pinging - What You Need To Know Before You Start
Blogs and ping are the foremost frequently utilized words in the IT sector today.
Profits From Blogging Online
Opportunities abound for those looking to blog for profit.
Why kids need educational software
There has been a drastic change in teaching techniques, primarily as a result of the effects of technology in our lives today.
Tags: Blogging, hobbies, marketing, mixed martial arts, MMA, recreation, sports
February 10th, 2010 at 4:50 am
A quick little note to invite you to click the link if you need more info on Unfair Dismissal Laws.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:53 am
There’s a huge variety of materials available for loft conversions, and you can make some significant savings by sourcing them yourself. Loft hatches come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, as do skylights, loft ladders, loft hatch accessories etc. You can buy most of these products online or through a builder’s merchant, and most of them can be custom fitted to your exact specifications. If you have a particular staircase in mind there are specialist suppliers who can either build one to your requirement, or for a cheaper option you could buy off the shelf and have your builders create your loft entrance to fit. If you decide to source materials yourself, make sure you ask advice and be sure to shop around for the best price.