![]() ![]() For over two decades the Gracies accepted many challenges and fought a variety of opponents from different backgrounds and of different sizes. Hlio Gracie (Octo January 29, 2009) was a Brazilian martial artist who together with his brothers Oswaldo, Gastao Jr, George and Carlos Gracie founded and developed the self-defense martial art system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Fighting in public events in front tens of thousands of spectators, his reputation grew immensely. Gracie is survived by his wife, Vera and their nine children, Rorion, Relson, Rickson, Rolker, Royler, Royce, Rherica, Robin and Ric. Helio Gracie became the top sports figure in Brazil in the 1930s. One of Gracie’s sons, Rorion, was a founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a hugely popular martial-arts combat sport in the United States, where it is seen as a more exciting alternative to boxing and wrestling. More than 40 sons and grandsons of Gracie and his brother Carlos helped popularize the mixed martial art around the world. Gracie introduced a series of adaptations to traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu that emphasized leverage and position as a way to compensate for size differences among opponents. The Agencia Estado news service said he died of pneumonia. A member of the famed Gracie family, Kron is the son of Rickson Gracie and grandson of Helio Gracie. Gracie died Thursday morning, Januand was buried in the afternoon near his home in the mountain resort town of Petropolis near Rio de Janeiro, according to a short statement posted on the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Web site. SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Helio Gracie, one of the main creators of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that gained worldwide popularity, has died. He is recognized as the creator of what is today known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The picture that hung there served as both a reminder of the effort discipline and motivation required to pursue the journey and the high-standards its practitioners should uphold. After a lifetime of Jiu-Jitsu, today at 89, he still teaches the art and has the same determination to live Jiu-Jitsu as his lifestyle. Helio Gracie was protesting what he considered to be the easy grading and downfall of Jiu-Jitsu standards. Helio Gracie also challenged boxing greats Primo Carnera and Ezzard Charles, as well as world champion Joe Louis to matches to compare styles.p They all declined.Īn example of courage and determination, Helio Gracie became a national hero in Brazil. Helio Gracie holds the world record for the longest fight ever: three hours and forty minutes non-stop, with his student Valdemar Santana. ![]() Throughout his life Helio Gracie has had the opportunity to fight many great fighters including two other well known Japanese Jiu-Jitsu masters Ono and Massagoishi. The 40kg lighter Helio lost after his brother Carlos threw in the towel. At this time, Helio was 42 years old and weighed 63kg, and his opponent Kimura was 10 years younger than Helio and weighed 100kg. This historical match took place in 1951 and was held in the Maracana Stadium. Upon defeating Kato, a challenge match was set between Helio Gracie and the world Japanese champion, Masahiko Kimura, probably the best fighter that Japan has ever produced. ![]()
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