Rickson Gracie FAQ

[5050buttflopper**]

made me lol

I was told that Rickson only wants to teach black belts, and that he thinks teaching white belts etc is a waste of his time. I suppose this isn't true?

the seminar i was in had alot of white belts in there too, probably like 10-12 of em.

 

[5050buttflopper**]

Dude it was awesome to be...with the leg that is on the shoulder blade and throw your other leg over the head for the tap.

This sounds like an awesome experience, I wish he would have showed us that back take, my favorite part from the seminar on the 11th was when we got to see the proper way to use your legs in guard to maintain a safe distance from strikes. It was funny to see black belts and brown belts get in ricksons guard and he would ask them to try to slap him in the head to simulate punches and he basically uses the inside of his thighs to break them down while he angles himself away and then he would just slap the person around and basically make them defensless and if the guy tried getting aggressive he showed how to switch the angle to maintain pressure when the guy tries to muscle through...it was eye opening to how a BJJ guard is truly used because you never ever see that in tournaments.

I totally agree that his knowledge is from another planet and no one can compare, not even roger. Roger is practically a white belt compared to rickson when it come's to jiu jitsu technique.

 

[DaGenius]

One day I hope to meet Rickson and shake his hand!

 

[rgp]

I totally agree that his knowledge is from another planet and no one can compare, not even roger. Roger is practically a white belt compared to rickson when it come's to jiu jitsu technique.

Son, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Don't want turn this into a Roger vs Rickson topic, but look at the people Roger dominated and tapped in gi, no-gi and MMA. Saying the best jiu jitsu fighter on the planet at the moment is a white belt in terms of knowledge is disrespectful and borderline retarded.

 

[Poseidon]

I have Ricksons entire grappling record which is rather long

 

[5050buttflopper**]

Son, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Don't want turn this into a Roger vs Rickson topic, but look at the people Roger dominated and tapped in gi, no-gi and MMA. Saying the best jiu jitsu fighter on the planet at the moment is a white belt in terms of knowledge is disrespectful and borderline retarded.

i knew i would catch flak for this comment. Im probably exaggerating for dramatic effect...all im saying is i believe rickson is on another level...my comment takes nothing from roger's greatness...i only said it that way to describe that i think rickson is out of this world smart when it comes to bjj...i stand by my comment.

Just like Nnamdi Asomugha is a white belt compared to rod woodson...they're both frickin good but rod just has years and years of experience on him...yes i love the raiders and nnamdi broke my heart

sorry poppa...oh and dad when did u start posting here?? is this really my dad?? i havent seen him in years!!! Let's do lunch this weekend poppa!!

 

[LocalNmass]

Oh by the way he showed the arm bar too.......you don't put your feet on the hip and turn your body like most do. He said a person can defend against it too easy. He simply lifts up and twist his hip placing one leg directly over the shoulder and the other leg high on the back near the shoulder blade.

He stressed keeping the hips up to prevent your opponent from bending the arm. If he is able to bend the arm then he can stack you and stop the arm bar. However if you keep your hips high he can not bend his arm therefore he can't stack you. You then just push against his back with the leg that is on the shoulder blade and throw your other leg over the head for the tap.

Did he advocate this style armbar attack for all levels, meaning is this the way he teaches the armbar to a white belt, or its a technique variation for more seasoned practicioners?

 

[lechien]

Did he advocate this style armbar attack for all levels, meaning is this the way he teaches the armbar to a white belt, or its a technique variation for more seasoned practicioners?

actually, I think this is what he called the one step arm bar which Saulo demonstrated in his JJ University book.

Saulo gave credit to Rickson.

 

[SBJ]

I was at last night's seminar.. and it was AMAZING!

He did not teach any new technique, what he did teach was HOW to execute them more effectively through "CONNECTION".

These lessons are difficult to learn through watching, you have to "feeeeel" them to best appreciate what he's trying to teach.

Too help us understand this concept of "CONNECTION", he went over many basic positions with progressively resisting partners:

some of the positions included:

• Standing thrusting hip lift when partner headlocks you.
• Standing defense against choke from rear
• Standing side clinch (just before you try a leg hook takedown)
• Sprawl from double leg attack
• escape from mod scarf hold
• escape from standard side control
• Basic arm lock from guard (2-step arm lock)

There were others, but you get the idea.

Imagine sitting in the water holding on to the rope, ready to water ski. The boat accelerates quickly, BUT! there is slack in the rope.. as you are pulled, the tug is too sudden and either the rope rips out of your hand, or you are launched forward out of balance.

Now imagine there is no slack in the rope. You "feel" when the boat accelerates, and you are able to counter your balance and pressure in order to maintain balance (base). This is CONNECTION.

The moment to touch or grab each other, standing or on the mat, you should always have this CONNECTION to your partner.

Another major theme was "CLICK-CLICK-CLICK".

 

[teamcarvalho]

actually, I think this is what he called the one step arm bar which Saulo demonstrated in his JJ University book.

Saulo gave credit to Rickson.

No...... the way Rickson showed us the armbar was different. Lets say you have someone in your guard and you have control of his right arm for the attack. You lift up your hips high and twist to your right to place your left knee over his right shoulder and your right leg high on the back near the shoulder blade. You have to keep your hips high through the whole movement to prevent him from bending his arm. Then you place the leg over the head for the finish. It involved 2 moves only.

 

[MickCollins]

No...... the way Rickson showed us the armbar was different. Lets say you have someone in your guard and you have control of his right arm for the attack. You lift up your hips high and twist to your right to place your left knee over his right shoulder and your right leg high on the back near the shoulder blade. You have to keep your hips high through the whole movement to prevent him from bending his arm. Then you place the leg over the head for the finish. It involved 2 moves only.

I did a seminar with Raphael Abi-Rihan and thats the way he showed the arm bar from the guard. Hips have to be super high at all times. Which is probably why I

 

[HEAVY GRAPPLER]

Did he advocate this style armbar attack for all levels, meaning is this the way he teaches the armbar to a white belt, or its a technique variation for more seasoned practicioners?

Rickson BB Shane Rice told me this was the ONLY way he ever learned the armbar. He claims he was never taught to put the foot on the hip and go through all the steps. Shane reckons those steps were added at some point as "training wheels."

Interestingly did a seminar with Royce a few years ago and he taught it the same way.

A couple more anecdotes I heard during a recent private with Shane:

- Shane says he was there when (a famous black belt,) came in and showed Rickson the X guard for the first time. Rickson thought it was a good position. (A famous black belt,) asked how Rickson would defend it. Rickson answered "How are you going to get me into it?"

- Shane says Rickson advocates doing your conditioning outside in a natural setting and says that a connection with nature is a fundamental element of GJJ. I see a lot of support for this in the Choke documentary and old videos of beach training, etc. Apparently Helio used to get ready for fights by training on the farm. I have also seen the video where Ryron and Rener say the Gracie Academy mats are always green to remind one of nature and tranquility. I realize this is not some sort of mystical secret - but I think it's an interesting aspect of GJJ from the founding family. I'd never really heard it explicitly stated before.

 

[stinkoman]

I dont no if this was already posted but this how you do the 1 step arm lock.

Rickson Gracie Arm Bar by Pedro Sauer - YouTube

 

[DonkeyKong]

Mind blown by that armbar. Using the elbows on the ground!

FFFFFUUUUUUUUU

 

[Sloth]

Has anyone tried the elbows on the ground one yet? How do you control your partners arm with the elbows down like that? Thanks in advance.

 

[teamcarvalho]

Has anyone tried the elbows on the ground one yet? How do you control your partners arm with the elbows down like that? Thanks in advance.

Your opponent would have to be leaving his arm out in order for you to get the arm bar with out you grabbing it first. It would also take timing and speed too. Rickson showed his arm bar by grabbing the arm first then doing the 2 steps for the finish.

 

[Sloth]

Your opponent would have to be leaving his arm out in order for you to get the arm bar with out you grabbing it first. It would also take timing and speed too. Rickson showed his arm bar by grabbing the arm first then doing the 2 steps for the finish.

Agreed, that's what I figured. At the Rickson seminar in Virginia last year he showed the armbar the way you said. (grabbing the arm first)

 

[Calibur]

Has anyone tried the elbows on the ground one yet? How do you control your partners arm with the elbows down like that? Thanks in advance.

If your opponent keeps a normal posture close to your hips you can shoulder walk away. Usually your opponent will slightly overextend as he reaches to catch up to your sliding body and that's when you can spring it.

I don't use it so often for armbars, but that's my bread and butter set up for the scissor sweep.

 

[Sloth]

If your opponent keeps a normal posture close to your hips you can shoulder walk away. Usually your opponent will slightly overextend as he reaches to catch up to your sliding body and that's when you can spring it.

I don't use it so often for armbars, but that's my bread and butter set up for the scissor sweep.

So you grab the collar and sleeve, then shoulder walk back to stretch them out a bit, then hit the sweep? (just making sure I understand clearly). Thanks!

 

[Jinzumkei]

- Shane says he was there when Fabio Gurgel came in and showed Rickson the X guard for the first time. Rickson thought it was a good position. Fabio asked how Rickson would defend it. Rickson answered "How are you going to get me into it?"

This blows my mind. Could you imagine anyone else asking Fabio Gurgel that question? Fabio could probably will himself into that position with anyone else.