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