Helio Gracie Celebration


On Tuesday morning Grand Master Helio Gracie was tanning at his ranch in Brazil, and on Thursday morning at 9:15 he passed on due to natural causes. His legacy will survive forever in all members of the Gracie Family, jiu-jitsu practitioners around the world, and all those who have benefited from the revolution he began.

In his final years, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu often spoke of his satisfaction with his life's work. He openly stated that he had accomplished everything he had set out to do, displaying his preparedness for the transition into the afterlife.

The Grand Master believed that such a transition should be seen as a positive step in one's spiritual evolution. In a recent interview he declared: "I've already told my sons that when I die I want there to be a party. No drinking, no debauchery."

To honor his request and his legacy, the Gracie Academy will host a celebratory gathering/slideshow presentation on Saturday, February 7, 2009. In anticipation of a large turnout of friends and family, we intend to have three showings starting at 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm. If you can't make it to the party, but would like to express how the Grand Master has affected your life, please send your story to
heliogracie@gracieacademy.com so we can post it on the Gracie Academy website.

In one of his final magazine interviews the Grand Master expresses his concern for the future of Jiu-Jitsu: 

"O Jiu-Jitsu que criei foi para dar chance aos mais fracos enfrentarem os mais pesados e fortes.
E fez tanto sucesso, que resolveram fazer um Jiu-Jitsu de competição. Gostaria de deixar claro que sou a favor da prática esportiva e da preparação técnica de qualquer atleta, seja qual for sua especialidade. Além de boa alimentação, controle sexual e da abstenção de hábitos prejudiciais à saude. O problema consiste na criação de um Jiu-Jitsu competitivo com regras, tempo inadequado e que privilegia os mais treinados, fortes e pesados. O objetivo do Jiu-Jitsu é, principalmente, benificiar os mais fracos, que não tendo dotes físicos são inferiorizados. O meu Jiu-Jitsu é uma arte de autodefesa que não aceita certos regulamentos e tempo determinado. Essas são as razões pelas quais não posso, com minha presença, apoiar espetáculos, cujo efeito retrata um anti Jiu-Jitsu." 

"The Jiu-Jitsu that I created was designed to give the weak ones a chance to face the heavy and strong. It was so successful that they decided to create a sportive version of it. I would like to make it clear that of course I am in favor of the sportive practice and technical refinement of all athletes, whatever their specialty may be, as well as good nutrition, sexual control, avoidance of addictions and unhealthy habits. The problem lies in the creation of a sport-oriented Jiu-Jitsu, based on rules and time limits, which benefits the heavier, stronger, and more athletic individuals. The primary objective of Jiu-Jitsu is to empower the weak who, for not having the physical attributes, are often intimidated. My Jiu-Jitsu is an art of self-defense in which rules and time limits are unacceptable. These are the reasons for which I can't support events that reflect an anti Jiu-Jitsu." 

-Grand Master Helio Gracie (October 1, 1913 – January 29, 2009) 

www.gracieacademy.com

 

Following the teaching methods of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy was established in 1989 by Grand Master Rorion Gracie, to provide the most effective Jiu-Jitsu instruction in the world by giving students the elements to defend themselves as humanely as possible.

In 1993, when Rorion Gracie created the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), his vision was to show that for real street combat no other discipline is as effective as Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Due to the success of the Gracie style there are many grappling arts out there with many different names such as: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ju jitsu, Grappling, Submission Wrestling, Catch Wrestling and jui jitsu but they are all based on the same thing, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

You will witness the representatives of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as they demonstrate the art's unquestionable superiority over all styles of martial arts including: Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Judo, Wrestling, Shootfighting and even Sambo. The reason for the unprecedented success of the Gracie Family, and its representatives, is because the techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu do not rely on strength, speed or coordination.

The world famous Gracie Family stands as a shining example of the proven methods they teach, through the amazing successes of family members Royce Gracie, Rickson Gracie, and Royler Gracie in the no-holds-barred arena and the introduction of ground fighting into the training regimen of nearly every major martial art, military unit and law enforcement organization worldwide.

 

 

 



© Copyright 2009 educaciofisica.org


www.educaciofisica.com