How did Rockson die?
It is not known for sure. The reason for this is that he disappeared and appeared dead a while later, and those who know it for sure simply will not talk about it. The official story was a motorcycle accident, but nowadays there are two theories which have been hinted at and mentioned by some who would know:
-Rockson died of a drug overdose.
-Rockson skipped town and left LA with drugs belonging to dealers who eventually caught up with him in New York.
Whether the truth will come out isn't known.
Father and son
Why does Rickson want so much money to fight? Isn't he just using it as an excuse not to?
Whether or not he is using it as an excuse is something that only he would know. Most with some knowledge believe not. The reason for that is his expectations are not in sync with what is being paid to american fighters by the UFC nowadays, and that is the payscale the modern MMA fan is used to.
The most well-paid MMA fighter in the world , do you know who that is?
Fedor? Wrong. Lesnar? Wrong again. Who then?
The most well paid fighter in the world is Royce Gracie, having been paid far over 1 million dollars plus undisclosed bonuses per fight, to fight in K-1 NYE events in 2004 and 2005.
It is in that scale that Rickson defined his own expected pay, which is speculated to be around 2.5-3 million dollars, taking into consideration his massive popularity in Japan and previous salaries he had received. Very high, but in accordance to a previously realistic standard.
Nowadays nobody in the MMA world can or is willing to pay that, so he had been effectively retired until he officially retired in 2009.
Is he going to fight again?
No. As of 2009 Rickson is officially retired and no longer interested in fighting professionally.
So what is he up to now?
Rickson is giving seminars on jiu jitsu and trying to develop jiu jitsu as his father saw it: not a fighting tool but a social tool, to give confidence to women, children, and physically weak individuals by giving them the ability to defend themselves.
This is in tune with his father's beliefs and the direction which he has taken for his life and jiu jitsu.
One last thing, I watched Choke and I am curious, what in the hell is it that Rickson does with his stomach?
That is a skill common to experts in Swasthya Yoga, which Rickson practices. It requires a long time of practice to acquire that level of control of normally involuntary muscles. It's a breathing exercise.
Rickson doing Yoga, one of his most famous pictures
Other minor facts about Rickson:
-He follows the Gracie Diet, detailed here:
Gracie Diet
The family has always claimed that this diet is the secret behind their longevity, it was developed by Carlos Gracie based upon an Argentinian doctor's experimental diet. It is followed by most family members since it is what they grew up on and is also something of a family tradition.
-Rickson's son Kron currently competes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has plans to go into MMA purely with Jiu Jitsu to follow in the Gracie family tradition. He is commonly referred to as " o filho do Homem", or " the son of the Man", with an upper-case when in writing. Normally found in the following argument:
"Well it's easy for him, I mean he's the son of the Man, has the guy coaching him 24/7..."
-He is normally addressed by jiu jitsu fighters in Brazil regardless of belt as "Mestre", or "Master", an honor which few receive.
-The acrobatic move he pulled off in JVT to escape a single-leg takedown is usually referred to as "The Superman", even in Brazil, because after the fight a young Rockson said "Wow dad you flew like Superman!"
-Rickson's closest brother is Royler.
-He is a proponent if "Ginastica Natural", or "Natural Gymnastics", a system of stretching and exercises that imitates animals and can be done without equipment.
