Rickson Gracie FAQ

[Deleted member 245586]

Donkey,

I read about the first twenty six pages of this thread. Thanks, it's awesome.

You mentioned that Rolls and Rickson were two of the very best ever and that both personally cross-trained in BJJ, Judo, Sambo, Freestyle wrestling, and Greco Roman wrestling.

#1) You didn't mention if they trained in Catch wrestling. Wasn't Sakuraba a Catch wrestler? If so, do you think the failure to cross-train in Catch wrestling hurt their students (the ones that lost in Pride) and more generally the art of BJJ?

#2) Has BJJ since adapted to deal with Catch wrestling as it has adapted to deal with the other disciplines mentioned?

#3) Do you feel BJJ had a weakness at that time (the Pride era), or was it specifically poor match-ups (qualities of the individual fighters that made the difference)? For example, if it were Rickson who fought Sakuraba would BJJ have succeeded?

#4) Obviously we will never know as the fight didn't take place but has Rickson stated what BJJ techniques existed that the Gracie's failed to implement in their fights with Sakuraba, or did he admit that BJJ had a flaw that needed to be fixed?

 

[Title Fight Productions]

Donkey,

I read about the first twenty pages of this thread. Thanks, it's awesome.

You mentioned that Rolls and Rickson were two of the very best ever and that both personally cross-trained in BJJ, Judo, Sambo, Freestyle wrestling, and Greco Roman wrestling.

You didn't mention if they trained in Catch wrestling. Wasn't Sakuraba a Catch wrestler? If so, do you think the failure to cross-train in Catch wrestling hurt their students (the ones that lost in Pride) and more generally the art of BJJ?

Has BJJ since adapted to deal with Catch wrestling as it has adapted to deal with the other disciplines mentioned?

Do you feel BJJ had a weakness at that time (the Pride era), or was it specifically poor match-ups (qualities of the individual fighters that made the difference)? For example, if it were Rickson who fought Sakuraba would BJJ have succeeded?

Obviously we will never know as the fight didn't take place but has Rickson stated what BJJ techniques existed that the Gracie's failed to implement in their fights with Sakuraba, or did he admit that BJJ had a flaw that needed to be fixed?

Or was Sak just that good like Fedor is? I mean no one is asking if Sambo/Judo is so much better than BJJ because Fedor beat the piss out of Nog a couple times.:icon_neut

*edit* by this i mean that i do not believe CACC on a whole is better or worse than BJJ, just that Sak as an athlete with a great CACC game was better than the Gracies as athletes with a great BJJ game.

 

[JJK]

Just got through all 43 pages! Impressive thread, learnt a lot... Thanks DonkeyKong!!!

 

[BSFT]

Or was Sak just that good like Fedor is? I mean no one is asking if Sambo/Judo is so much better than BJJ because Fedor beat the piss out of Nog a couple times.:icon_neut

*edit* by this i mean that i do not believe CACC on a whole is better or worse than BJJ, just that Sak as an athlete with a great CACC game was better than the Gracies as athletes with a great BJJ game.

i would say you are correct.

 

[PapaBherd]

One of the best threads I have seen here in Sherdog so far. Bravo.

 

[PapaBherd]

Sorry, double post.

 

[Slappy san]

An awesome read. Bravo.

 

[Estebanantonio]

Has anybody ever varified the loss to Ron Tripp in the Sambo Match? I googled it but all I could find was blog postings and the story repeated by forum posters. Is there actual evidence like video or official records or something?

 

[Estebanantonio]

Has anybody ever varified the loss to Ron Tripp in the Sambo Match? I googled it but all I could find was blog postings and the story repeated by forum posters. Is there actual evidence like video or official records or something?

Nevermind I just found this in a Interview with Rickson. Found it when I googled Ron Tripp.

FreeFight
There are rumors that you lost a Sambo match in America.

Rickson
Yes, you did not hear the whole story. The rules were not properly explained to me so I was at a disadvantage. How can you play a game if you aren't told the rules?

 

[Estebanantonio]

I don't understand the big deal? Does he still claim to have an undefeated record?

 

[350 lbs fist]

Or was Sak just that good like Fedor is? I mean no one is asking if Sambo/Judo is so much better than BJJ because Fedor beat the piss out of Nog a couple times.:icon_neut

*edit* by this i mean that i do not believe CACC on a whole is better or worse than BJJ, just that Sak as an athlete with a great CACC game was better than the Gracies as athletes with a great BJJ game.

Not to mention the fact that both Royce and Royler were significantly smaller than Saku and that it was Ryan's second fight vs Saku's 16th.

Renzo was Saku's only really good Gracie win really. Same size and both were experienced.

 

[BJJ Coffee Drinker]

Nevermind I just found this in a Interview with Rickson. Found it when I googled Ron Tripp.

FreeFight
There are rumors that you lost a Sambo match in America.

Rickson
Yes, you did not hear the whole story. The rules were not properly explained to me so I was at a disadvantage. How can you play a game if you aren't told the rules?

the thing is though, Rickson had claimed to have competed in sambo matches prior to the ROn Tripp match and although he may not have known all the rules, he definitely would have known that getting thrown flat on your back would have been an instant win for the opponent, no matter what ruleset of sambo it was in. I respect Rickson a lot but it is hard to believe that explanation

 

[sweetc25]

This was a great read. Thanks!

 

[RomanCatholic]

1- The divorce with Kim cleaned him out pretty good. California divorce laws are generous and she was a housewife, which makes them even more generous. Anyway, he is far from starving, that's for sure.

Dear Donkeykong, thank you for your interesting thread.
Do you know the reason why Kim and Rickson got divorced? They seemed to be the perfect couple in the film

 

[DiscipleOfPog]

Dear Donkeykong, thank you for your interesting thread.
Do you know the reason why Kim and Rickson got divorced? They seemed to be the perfect couple in the film

 

[ColdAsLife]

Great read....Well done DK..lots of previously unknown facts..1st thread to have me glued to the screen for hours..

 

[LegendsGP**]

thanks! great way of knowing him better!

 

[Estebanantonio]

Dear Donkeykong, thank you for your interesting thread.
Do you know the reason why Kim and Rickson got divorced? They seemed to be the perfect couple in the film

 

[Big Burly]

Epic thread, Donkey Kong!

I appreciate the effort you made to lay down the facts about Rickson.

Lots of great info here!

As far as the Rickson/Tripp fiasco, even if Rickson rolled in Sambo prior to the Tripp match, that doesn't mean he was in a Sambo tournament with Sambo tourney rules. Sport Sambo would have a goofy rule like "you lose if your back hits the mat." Combat Sambo would not.

Compare that to sport BJJ versus MMA BJJ or self defense GJJ. Sport BJJ has rules. self defense GJJ has no rules other than don't get hurt and win the fight.

 

[cyberhugs]

Epic thread, Donkey Kong!

I appreciate the effort you made to lay down the facts about Rickson.

Lots of great info here!

As far as the Rickson/Tripp fiasco, even if Rickson rolled in Sambo prior to the Tripp match, that doesn't mean he was in a Sambo tournament with Sambo tourney rules. Sport Sambo would have a goofy rule like "you lose if your back hits the mat." Combat Sambo would not.

Compare that to sport BJJ versus MMA BJJ or self defense GJJ. Sport BJJ has rules. self defense GJJ has no rules other than don't get hurt and win the fight.

good point