Post by Codesters on Jan 29, 2009 13:52:53 GMT -5
MMAMANIA
Helio Gracie, founder and 10th degree master of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, died earlier this morning at home at the age of 95 in the district of Itaipava, in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.
Widely considered as one of the first sports heroes in Brazilian history, Gracie is also the father of world-renowned fighters Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Relson Gracie, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) founder Rorion Gracie and of course, its first ever champion Royce Gracie.
The youngest son of Gastao and Cesalina Gracie’s eight children, Helio learned the art of traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu by studying and imitating his brother Carlos, who was versed in the art of submission fighting after their father befriended Japan’s “Count Combat,” who would instruct Carlos out of gratitude to Gastao.
Carlos became an instructor of jiu-jitsu, and one fateful day his teenage brother Helio was forced to replace him when a student showed up for class and Carlos was not available. Helio conducted the training based mostly on theory and imitation of his brother, but the student was so impressed that he asked to retain Helio and Carlos added him as an instructor at the school.
Due to his frail body and physical limitations, traditional jiu-jitsu was not easy for him to execute. Helio began refining his technique to compensate for his disadvantages, improving the leverage in the execution of some of the techniques. Through both experimentation and trial and error, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was born.
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Such sad news.... A true founder of the sport.
Helio Gracie, founder and 10th degree master of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, died earlier this morning at home at the age of 95 in the district of Itaipava, in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.
Widely considered as one of the first sports heroes in Brazilian history, Gracie is also the father of world-renowned fighters Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Relson Gracie, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) founder Rorion Gracie and of course, its first ever champion Royce Gracie.
The youngest son of Gastao and Cesalina Gracie’s eight children, Helio learned the art of traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu by studying and imitating his brother Carlos, who was versed in the art of submission fighting after their father befriended Japan’s “Count Combat,” who would instruct Carlos out of gratitude to Gastao.
Carlos became an instructor of jiu-jitsu, and one fateful day his teenage brother Helio was forced to replace him when a student showed up for class and Carlos was not available. Helio conducted the training based mostly on theory and imitation of his brother, but the student was so impressed that he asked to retain Helio and Carlos added him as an instructor at the school.
Due to his frail body and physical limitations, traditional jiu-jitsu was not easy for him to execute. Helio began refining his technique to compensate for his disadvantages, improving the leverage in the execution of some of the techniques. Through both experimentation and trial and error, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was born.
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Such sad news.... A true founder of the sport.
