Every culture has a history of hand-to-hand combat. Most often, this combat takes the form of wrestling or sometimes boxing. Looking at the history, a reasonable guess is that Jiu-Jitsu’s wrestling techniques may have come from Ancient Greece. The Greeks loved the Olympic games. With their ideas, one of their most popular sports, Pankration, came along. This sport combined boxing and wrestling. The Greeks liked Pankration more than either sport on its own.
Pankration and Its Influence
Later, Pankration would be overshadowed by Roman Gladiators. It was even banned from the Olympics by the Christian leaders of the Roman Empire. But even though rulers changed, Greek customs still reached India. This is where Jiu-Jitsu’s foundation might have been laid. When Alexander the Great conquered lands (356 – 323 B.C.), he spread Greek culture to those areas. His influence reached India. This spread of culture might have led to the birth of Kung Fu and Wu Shu (martial arts) in China.
The Connection to China
The Chinese have many stories about the history of their martial arts. Most historians agree that martial arts came from India with Buddhism. The idea is that Bodhi Dharma introduced Buddhism and Boxing in China. The Shaolin temple in the heart of China is the place for this introduction.
Jiu-Jitsu’s Development in Japan
A story supporting the idea of Jiu-Jitsu coming from China is tied to the fall of the Ming Dynasty. A man named Chingempin came to Tokyo and met three Ronin (masterless Samurai) named Fukuno, Isogai, and Miura. Chingempin told the Ronin about a grappling art he’d seen in China. The Ronin wanted to learn this art. So, Chingempin taught in Japan, and this art became Jiu-Jitsu.
A Simple History of Wrestling
The next theory about wrestling is that it developed in many forms in China. One famous type is Horn Wrestling, or Jiaodixi. The Mongolians practiced this, and it later became Jiaoli. This was wrestling without horns.
You can also find this wrestling in Native American cultures. It’s shown in the common Native American Buffalo headwear. It likely came there from Mongolians moving through modern-day Alaska. Then Jiaoli changed and grew into Xiangpu.
Some say this form of wrestling turned into Sumo in Japan. Another idea is that there were people who practiced Chikura Karube. This wrestling game started around 200 B.C. It is thought that Chikura Karube later turned into Jiu-Jitsu in Japan.
The Story of Jiu-Jitsu in Japan
One story talks about Jiu-Jitsu coming from Japan. Chingempin brought an early form of Jiu-Jitsu to Japan. It was called Kempo and had lots of strikes but little grappling. From there, the Japanese made it into a better grappling skill. One thing we know for sure is that the Japanese made the grappling art into a special process called Jiu-Jitsu.
Tracing the History of Grappling
Finding the history of grappling for this book was fun. I looked for common ideas in the stories. Here’s what I found:
- Many old cultures had some grappling or unarmed fighting.
- The Greek culture gave its fighters great money and respect.
- Long ago, the Greeks took over a lot of land. This includes the place where Jiu-Jitsu’s moves are thought to have started.
The Origins of Wrestling
Wrestling existed in China and Mongolia before Jiu-Jitsu did in Japan. It’s interesting to note that this might be where Native American wrestling came from. This happened through migration across the Alaskan Land Bridge.
The pinning and throwing techniques of Jiu-Jitsu are similar to those in Greco-Roman Wrestling. Sometimes, they’re even the same.
Development of Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu started in Japan during the Feudal era. It was first a skill for war. But after Japan ended the Feudal system, some changes were needed. This made the art good for practice.
In Feudal times, Jiu-Jitsu had many names like Yawara and Hakuda. The first time “Jiu-Jitsu” was used was in 1532. It was said by the Takenouchi Ryu school. The history at this time is unclear. Teachers kept secrets to make their art seem special.
The Shift to Judo
After the Feudal era in Japan, Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t needed on the battlefield. So a new way to practice was needed. Jigoro Kano, who practiced Jiu-Jitsu, made a new system called Judo in the late 1800s. It was useful because it let people try the art safely but also in a real way.
Judo’s big contribution was the use of Rondori. It was a way to spar with rules that made practice safe. This let students practice more without getting hurt. This helped them get better faster.
Judo was a simpler form of Jiu-Jitsu, but it still worked well. The one problem was that ground work wasn’t as important. So it became weak in Judo. There were also many rules that made it less useful for self-defense.
Why Judo Thrived
Even with the rules, the idea that “a pure grappler is better than a pure striker” still held true. Most fights end up in a clinch. This gives the grappler a chance to take the opponent to the ground. There, a pure striker has no experience and is at the mercy of the grappler.
The History of Judo in Japan
After a contest between Jiu-Jitsu and Judo at Tokyo’s police headquarters, Judo became Japan’s national martial art. This happened in the late 1800s. Judo has stayed popular to this day. Many U.S. soldiers learned Judo during World War II. They brought it back to America. In 1961, Black Belt magazine in America had a Judo sketch. That issue was all about Judo.
Martial Arts in Hollywood
People didn’t really know about martial arts until movies made them famous. In the U.S., Bruce Lee helped make martial arts popular. He studied Judo and grappling. He said some martial arts were not good. But his movies made them even more famous.
The Creator of Judo
Jigoro Kano made Judo. But, Judo is a type of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s not totally different. Kano learned from schools that used the name “Judo” first. They taught him techniques he used in Judo.
Important Names in Judo’s History
Seijun Inoue IV used the name Judo for his Jujitsu. His students had to learn 97 techniques and be nice people. Kuninori Suzuki changed the name of Kito-kumiuchi to Kito-ryu Judo in 1714. Kito-ryu helped Judo learn about off-balancing. That’s a key part of throwing in Judo.
Judo’s Connection to Other Styles
Judo has many types of Jiu-Jitsu in it. Kano studied with their masters. He learned from Jikishin-ryu and Kito-ryu. Later, he added Fusen-ryu for groundwork. He also worked with Mataemon Tanabe. Yokiashi Yamashita, his main assistant, knew Yoshin Ryu ju jitsu and Tenshin shinyo Ryu ju jitsu. He was a master of both. He added his knowledge to Judo.
A Historical Meeting in 1912
In 1912, Kano talked with masters of Jiu Jitsu. They wanted to finalize the training plan for Kodokan. These masters were from different schools like Sosusihis Ryu and Takeuisi Ryu. The meeting included experts in weapons training.
The Importance of a Naming Event
Before this meeting, a key event happened. It became an important part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history. By 1900, Kano’s Kodokan school was beating other schools in competitions. Much of the success came from Shiro Saigo, an expert in throwing techniques. Kano used Saigo’s skills to win a famous tournament in 1886. This victory was significant, but it raised questions. Saigo was not a Judo student but a student of an older Jujitsu style.
Judo’s Growth and Challenges
Judo grew from different Jiu-Jitsu styles. One of these styles was Fusen Ryu. Fusen Ryu specialized in ground fighting. In 1900, Kano’s Kodokan challenged the Fusen Ryu school. The challenge was unique. Judo did not have ground fighting techniques at that time. The fight was a standing battle, following what Kano learned from his training.
The Fight That Changed Everything
The fight with Fusen Ryu was a turning point. Kodokan fighters were at a disadvantage. They were not prepared for Fusen Ryu’s ground fighting. The Jiu-Jitsu fighters took control and won the matches. It was Kodokan’s first loss in eight years.
A New Era for Jiu-Jitsu
Kano realized he needed to adapt. He needed ground fighting techniques. With the help of other Jiu-Jitsu experts, Kano developed ground techniques for Kodokan Judo. This included joint locking, choking, and holding techniques. This change had a lasting impact. It explains why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has more techniques on the ground. The development of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil began from there.
The Evolution of Martial Arts in Japan
In Japan, various forms of Jiu-Jitsu evolved, like Karate, Aikido, and Judo. However, they lacked essential parts of the full Jiu-Jitsu art. When the Samurai era ended, guns replaced swords, and new ways to practice martial arts emerged. This change caused years of confusion, known as the “classical mess.”
The Rise of Sport Arts
Sports like Judo and Kendo became popular. They allowed people to train safely but limited their fighting effectiveness. Traditional combat schools were teaching outdated techniques. Training in martial arts became like swimming without water.
The Revival of Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu was brought to life again when introduced to the Gracie family in Brazil. Esai Maeda, also known as Conde Koma, introduced Japanese Jiu-Jitsu to the Gracie family in Brazil around 1915. This was the beginning of a new era for the martial art.
Maeda and His Legacy
Maeda was a Judo champion and a student of its founder, Jigoro Kano. He was born in 1878 and started learning Judo in 1897. In 1904, he had the chance to travel to the United States. He and his teacher, Tsunejiro Tomita, demonstrated Judo at the White House and West Point Military Academy.
Roosevelt’s Thoughts on Jiu-Jitsu
Theodore Roosevelt, the U.S. President, expressed his thoughts about Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. He believed that with training, a strong American wrestler or boxer could defeat a Japanese Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Roosevelt’s words reflect the difference between sport wrestling and the more combative Jiu-Jitsu.
Maeda’s Influence in Brazil
Maeda eventually moved to Brazil and settled in Sao Paulo City. He helped establish a Japanese Immigration colony. With the assistance of Gastao Gracie, a Brazilian of Scottish descent, Maeda’s Jiu-Jitsu began to spread. This laid the foundation for the growth of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil and the world.
The History of Judo and Jiu-Jitsu
In Asia, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu were almost the same. Judo was known as Kano’s Jiu-Jitsu. So, why do they call it Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and not Brazilian Judo? They were the same thing. The Gracie family learned Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. In the early 1900s, there was little difference. Judo was a collection of Jiu-Jitsu styles.
The Gracie family was introduced to Judo at an interesting time. They compared it to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the early 1990s. Grappling became popular. Styles started to use grappling techniques. Royce Gracie was doing what had been done in the early 1900s.
Teaching Jiu-Jitsu to Brazilians
To thank Gracie, Maeda taught Carlos the basic techniques of Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos then taught his brothers. In 1925, they opened their first school. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was born. It was more effective. People would compete and challenge each other. This kept the techniques sharp.
Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Over the last fifty years, many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools opened. They broke from the original Gracie family. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Machado Jiu-Jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are all different. The Gracie family has many members. They don’t all associate with each other.
Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil
The teaching of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil began in 1940 when Helio opened an academy. There were other schools, too. The Gracie’s were the most popular. Mehdi, a Judo master, taught in Brazil. He had Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students like Mario Sperry and Rickson Gracie. The Gracie family didn’t invent it. They developed it.
Grand Master “Fadda” learned Jiu-Jitsu from Franca. Fadda started his school in Brazil. He’s not as famous as the Gracie family. But he’s a part of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu history.
The Development of Federations and Associations
In 1967, Helio Gracie created the first federation. The system of belts was developed. In the early 1970s, the Carlson Gracie team was born. The Gracie family made their first split. There were two sides: Helio’s and Carlson’s. They argued, but it was the same Jiu-Jitsu.
Robson Gracie made a new federation in 1988. Carlos Gracie Jr. made another in 1993. It’s the best one. It created the World Championship. The goal is to make Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu an Olympic sport. During Royce’s UFC wins, America got its first taste of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Other members of the Gracie family have federations and associations. They run tournaments and give ranks. Andre Pederneiras organized the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament in 1993. He helped promote the art.
The Difference Between Two Tournaments
What’s the difference between the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu contest you created and Carlos Jr.’s (BJJ Confederation) Tournament? It’s simple!
Price Matters
The cost is one big difference. In my tournament, I charged only ten bucks for each person. Carlos Gracie Jr. charged 25 dollars. My event was at Club Hebraica, a pricey place. His tournament was at Clube Guanabarra, and it seems he paid nothing for it.
Collaboration with Carlos Gracie Jr.
Did I work with Carlos Gracie Jr., the president of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation? Of course not! The confederation didn’t exist when I was planning this contest. After my idea, Carlos Gracie made the Brazilian Confederation. He began other Brazilian events. So, did he make more money than I did? Yes, he did.
A Different Purpose
I made the tournament for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters to have fun, not to get rich. Our goals were different.
JJ Machado’s Thoughts
JJ Machado talks about the Gracie Family. He says, “Carlos Gracie Jr. was our teacher from the start. We all owe thanks to the Gracie family. Everyone who knows Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu learned it from them.”
The Mixed Art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just made by the Gracie family. It’s a mixed art. This was shown in an interview with Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti. He talks about learning from Rolls Gracie. He says it was a great time. Rolls taught many things. It was a complete class.
Mid 1900’s Development
During the mid-1900s, free-style fighting was growing in Brazil. Judo, wrestling, capoeira, and boxing were mixing in these fights. People would learn from each other.
Helio Gracie’s Insight
Black Belt Magazine asked Helio Gracie about his training. He said he didn’t invent the martial art but adapted it for himself. He had to find new ways to do things.
Respect to the Gracie Family
No matter where you are, we all owe thanks to the Gracie Family. They helped Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grow. Now, many champions are adding to the art. The term ‘Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’ is used for the old style. But as the art grows, ‘Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’ fits better. Soon, it might just be ‘Jiu-Jitsu’.
The Gracie Family’s Opposition
The Challenge of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil
The Gracie family wasn’t the only ones practicing Jiu-Jitsu in the 1900s, especially in Brazil. They were simply the most popular. Many members of the family were politicians and very involved in their community. Among Helio’s first students were the Governor of Rio, Carlos Lacerda, and President Joao Figueiredo.
Japanese Influence and the Rise of Luta Livre
In Brazil, many Japanese immigrants were training in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu. A new style of “free fighting” was also emerging. Brazilians created a fighting method called Luta Livre (Free Fight). Some say it comes from Jiu-Jitsu, while others think differently. Luta Livre was practiced without the traditional gi or kimono.
Rivalry and Similarities Between Styles
There was a big rivalry between Luta Livre and Jiu-Jitsu. However, the truth is that the styles are very similar. Some say Luta Livre came from Wrestling and Judo in Brazil. This similarity led to some confusion and debate among practitioners.
Famous Fights and Defeats
In the mid-1900s, Valdimar Santana became known as a great Vale Tudo (anything goes) fighter. He was responsible for one of Helio Gracie’s only defeats. Some called him a Luta Livre fighter, others a Judoka, and the Gracies a Jiu-Jitsu fighter.
Carlson Gracie later avenged Helio’s defeat by beating Valdimar Santana in a No Rules fight. Another famous loss for the Gracie family was in 1951. After defeating Kato, Helio challenged Yamaguchi. Instead, Kimura stepped up to face Helio and won by TKO.
Historical Matches and Insights
An interesting event occurred in the 1950s when Kimura faced Valdimar Santana in a No Holds Barred Match. Kimura’s description of the fight provides great insight into what was happening in Brazil at that time. It shows how far ahead Brazil was in Mixed Martial Arts fighting.
These stories and matches provide a rich history of the sport in Brazil. The Gracie family’s influence, the rise of Luta Livre, and the famous fights all paint a vivid picture of the martial arts landscape during this period.
Adema Santana: A Strong Opponent
My opponent, Adema Santana, was a 25-year-old man. He was a heavyweight boxing champion. Adema was also 4th dan in judo and a capoeira champion. He stood 183cm tall and weighed around 100kg. Adema had an amazing body.
The Place of the Match
Bahia, where the match took place, is a port city. This is where African slaves were brought long ago. They were not allowed to have weapons, so they created martial arts. One of those martial arts was Vale Tudo.
Martial Arts in Brazil
In the south of Sao Paulo, wrestling is popular. But as you move north, Vale Tudo becomes more common. I once fought Helio Gracie, a Vale Tudo champion. Adema challenged him in 1957. After 2 hours and 10 minutes, Helio was knocked out, and Adema became the new champion.
Vale Tudo Rules
Vale Tudo has strict rules. No fouls or shoes are allowed. Fighters must use open-hand hits. All kinds of strikes, throws, and locks are legal except groin hits. The winner is when someone is KO’d or gives up. Biting and hair pulling are forbidden. Taking direct hits to the eye can end the fight. There were always two ambulances at the arena’s entrance.
The Fight Begins
“I will fight,” I told the promoter. He smiled and handed me a form to sign. It said, “Even if I die in this match, I will not blame anyone.” I signed it. On my way to the ring, Helio Gracie waved at me. He was a commentator.
In the Ring
The gong rang, and Adema and I circled the ring. I got ready for his kicks. Adema prepared as if in a boxing match. Once in a while, he kicked at my face.
The Battle
I stopped the kicks with my hands, and kicked back with my right leg. Adema started to kick left and right. I dodged them, but then I felt a burning effect on my face. It was an open-hand strike. I had missed his hand movement because I was focusing too much on his kicks.
The Mistake
I got hit in the head, and everything became a blur. Left and right kicks came. I blocked a right kick with my left hand, but my finger hurt a lot. I had jammed it. We exchanged kicks, and everyone was excited. Even then, I could think clearly. I knew Adema was better at kicks and open-hand hits. To win, I had to take the fight to the ground.
The Attack
Suddenly, another fast kick hit my stomach. I struck it down with my left hand and jumped to head-butt him. It must have hurt him. He backed off, wobbling. I wanted to get close, throw him, and use Newaza. If I could do that, I could use elbow hits and head butts.
The Recovery
Adema recovered and kicked my face again. I ducked the kick and went for a clinch. We moved along the rope, and then I felt a massive impact. I heard a loud ringing, and for a moment, I was out. It was a side head-butt. I hadn’t expected that. “I can’t lose here. I must win, even if I die,” I thought. I looked for a way to fight back.
The Turning Point
The referee separated us, and we were covered in blood. The fight moved back to the ring’s center. Adema threw an open-hand strike. I caught his arm and tried to throw him. It seemed like I might succeed, but we were both very sweaty. His arm slipped, and I fell on my back. “I messed up!” I thought, but it was too late. Adema jumped on me. If he landed on my chest, he could strike my eyes, nose, and chest with his elbows.
I trapped him in the body scissors. When i squeezed their body with full drive hoping for you to sever their intestine. Adema crumbled momentarily, but did not surrender. Because the body scissors did not finish him, I realized i was in the disadvantageous place. When When i lifted my personal head, numerous stars flew out of my eye. I required a straight punch concerning my nasal and my personal eyes. It was an correct intense hand techinque. The rear of my personal head got slammed upon the sleeping pad.
“Moreover, an intense head buttocks attacked my personal abdomen. It felt like my personal organs could be torn directly into pieces. As soon as, twice, I hard my stomach muscles to endure the impact, and waited to the 3rd invasion. At the moment the 1 / 3 head buttocks came, my personal right fists accurately trapped Adema’s experience by counter. It landed between their nose in addition to eyes. Our blood splattered. I had created also already been heavily protected with bloodstream. The bloodstream interfered with my vision. ‘Kill him, kill him! ‘ the actual devil within my mind screamed. Adema wobbled, in addition to stepped rear, and tried to run with the actual ropes in his rear. I chased him throwing kicks and start hand hits. He delivered head butts in addition to elbow hits. But, neither folks was able to deliver a decisive strike. Maybe we all were equally exhausted, or even the blood within our eyes averted us via aiming clearly on the target. All things considered, the forty five minutes leaped out, along with the match ended in the draw. It was my primary Vale Tudo encounter. That evening, my experience was negatively swollen. I had numerous cuts in my experience. Every time period I breathed, the excruciating discomfort ran via my belly, and I could truthfully not snooze. I been given an injection from your doctor, and cooled down my belly which has a cold towel and last and last. However, I learned an important lesson in this fight. That’s, one have to never concern death. Plainly had not necessarily had the actual iron will certainly to fight despite the possibility to get killed, his brain butts might have torn my personal intestine directly into pieces. ” – (From My own Judo, by Masahiko Kimura, 1985)
Carlson Gracie Responses on their fights with Valdemar Santana: “Valdemar was a student of your family for twelve or 12 years. He fought more than 20 times for our academy. Just what happened seemed to be, he received a disagreement with Helio Gracie, plus they decided for you to fight Vale-Tudo, in addition to Valdemar picked up. In actuality, I was a buddy of their, and explained to him: “look Valdemar, we are friends, but now I cannot let the idea pass, you beat Helio, now your about to have for you to fight me personally. I include nothing towards you, but in the ring, I’m about to beat the actual shit out of you! ” And I did so. I fought against him 6-8 times. When i won 4 times, in addition to two ended up a draw. He seemed to be tough shit. In the event it ended up today, he could be the most effective fighters”. (From O’Tatame mag (Brazil) Converted by Tatiana Andres, 1997)
The Gracie Family and Their Undefeated Streak
Besides a few defeats by Helio (and it’s important to note that he didn’t lose to either opponent), the Gracie family stayed unbeaten in Vale Tudo. That’s a type of fighting where anything goes. But then a Japanese fighter started giving them trouble.
A New Challenger: Kazushi Sakuraba
After the Ultimate Fighting Championship became popular in the U.S., Japan began hosting Vale Tudo fights. One fighter caught everyone’s eye. His name was Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba wasn’t the biggest fighter. But he was creative and skilled. He was a symbol of Japanese Wrestling. This is different from American wrestling. Japanese wrestlers are great at submission holds. Sakuraba’s style looked a lot like Jiu-Jitsu. I found articles saying he trained a lot in Jiu-Jitsu.
He was winning fights in Japan, beating strong opponents. One was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Conan Silvera. Sakuraba beat him with a move from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Soon, he and the Japanese media were looking at the Gracie family.
Sakuraba vs. The Gracies
Sakuraba’s first win over a Gracie was against Royler. He was much heavier than Royler. The match ended in a controversial way, and Royler was upset.
Next, he fought Royce. The match went on for 90 minutes. Royce’s corner gave up, but he fought well. Sakuraba couldn’t submit him.
Then came Renzo Gracie. He was doing well until Sakuraba used a lock that broke his arm. Renzo didn’t give up, but the ref stopped the fight.
Ryan Gracie lost after hurting his shoulder. Some say a famous BJJ black belt named Sergio Penha was training Sakuraba. This may have helped him win.
Gracies: A Legacy of Victory
The Gracie family doesn’t lose much. Sometimes they lose to other Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters. But that’s still Jiu-Jitsu beating Jiu-Jitsu. Few have defeated a Gracie from outside the sport.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came to America in the 1970s. It got popular in 1993 when Royce Gracie won a tournament. It was called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was the first time America saw Mixed Martial Arts fighting. Unlike other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became famous by winning, not movies.
A New Era Begins
In 1993, many Americans saw Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the first time. It was different. For years, Hollywood had shaped ideas about martial arts. But in 1993, Royce Gracie, a slim Brazilian, showed what Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu could do. He fought champions of other martial arts. There were almost no rules and no weight classes. Royce was often the lightest. But he won, showing the power of grappling over striking.
The Challenge Between Gene Labell and Milo Savage
In 1963, Gene Labell, a Judo player, challenged Milo Savage, a champion boxer. He won a great victory. This win excited grappling fans everywhere.
The Rise and Challenge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America
The Ultimate Fighting Championship started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the United States. After it became popular, new problems appeared. America’s business ideas made it hard to keep the quality of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The First Teachers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the U.S.
Carley Gracie first brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the U.S. He taught American Marines in Rio in the early 1970s. By 1972, he was teaching Jiu-Jitsu in California. Then, Rorion came and opened a school in California. He also trademarked the Gracie name.
Family Problems
This caused a big problem in the family. Rorion wouldn’t let other family members use the name. Some accused him of lying about the history of the art. He said his father, Helio, started the art.
The Search for Truth
In my study of this book, I found that everyone has their own story. I looked for common facts to find the truth. Later, Carley challenged Rorion to a fight like they had done before. Rorion wanted to fight in court instead.
More Family Splits
This was the second major split in the Gracie family. Rickson came to teach with the Machado Brothers. Both left Rorion over business differences. Rickson felt he should be the first Ultimate Fighting Championship . But Rorion chose Royce. The rest is history.
