| The Gracies face oppositionThe Gracie's were not | | | | vision. 'Kill him, kill him!' the devil in my mind |
| the only ones doing Jiu-Jitsu in the world during | | | | screamed. Adema wobbled, and stepped back, |
| the 1900's, and certainly not the only one's doing | | | | and tried to run with the ropes on his back. I |
| Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil, they were just the most popular. | | | | chased him throwing kicks and open hand strikes. |
| Early members of the Gracie family in Brazil were | | | | He returned head butts and elbow strikes. But, |
| political figures and very involved in the | | | | neither of us was able to deliver a decisive strike. |
| community where they lived. Among Helio's first | | | | Maybe we were both exhausted, or maybe the |
| students were Governor of Rio, Carlos Lacerda, | | | | blood in our eyes prevented us from aiming |
| and President, Joao Figueiredo. There were many | | | | clearly at the target. After all, the 40 minutes ran |
| Japanese immigrants practicing Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in | | | | out, and the match ended in a draw. It was my |
| Brazil and a new form of "free fighting" was also | | | | first Vale Tudo experience. That night, my face |
| developing in Brazil at this time. The Brazilians | | | | was badly swollen. I had a number of cuts on my |
| developed a system of fighting called Luta Livre | | | | face. Every time I breathed, an excruciating pain |
| (Free Fight), and if you ask a Gracie, they might | | | | ran through my belly, and I could not sleep. I |
| tell you that Luta Livre is from Jiu-Jitsu, if you ask | | | | received an injection from a doctor, and cooled |
| a Luta Livre practitioner, he might tell you | | | | my belly with a cold towel all night. However, I |
| something different. There is a large rivalry | | | | learned a very important lesson in this fight. That |
| between the two styles, but the truth of the | | | | is, one must never fear death. If I had not had |
| matter is that the styles are very similar. I heard | | | | the iron will to fight despite the possibility of |
| from a few sources that Luta Livre was | | | | getting killed, his head butts would have torn my |
| developed from Wrestling and Judo in Brazil. Luta | | | | intestine into pieces." - (From My Judo, by |
| Livre is practiced without the gi or kimono. While I | | | | Masahiko Kimura , 1985)Carlson Gracie Comments |
| was in Brazil, I passed down a street in Bahia | | | | on his fights with Valdemar Santana: |
| (which is where Capoeira also comes from) | | | | "Valdemar was a student of the family for |
| named after one of the great Vale Tudo | | | | twelve or thirteen years. He fought more than 20 |
| (meaning "anything goes") fighters of the mid | | | | times for our academy. What happened was, he |
| 1900's named Valdimar Santana, who was | | | | had a disagreement with Helio Gracie, and they |
| responsible for one of Helio Gracie's only defeats. | | | | decided to fight Vale-Tudo, and Valdemar won. In |
| I've heard some Brazilians call him a Luta Livre | | | | fact, I was a friend of his, and told him: "look |
| fighter, others say he was a Judoka, and the | | | | Valdemar, we are friends, but now I can't let it |
| Gracies say he was a Jiu-Jitsu player. During | | | | pass, you beat Helio, now your going to have to |
| Valdimar's fight with Helio Gracie, after over an | | | | fight me. I have nothing against you, but in the |
| hour, Helio's corner was forced to throw in the | | | | ring, I'm going to beat the shit out of you!" And I |
| towel. I've read that Valdimar Santana was one | | | | did. I fought against him six times. I won four |
| of Helio's students, but have heard different as | | | | times, and two were a draw. He was tough shit. |
| well. Carlson Gracie would later avenge Helio's | | | | If it were today, he would be one of the best |
| defeat by defeating Valdimar Santana in a No | | | | fighters". (From O'Tatame magazine (Brazil) |
| Rules fight. The other famous victory over the | | | | Translated by Tatiana Andres, 1997)Besides |
| Gracie family in the early part of the art's | | | | Helio's defeats (where it is interesting to note that |
| development occurred in 1951. After defeating a | | | | he did not actually submit to either opponent) the |
| famous Judo player named Kato, Helio issued a | | | | Gracies remained undefeated for the most part in |
| challenge to another Japanese fighter named | | | | Vale Tudo (no holds bared) matches, until another |
| Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi was concerned about | | | | Japanese fighter would give them some trouble. |
| taking the fight because he felt Helio would be | | | | After the popularity of the Ultimate Fighting |
| hard to submit. A friend of Yamaguchi named | | | | Championship in the United States, Japan started |
| Masahiko Kimura (5'6" 185 Lbs.) stepped up to | | | | to host a series of Vale Tudo tournaments, one |
| face Helio in his place. The fight between Helio and | | | | fighter in particular started grabbing everyone's |
| Kimura resulted in a win for Kimura by TKO after | | | | attention, and his name was Kazushi Sakuraba. |
| Helio's side threw in the towel. Kimura applied | | | | Sakuraba was not the biggest fighter on the |
| udegarami (a shoulder lock now called the Kimura), | | | | scene, but he was creative and experienced. |
| an arm lock to Helio's left arm, breaking it. Helio | | | | Sakuraba represented the sport of Japanese |
| was commended for not giving up, but still | | | | Wrestling, which is very different from American |
| suffered a defeat, nonetheless. | | | | wrestling in many ways, the biggest difference |
| An interesting event occurred later in the 1950's | | | | being that Japanese wrestlers have an outstanding |
| when Kimura ended up facing Valdimar Santana in | | | | knowledge of submission holds. The Wrestling |
| a No Holds Barred Match. He describes the name | | | | style that Sakuraba practiced looked almost |
| of the fighter as Adema, but I assume that this is | | | | exactly like Jiu-Jitsu, and during my research for |
| a spelling mistake made in the translation due to | | | | this book, I've stumbled across more than one |
| the description being identical to Valdimar right | | | | article that states Sakuraba had trained Jiu-Jitsu |
| down to the place he resided. Kimura describes | | | | quite extensively. Sakuraba had been winning no |
| the match in this excerpt taken from his | | | | holds barred matches against some formidable |
| biography "My Judo". I debated for a while about | | | | opponents in Japan, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black |
| whether to include this, but it was so interesting, | | | | Belt Conan Silvera, whom he beat with a Juji |
| hard to find in print, and so historically significant | | | | Gatame, or in Portuguese, Chave Braco, a |
| that I had to share it with you. This excerpt really | | | | standard move in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It wasn't long |
| gives a lot of insight as to what was happening in | | | | before Sakuraba and the Japanese press set their |
| Brazil during this time period, and gives an idea | | | | sights on the Gracie family. Sakuraba's first |
| about how far ahead of the U.S. and Japan that | | | | victory over a Gracie family member was over |
| Brazil was in Mixed Martial Arts fighting. The next | | | | Royler. Sakuraba outweighed Royler by at least |
| two and three-quarter pages are taken directly | | | | forty pounds. The fight ended in a very |
| from Kimura's book, My Judo."My opponent | | | | controversial referee stoppage, over which Royler |
| Adema (Valdimar) Santana was a 25 year old | | | | appeared to be very upset about. The second |
| black man, and was a boxing heavy weight | | | | was to Royce; this fight lasted about an hour and |
| champion. He was 4th dan in judo, and a capoeira | | | | thirty minutes until Royce's corner threw in the |
| champion as well. He was 183cm had a well | | | | towel. To Royce's credit, Sakuraba was not able |
| proportioned impressive physique. His weight was | | | | to submit him and Royce fought very well. The |
| close to 100kg. Bahia, where the match took | | | | third was to Renzo Gracie. Renzo was fighting |
| place, is a port city where black slaves were | | | | very well until Sakuraba applied the same lock he |
| unloaded. The slaves were forbidden to carry a | | | | used to defeat Royler; the lock was applied |
| weapon. As a result, many martial arts were | | | | standing and when the two fell to the floor, the |
| developed by them, I heard. Vale Tudo is one of | | | | fall broke Renzo's arm. Once again, the Gracie |
| such martial arts. In the south of Sao Paulo, pro | | | | family member did not submit, and the referee |
| wrestling is popular. But the farther one goes to | | | | stopped the fight. The fourth was to Ryan Gracie |
| the north, the more popular Vale Tudo becomes. | | | | who lost the fight after suffering an injury to his |
| Helio Gracie, whom I had previously fought, was | | | | shoulder and after time expired by judge's |
| the champion in Vale Tudo. But Adema Santana | | | | decision. I have researched a couple of sources |
| challenged him the previous year (Note: 1957), and | | | | that claim a famed BJJ black belt named Sergio |
| after 2 hours and 10 minutes, Helio got kicked in | | | | Penha was actually training Sakuraba and that this |
| the abdomen, could not get up, and got knocked | | | | aided him in his victories. |
| out. Thus, Adema had become the new champion. | | | | To the Gracie family's credit, I have not seen |
| In Vale Tudo, no foul is allowed. 1 foul results in an | | | | members of the Gracie family 'lose' very often. |
| immediate disqualification. No shoes are allowed. | | | | There are incidences in sport Jiu-Jitsu where a |
| When the fighters are separated, they are not | | | | Gracie family member will lose to another Brazilian |
| allowed to strike with a fist, and they have to use | | | | Jiu-Jitsu player, but that is Jiu-Jitsu losing to |
| open hand strikes. But once they get in contact | | | | Jiu-Jitsu. Dan Henderson's victory over Renzo |
| with each other, every type of strike is allowed | | | | Gracie is one of the few I can recall where |
| but groin strikes. All types of throws and joint | | | | anyone outside of the sport of Jiu-Jitsu or the art |
| locks are legal. The winner is decided when one of | | | | of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu defeated a Gracie family |
| the fighters is KO'd or surrenders. Biting and hair | | | | member.Jiu-Jitsu has now developed beyond the |
| pulling were illegal. Since bare-knuckle punches are | | | | Gracie family and with all appropriate respect and |
| traded, taking direct 2 or 3 hits in the eye means | | | | thanks to them, it moves forward and |
| the end of the fight. I was told there have been | | | | progresses through the teachings of instructors |
| many cases in which a fighter got hit in the eye | | | | from all parts of the world. It wasn't until this |
| with an elbow, and the eyeball popped out from | | | | happened that people from outside the art of |
| the socket by half, and got carried to the hospital | | | | Jiu-Jitsu started claiming victories over Gracie |
| by an ambulance. Therefore, there were always 2 | | | | family members. By introducing the Brazilian style |
| ambulances at the entrance of the arena."I have | | | | of Jiu-Jitsu to North America, the Gracie family |
| no choice. I will fight." I said. Then, the promoter | | | | opened the door to great financial rewards and |
| grinned, took out a form and told me to sign it. | | | | the problems that would come with |
| Yano translated the content, which said, "Even if I | | | | success.Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to the |
| die in this match, it is what I intended, and will not | | | | United States in the 1970's, but was not made |
| make anyone accountable for my death." I | | | | popular until 1993, when Royce Gracie defeated |
| nodded, and signed the form. On my way to the | | | | opponents from other martial arts in a contest |
| ring, someone raised his arm and waved at me. It | | | | called the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This |
| was Helio Gracie, whom I had not seen for | | | | type of fighting was known in Brazil as Vale Tudo |
| several years. Helio was at the radio broadcast | | | | (anything goes) and would later become known as |
| seat. He was the commentator of the match. | | | | NHB (No Holds Barred) here in the United States. |
| The gong rang. Adema and I circled the ring first. | | | | The effectiveness of the art form over so many |
| I lightly extended my fingers in a half-body | | | | others made Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu known to the |
| posture, and prepared for his kicks. Adema, also | | | | martial arts community and the world. This was |
| in a half-body posture, had tucked his chin, | | | | America's first look at Mixed Martial Arts fighting. |
| tightened his underarms, as he would do in a | | | | Unlike many other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| boxing match. Once in a while, he delivered high | | | | gained its reputation and popularity through |
| kicks to my face."I blocked the kicks with my | | | | effective fighting, not Hollywood movies.In |
| hands, and returned a kick with my right leg. | | | | November of 1993, a large number of Americans |
| Adema started to deliver right and left | | | | would get their first look at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ... it |
| roundhouse kicks. I stepped back and dodged | | | | wasn't pretty. For years in the United States, the |
| them, but suddenly, I received a fire-like impact | | | | Martial Arts community had been plagued by the |
| on my face. It was an open hand strike. I had | | | | mystique and misconception created by |
| overlooked his hand motion, paying too much | | | | Hollywood. I can remember getting into street |
| attention to his kicks. When I got hit in the | | | | fights as a kid and having my opponent say "OK, |
| temple, and the core of my head became a blur, | | | | no Kung fu stuff!" thinking that if the other guy |
| left and right roundhouse kicks came. When I | | | | knew Kung fu, something terribly deadly would |
| blocked his right kick with my left hand, a | | | | happen. This couldn't be farther from the truth, |
| tremendous pain ran through from the tip of the | | | | and in 1993 we would all find that out. To make a |
| little finger to the back of the hand. I had jammed | | | | long and over-told story short, Royce Grace, a |
| the finger. I traded kicks with him. The entire | | | | thin Brazilian, was pitted against champions of |
| audiences were standing with excitement. Even in | | | | Kung Fu, Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling and |
| this situation, I was able to think clearly. While I | | | | a variety of other Martial arts in a contest called |
| was thinking 'Adema is one level higher than I | | | | the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Unlike the |
| both in kicks and open hand strikes. In order to | | | | American No Holes Barred contests of today, |
| win, I must take the fight to the ground,' another | | | | Royce had to fight up to 4 times in each |
| fast kick flew at my abdomen."I struck the kick | | | | tournament. There were no weight classes and |
| down with left knife hand, and jumped in to | | | | Royce was usually the lightest, sometimes being |
| deliver a head butt on his abdomen with a | | | | outweighed by 80 lbs. or more. There were very |
| momentum that could penetrate through his body. | | | | few rules: no eye gouging, no biting, and no time |
| This must have had an effect on him. He covered | | | | limits. Although this would be The United State's |
| his abdomen, and stepped back while wobbling. I | | | | first look at Brazilian Jiu-jitsu vs. other styles of |
| wanted to get close to him, throw him, get on | | | | Martial Arts, it was not the first time a ground |
| top of him, and use Newaza. If I succeed in this, I | | | | fighting style would have the opportunity to show |
| could use elbow strikes and head butts. Adema | | | | the superiority of Grappling vs. Striking alone.In |
| recovered from the damage, and delivered a kick | | | | 1963, Gene Labell (a Judo player) faced a |
| to my face again. I ducked the kick, and jumped | | | | champion Boxer named Milo Savage, gaining a |
| in for a clinch. I got in a tight clinch to prevent him | | | | solid victory for Grappling enthusiasts everywhere. |
| from using knee kicks or elbow strikes. We | | | | The Ultimate Fighting Championship was the |
| traversed along the rope. All of a sudden, I | | | | catalyst for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the US, but after |
| received a head cracking impact. I experienced a | | | | the initial boom of popularity, there would be a |
| tremendous ear ringing, and got momentarily | | | | whole new world of problems to face. The same |
| unconscious. I received a head butt on my left | | | | entrepreneurial and capitalist ideals that made |
| temple. It was a head butt from a side. I had | | | | America great would be a hindrance to the |
| thought that all the head butts would come from | | | | authenticity and quality of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the |
| front. I never knew a side head butt. 'I cannot | | | | United States. Carley Gracie (Carlos' son, Carlson's |
| lose here. I must win even if I may die,' I thought. | | | | younger brother and Roll's older brother) was the |
| Driven by this will power, I tried to find a way to | | | | first to bring their Brazilian style of Jiu-Jitsu to the |
| fight back. The referee then came in between to | | | | U.S. The idea was born through his training of |
| separate us. We were already covered with blood. | | | | American Marines in Rio (in the early 1970's) and |
| The fight was brought back to the center of the | | | | by 1972, he was teaching Jiu-Jitsu in California. |
| ring again. Adema threw a right open hand strike. | | | | Rorion was the next to come, opening his |
| I caught the arm and attempted Ippon-seoi. It | | | | academy in California and trade marking the |
| seemed like I could score a clean throw. | | | | Gracie name. This action would lead to a huge |
| However, it was a miscalculation. We were both | | | | problem in the family; Rorian was not allowing any |
| heavily covered with sweat as if a large amount | | | | other members of the Gracie family to use the |
| of water had been poured onto our heads. | | | | name, and was also accused by family members |
| Moreover, he had no jacket on. There was no | | | | of distorting the truth about the history of the |
| way such a technique could have worked under | | | | art, since he had claimed his father (Helio) was |
| these conditions. His arm slipped through, and my | | | | responsible for the birth of the art.I have found |
| body rotated in the air once forward, and landed | | | | through the research of this book that everyone |
| on my back. 'I screwed up!' I shouted in my mind, | | | | has his/her own story, so it was most logical to |
| but it was too late. Adema immediately jumped | | | | go with common denominators to find the truth. |
| at me. If he got on my chest, he could freely | | | | Carley would later challenge Rorion to fight, as |
| strike my eyes, nose, and chest with his elbows."I | | | | they had done when they were younger (Carley |
| caught him in a body scissors. I squeezed his | | | | claims to have defeated Rorion previously a total |
| body with full force hoping to sever his intestine. | | | | of eight times), but Rorion preferred to battle it |
| Adema crumbled momentarily, but did not | | | | out in court. This was the second major split in |
| surrender. Since the body scissors did not finish | | | | the Gracie family after the first split between |
| him, I realized that I was in a disadvantageous | | | | Carlson and Helio, but it would be the first of |
| position. When I lifted my head, hundreds of stars | | | | many to happen in the United States. Rickson |
| flew out of my eyes. I took a straight punch | | | | came to teach as well, along with the Machado |
| between my nose and my eyes. It was an | | | | Brothers (who are related to the Gracie family as |
| accurate intense punch. The back of my head got | | | | cousins), both eventually separated from Rorion |
| slammed onto the mat."Moreover, an intense | | | | due to some sort of business differences. |
| head butt attacked my abdomen. It felt like my | | | | Actually, it was Rickson (considered by many to |
| organs would be torn into pieces. Once, twice, I | | | | be the champion of the family) who felt he should |
| hardened my abdominal muscles to withstand the | | | | be the first Ultimate Fighting Champion, but Rorion |
| impact, and waited for the 3rd attack. At the | | | | was in control of the early UFC's and decided it |
| moment the 3rd head butt came, my right fist | | | | would be Royce who would make the point to |
| accurately caught Adema's face by counter. It | | | | the American public, and the rest is recent |
| landed between his nose and eyes. Blood | | | | history.For More Information on this Subject, visit |
| splattered. I had also already been heavily | | | | Simco is a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Black Belt and author |
| covered with blood. The blood interfered with my | | | | of several books on the subject. |