Rickson Gracie FAQ

[Oak]

My school teaches take downs, and it also teaches x-guard & 50/50. My life has been greatly improved by BJJ. I feel that my skills I learn at my school will help me in a street fight, even though it is competition oriented. So ya I don't agree with what he is saying, but who am I right?

I think Rickson is scared that BJJ is growing out of control and becoming something more than what it used to be. The Gracie family will eventually lose control, but if he keeps saying things like what he is saying maybe people will think that this is not true BJJ and they can only learn true BJJ from a Gracie.

BJJ will continue to evolve and adapt, I think that is a good thing.

 

[Balto]

Rickson is turning into the Morihei Ueshiba of BJJ.

Much like Rickson, Ueshiba was known for being an incredibly tough fighter as a young adult. He fought numerous no rules challenge matches and won them all. He was known for having incredible physical strength as well.

However, after some life changing events (mostly his involvement in a religious sect as well as witnessing the destruction of Japan in WWII), Ueshiba changed his martial arts view dramatically. By the end of his life, he had eschewed all competition and the more violent training of his youth. He was now teaching Aikido.

The life improvement and peaceful warrior philosophy stuff is all fine. I agree with that myself. All people should be able to train BJJ, even those who will never be able to physically compete.

But it's still important to keep the competitive mindset and willingness to evolve with cross training. Without that, BJJ becomes just another form of Aikido on the ground.

 

[lechien]

8. What is the story about how you went to Boqueir

 

[lechien]

10. Today, how do you see the new representatives of jiu-jitsu, such as Rodrigo Minotarou and Fabricio Werdum, in the Vale-Tudos?

Rickson: The jiu-jitsu fighters are training other modalities to be able to fight in Vale Tudos, but their jiu-jitsu is weak. I'd prefer not to go into details but that is exactly how I feel.

11, How do you view your student Cristiano Marcello, who is now teaching the ground game to the Chute Boxe Team?

Rickson: I think that to be human it is necessary to grow. Not only as a fighter. The space that Cristiano has in jiu-jitsu is the least of the possibilities that he has, understand? I don't see it as inimical to jiu-jitsu. In my opinion, he has some anxiety about his growth. Nowadays, jiu-jitsu doesn't exist separately. Now there are Vale-Tudo fighters who fight with wrestling champions, who learn from wrestlers, look for boxers, kickboxers, the same style that Cristiano is teaching his ground game to. Anyway, jiu-jitsu is everything, we have the best fighters in the world today. He is doing the work with them that he thinks is right. I have nothing bad to say. If he produces a Vale-Tudo champion representing jiu-jitsu, I would be more satisfied. But if he can help other guys win too, it's good.

12. The sons of Rorion are training with a representative of Chute Boxe here in America . I would like to know if someday your son Kron is going to fight Vale-Tudo, would you accept it if he trains in another art outside of jiu-jitsu?

Rickson: As incredible as it seems, the efficiency of Vale Tudo is invisible. People are distorting the efficiency of Vale-Tudo, making it more complex than it is. I don't see the necessity to train other arts for Vale-Tudo. Jiu-jitsu is already a complete concept with all the necessities needed to be good in Vale-Tudo. But that is exactly the problem. The people of jiu-jitsu think about competition, think about a little half guard game, think about grabbing the quimono. But that is getting away from what I think is the real jiu-jitsu, which is based on the sense of the distribution of weight, which the major sense for self-defense. I don't look for to knockout someone standing up, I look for to not be in a position to be knocked out myself. I look for the position to take my opponent where I want to be. That is my concept. The day that I think that I have to train kickboxing to beat a kickboxing champion, that will be the day I lose.

13. So you don't think that by training in kickboxing, that it can in some way help you to neutralize the kickboxer's game?

Rickson: Much to the contrary. Show me a jiu-jitsu fighter who trains kickboxing who has an advantage over a kickboxer standing up.....and then maybe I'll change my opinion. But this never happens. They always end up trying to do the technique wrong., end up clinch anyway) and lose big opportunities.

14. So, if your son fights, you would like him to do only jiu-jitsu?

Rickson: He is going to do what he wants, but I think that if he wants to win he will follow my advice. I'm very proud of his work. He is doing everything to be the best that he can be. At the same time, I don't think that my expectations will change the rhythm of things. I am a collaborator. I am here to give force and not to put pressure or to demand results. Up to now, his style has produced big results. With only 16 years old, he has won the Pan-Americano against 30 competidors. It was a good result.

15. Are you teaching a lot of lessons especially for him?

Rickson: We train together. We correct everything. I think that is important. In the last competition he faced competitors that he had faced before and got better results. Even so, it was long way from perfection. He came back home, for correction on the bottom, on the top, on stand up, on finalizing, everything has correction. Good jiu-jitsu is invisible and you have to be precise. It's a matter of millimeters.

16. Kazushi Sakuraba defeated various members of your family. Why didn't you challenge him at that time?

Rickson: That fight was certain. But due to an accident, my son died at exactly that time when the thing was closed. Unhappily, I couldn't make a decision about it out of respect. I had to dedicate precious time to my family. I couldn't think about fighting and leave things in the way that they were.

 

[DonkeyKong]

I think that he chose to mention the 50-50 guard and the x-guard because they are strictly competition techniques, unusable in self defense situations, and very flashy. They are basically an illustration of the evolution of sport jiu jitsu within its own rules and have no place in self defense or barely even MMA jiu jitsu.

I don't think Rickson means that there is something wrong with being taught or even practicing these guards. He is just illustrating how far the art has gone from its original self defense and "character development via empowerment" roots into the sport of jiu jitsu.

 

[Balto]

I think that he chose to mention the 50-50 guard and the x-guard because they are strictly competition techniques, unusable in self defense situations, and very flashy. They are basically an illustration of the evolution of sport jiu jitsu within its own rules and have no place in self defense or barely even MMA jiu jitsu.

I don't think Rickson means that there is something wrong with being taught or even practicing these guards. He is just illustrating how far the art has gone from its original self defense and "character development via empowerment" roots into the sport of jiu jitsu.

You're reaching far to defend statements that are becoming indefensible. Rickson is starting to say this stuff more and more. It was only a few days ago we had the thread where he stated that competition was only 30% of real BJJ.

On that thread, the refrain was that we merely misunderstood Rickson. He didn't mean it as a slight to competitors. He really was just delivering the completely trivial statement that BJJ has several parts, only one of which is competition. I'm sure the fact that it was so benign and obvious was why Gracie Mag picked it out of all his statements at the seminar to publish.

Now on here, Rickson states:

"Now all that is discussed is "x-guard", 50-50 guard. They think that the deal now is to trian in boxing to fight in MMA. This has been diluting the image of jiu jitsu."

Diluting the image of BJJ is clearly a negative statement. He is choosing these things as examples of bad trends in BJJ. He also for some reason chooses cross training in Boxing as another bad trend. I guess BJ Penn has betrayed BJJ with his training with Freddie Roach for MMA.

"I want us to take care of this, because this pure jiu jitsu doesn't exist elsewhere."

I guess pure BJJ doesn't really exist outside of Brazil either. Roger Gracie teaching in England -- watered down BJJ. Marcelo Garcia teaching in NYC -- watered down BJJ, plus he uses X guard too. What a disgrace.

It's seriously getting really old listening to Rickson disrespect almost every top guy in BJJ today. I get that Rickson is a legend and he did a lot for the sport, but it's just ridiculous to try to defend him when he is insulting the training and methodology of world champions and top MMA fighters.

 

[lechien]

You're reaching far to defend statements that are becoming indefensible. Rickson is starting to say this stuff more and more. It was only a few days ago we had the thread where he stated that competition was only 30% of real BJJ.

On that thread, the refrain was that we merely misunderstood Rickson. He didn't mean it as a slight to competitors. He really was just delivering the completely trivial statement that BJJ has several parts, only one of which is competition. I'm sure the fact that it was so benign and obvious was why Gracie Mag picked it out of all his statements at the seminar to publish.

Now on here, Rickson states:

"Now all that is discussed is "x-guard", 50-50 guard. They think that the deal now is to trian in boxing to fight in MMA. This has been diluting the image of jiu jitsu."

Diluting the image of BJJ is clearly a negative statement. He is choosing these things as examples of bad trends in BJJ. He also for some reason chooses cross training in Boxing as another bad trend. I guess BJ Penn has betrayed BJJ with his training with Freddie Roach for MMA.

"I want us to take care of this, because this pure jiu jitsu doesn't exist elsewhere."

I guess pure BJJ doesn't really exist outside of Brazil either. Roger Gracie teaching in England -- watered down BJJ. Marcelo Garcia teaching in NYC -- watered down BJJ, plus he uses X guard too. What a disgrace.

It's seriously getting really old listening to Rickson disrespect almost every top guy in BJJ today. I get that Rickson is a legend and he did a lot for the sport, but it's just ridiculous to try to defend him when he is insulting the training and methodology of world champions and top MMA fighters.

Rickson does not believe that you need to cross train to succeed in vale tudo.

please read the couple of posts above which I posted, so you can understand him and/or his views.

 

[Balto]

Rickson does not believe that you need to cross train to succeed in vale tudo.

please read the couple of posts above which I posted, so you can understand him and/or his views.

I've read that interview before. Trust me, I am well aware of Rickson's distaste for cross training and modern MMA in general.

It is Rickson's views that are becoming more and more ridiculous. Rickson says cross training is not needed to be successful in MMA. Yet Rickson hasn't fought in ten years, and it has been clearly proven that the best MMA fighters today do cross train.

It's silly for Rickson to sit back and basically disapprove of all the modern MMA champions saying that they are doing it wrong. Yeah, you're a champion MMA fighter, but since you don't fit into Rickson's pure vision of BJJ without cross training, you're not really doing it right. Okay.

This is along the lines of what Renzo was flipping out about when he said that people don't have a right to question the champions. There are no MMA champions coming out of Rickson's training mindset, and there are no BJJ champions either. Yet he is repeatedly stating that he believes these guys are doing it wrong.

It's just getting old, and it's making a lot of the top guys nowadays basically write off Rickson as a disgruntled angry guy. I think that's a shame given his knowledge of BJJ and all that he has accomplished, but when he keeps saying stuff like this, I can see why they do it.

 

[Supereem]

I've read that interview before. Trust me, I am well aware of Rickson's distaste for cross training and modern MMA in general.

It is Rickson's views that are becoming more and more ridiculous. Rickson says cross training is not needed to be successful in MMA. Yet Rickson hasn't fought in ten years, and it has been clearly proven that the best MMA fighters today do cross train.

It's silly for Rickson to sit back and basically disapprove of all the modern MMA champions saying that they are doing it wrong. Yeah, you're a champion MMA fighter, but since you don't fit into Rickson's pure vision of BJJ without cross training, you're not really doing it right. Okay.

This is along the lines of what Renzo was flipping out about when he said that people don't have a right to question the champions. There are no MMA champions coming out of Rickson's training mindset, and there are no BJJ champions either. Yet he is repeatedly stating that he believes these guys are doing it wrong.

It's just getting old, and it's making a lot of the top guys nowadays basically write off Rickson as a disgruntled angry guy. I think that's a shame given his knowledge of BJJ and all that he has accomplished, but when he keeps saying stuff like this, I can see why they do it.

I would like someone to ask Rickson who he thinks the best current BJJ fighters are (other than himself). Id doubt hed say Kron, since Mr X-guard subbed him, but then at the same token that was in competition and not pure vale-tudo

I find it strange he doesnt like Werdum. Nog I understand, because of his old punch me in the face guard, but Werdum in my opinion has been a fairly traditional BJJ fighter when it hits the ground. Who if anyone does Rickson like? Ralek Gracie maybe? Roger trained extensively in boxing and muay thai to beat Randleman, so I guess he isnt up for contention anymore (even though he use to be, the Randleman fight was the first fight he threw a strike).

I realize this isnt a recent interview but his view in it is still relevant from what I can tell.

 

[Title Fight Productions]

So I guess every great Brazilian teacher who left Brazil no longer teaches pure BJJ anymore? They have changed and now teach a diluted version to Americans.

Not all, but some major schools and orgs are leaning this way for sure!

 

[lechien]

Not all, but some major schools and orgs are leaning this way for sure!

But Rickson even looks down at anyone that does not teach GJJ as well. Brasilian or not!

 

[Title Fight Productions]

It's just getting old, and it's making a lot of the top guys nowadays basically write off Rickson as a disgruntled angry guy.

Source?

 

[teamcarvalho]

I think that he chose to mention the 50-50 guard and the x-guard because they are strictly competition techniques, unusable in self defense situations, and very flashy. They are basically an illustration of the evolution of sport jiu jitsu within its own rules and have no place in self defense or barely even MMA jiu jitsu.

I don't think Rickson means that there is something wrong with being taught or even practicing these guards. He is just illustrating how far the art has gone from its original self defense and "character development via empowerment" roots into the sport of jiu jitsu.

I have to agree with DonkeyKong on this one....

 

[nefti]

Why is the 50/50 not good for self defence? Heel hooking someone or inverted heel hooking someone will end a fight.

As for rickson's comments on cross training... Come on, he crosstrained in judo and wrestling himself... and a little sambo

 

[Hades666]

So I guess every great Brazilian teacher who left Brazil no longer teaches pure BJJ anymore? They have changed and now teach a diluted version to Americans.

yes and if u have a problem with that statement go challenge him or go have your instructor challenge him

 

[Title Fight Productions]

.

As for rickson's comments on cross training... Come on, he crosstrained in judo and wrestling himself... and a little sambo

Only to better his GJJ of course!:icon_conf and once he let it enter his body it became part of GJJ.:icon_neut

 

[Hades666]

i heard a story from kron that when him and his dad were in japan they were training with andre galvao and rickson had to correct galvao's bridge while mounted/umpah (a basic fundamental that white belts are taught on the first day of class) because he was doing it wrong, and galvao is a world champ, u guys are all getting butt hurt over nothing, even world champs need improvement in their game, everything can be done more efficient and there is no one more qualified than rickson in efficiently using jiu jitsu

like he said in that interview people need to realize that jiu jitsu is a complete fighting art, u dont really need to cross train because if ur jiu jitsu is perfect, u will always be in a position that takes away the other fighters strengths and jiu jitsu alone is more than capable of that, u guys train in jiu jitsu and u question it's philosophy so much, i have to agree with rickson that pure jiu jitsu does not exist here because obvioulsy people are getting it twisted, im just happy i train at rickson's academy and i have kron passing on his father's philosophy to myself and my team

WAR JIU JITSU!!

 

[thegreenblender]

Good points from Title Fight and others. It's true Rickson himself crosstrained, if not in striking. That being said, I've never seen any jiu-jitsu player with Rickson's timing, grace, and balance. I think he has himself in mind when he talks as if you just take the guy down and submit him--badda bing, badda boom! If anybody could have made waves with that style, it would be a prime Rickson. We've got Maia now, and that's about it. And of course, even his pure-grappling train got stopped.

I guess what I'm saying is, there might be a grain of truth to the ideer that if you have ungodly jiu-jitsu, cross-training may not be as important. Now the idea that your average up and coming fighter can aspire to that? Eh, not so sound.

 

[Supereem]

yes and if u have a problem with that statement go challenge him or go have your instructor challenge him

So does that mean Kron teaches American Jiujitsu too? What about Carlson Gracie lineage teachers? Rickson trained UNDER Carlson at one point, so do you think guys like Liborio and the BTT guys, who actually competed at the first mundials don't teach or know the true BJJ?

I acknowledge Rickon's greatness (to some extent) and love his career, but some of the bullshit that the Helio side has been spewing lately is getting on my nerves. Rickson tends to generally avoid it but his sounding more and more like some traditional martial artist with unfounded ideas and ideals. Basically, the ONLY person who has perfected and can use the GJJ system, in his opinion, is himself. Royler, Royce and Kron have all been submitted and beaten, some the first two in MMA as well. So basically, Rickson is the sole real GJJ guy who is alive, and we are suppose to believe all his theories based on 10 recoreded fights with one against a credible opponent who broke his orbital bone in the process?

I love basic BJJ, Ive never learnt 50/50 or x-guard and my teacher keeps it extremely simple. I also love the simple closed guard and dont believe in the fancy tricks (see Roger), but Rickon's ideas are becoming more fantasy than reality of late. I now consider Roger to be the true and best representative of BJJ, and his cross training!

I also think the fact that Ralek was forced to adopt a classic striking stance against Sakuraba of all people (and thus abandoning Rickson's stance) proves that it is the dumbest thing the Gracie's ever invented. It also proves that grapplers SHOULD (not need to!) cross train in striking to learn how to beat it and avoid its game, Leaving your chin out like that is silly, and id like to see what Rickson has to say about it now days, but hed probably just go on about how everyone else was doing it wrong but he could do it right bla bla bla.

 

[Supereem]

i heard a story from kron that when him and his dad were in japan they were training with andre galvao and rickson had to correct galvao's bridge while mounted/umpah (a basic fundamental that white belts are taught on the first day of class) because he was doing it wrong, and galvao is a world champ, u guys are all getting butt hurt over nothing, even world champs need improvement in their game, everything can be done more efficient and there is no one more qualified than rickson in efficiently using jiu jitsu

like he said in that interview people need to realize that jiu jitsu is a complete fighting art, u dont really need to cross train because if ur jiu jitsu is perfect, u will always be in a position that takes away the other fighters strengths and jiu jitsu alone is more than capable of that, u guys train in jiu jitsu and u question it's philosophy so much, i have to agree with rickson that pure jiu jitsu does not exist here because obvioulsy people are getting it twisted, im just happy i train at rickson's academy and i have kron passing on his father's philosophy to myself and my team

WAR JIU JITSU!!

Dude we get it, you train with Kron and you think his really cool, stop telling us in every post - NO ONE CARES ANYMORE!

Can someone who trains with Roger come and counter everything this guy says by ending it with "well I would know, I train with Roger Gracie".