Helio Gracie Dead

[piratesownninjas]

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Helio Gracie, the father of Gracie jiu-jitsu, is dead at the age of 95. Gracie passed in his sleep early Thursday in Itaipaiva, Rio de Janeiro, after he had been admitted to a local hospital a few days prior for stomach problems.

 

“He passed the way he always wanted to –- quick and fast,” said an immediate relative, who asked not to be identified. The relative said Gracie’s body would be buried on Thursday.

 

The youngest of Cesalina and Gastao Gracie’s eight children, he learned traditional jiu-jitsu by watching his brother, Carlos, teach it, but his small frame made it difficult for him to execute the moves. As a result, he adapted techniques to fit his limited physical ability and gave rise to modern-day Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

 

Gracie was involved in two legendary fights. He lost to Masahiko Kimura -- a man who outweighed him by some 40 pounds -- in 1951 when Carlos threw in the towel after Kimura broke Gracie’s arm with the shoulder lock that now bears his name. Four years later, Gracie fought former student Valdemar Santana for nearly four hours before losing.

 

His impact on the sport of mixed martial arts was profound. His son, Rorion, was credited with developing the concept that became the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and another of his sons, Royce, won the first two UFC tournaments in 1993 and 1994. Two other sons, Rickson and Royler, also competed in MMA.

 

Gracie is survived by his wife Vera; his sons Rickson, Royler, Rolker, Royce, Relson, Robin and Rorion; his daughters Rerika and Ricci, as well as numerous siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

 

TJ DeSantis contributed to this report.

[piratesownninjas]

PETROPOLIS, Brazil -- There was no tribute, no tears and no speech.

 

Helio Gracie’s last will was respected by his sons and wife, who buried him on Thursday in his homeland, less than 10 hours after the Brazilian jiu-jitsu founder died at the age of 95 at Beficência Portuguesa Hospital.

 

“He was sick for a while, and he got caught by a pneumonia the last 10 days,” son Royler said by phone. “Even being so healthy, he was 95 years old and ended up not resisting.”

 

Four of the Gracie patriarch’s children -- Royler, Rorion, Rickson and Robin -- were unable to reach Brazil in time to participate in the funeral. Like thousands of jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts fans, they planned to pay a final tribute to Gracie on Friday, had the decision been made to bury him then. Instead, his last wishes were granted.

 

A simple ceremony was witnessed by some 70 relatives, close friends and students. Sons Royce and Rolker led the procession, a kilometer in length, from the chapel to the tomb where Gracie was buried. At the tomb, Royce asked for a round of applause for his father and placed a black belt over his coffin. Afterward, the UFC 1 and UFC 2 tournament champion revealed that his mother called Monday to tell him his father was weak and in the hospital.

 

“She thought he wouldn’t last long and told me to come to Rio,” Royce said. “I immediately bought the ticket and came. He was just expecting me to arrive. This morning, he passed away.”

 

 

Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

 

 

Helio Gracie was buried

Thursday in his homeland.Following the funeral, Royce, Rolker and Gracie’s wife, Vera, made the 20-minute trip to Itaipava to receive family and friends. Among them was Mario Aielo, who spoke on Rickson’s behalf.

 

“Thanks to this man, there are thousands of teachers around the world making a living from jiu-jitsu and thousands of fighters making a living from MMA,” Aielo said. “Without Helio Gracie, Rorion could not have brought Vale Tudo to the US and MMA would not exist, giving jobs to many fighters, promoters and managers and fun to millions of fans around the world.”

 

Rorion’s daughter, Rose, reflected on her grandfather’s life.

 

“My grandfather was an amazing man,” she said via phone in the U.S. “He was like a father to us. He never got out of the Gracie diet, never got out of the lifestyle he told others to live. Nowadays kids don’t have the same respect for their parents and grandparents. My grandfather not only had our respect, but he earned it. He would drive far away to come pick us up, and he would honk his horn like a crazy man. We would get in the car, and it was full of fruit and other goods from the Gracie diet. He made breakfast every morning for us and told stories at night.”

 

One story, in particular, stood out for Rose.

 

“One time, he said, ‘One day I was swimming in shark-infested water. I had to get through them somehow, so I grabbed one shark and put him in an arm lock. I grabbed another and put him in a Mata Leon,” she said. “I was young, but I believed him.”

 

Pedro Valente, one of Gracie’s best known disciples, was a third-generation student. He now runs the 600-student Valente’s Gracie Jiu-Jitsu academy in Miami, Fla.

 

“My grandfather was his student, my father was a student and I took lessons since I was 2 years old,” Valente said. “He was a father figure to me. He taught us a way of life, a life of perfection and efficiency -- and not just in jiu-jitsu but everyday life.

 

“He practiced what he preached,” he continued. “His diet was perfect. That’s why he never got old and never got sick. He was amazing. He was here [at the academy] last year, and he did a pull up.”

[budlitebrad]

Open letter from his son Royce:

 

Today my father, Helio, at the age of 95 passed on. I am honored to be the son of such a great man! He was an inspiration to me throughout my life. As a Grandmaster of Jiu-Jitsu and the father of "Vale Tudo" he brought Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the forefront of martial arts. He was a man of small stature but his heart was that of a giant. He proved with Gracie Jiu-Jitsu that even a small man could overcome a bigger stronger opponent by using leverage and technique. He was truly an innovator. Just look around and you can see how his success gave birth to the sport of mixed martial arts that we all enjoy today.

 

Many of you may think that the greatest thing my father ever gave me was Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. But I want all of you to know that I will remember him most for what he taught me off the matt. He taught me how to be a man, a husband and a father. He showed me how to be honorable, respectful and diligent. He taught me how to be a whole person.

 

I ask that together we celebrate the remarkable life of my father, Helio Gracie. The greatest tribute you can to pay to my father is to continue to train and share Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, remembering to never lose sight of the fact that what you do off the matt counts more than what you do on the matt. Face life's challenges with confidence, dare to pursue your dreams and live to the fullest just as my father did.

 

God bless us all!

Royce

 

RIP.

[Seahawks21]

One of the absolute pioneers. In my contention, MMA would have never gone mainstream without the Gracie clan. The fighting style is so interesting in contrast to dirty boxers that it makes it very compelling to watch. A way to fight without being aggressive, in fact it directly uses an individual's aggression against them. IMO it is the most brilliant and fun to watch style of fighting in the game. Unfortunately the style hasn't stood up incredibly well against today's super athletes, but back when MMA was about seeing what would happen when conflicting styles fought each other, it was incredibly effective.