MMA Worldwide

Royler Gracie: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a Lifestyle

Posted by Brett Atchley on the 29 June 2009 | View Comments

I sat down recently with Royler Gracie at a seminar he was holding just outside of Seattle, WA this past weekend. Royler was gracious enough to speak with me about his life currently and what his plans for the future are.

For those of you not familiar with Royler’s accomplishments and lineage here are the quick facts. His father is the late Helio Gracie who, with his family brought, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the United States almost two decades ago. His brothers, Rickson, Royce, and Robin are true icons of the art in their respective right. There are volumes of information and contributions about the Gracie family,their past and current presence in the development of Jiu-Jitsu domestically and internationally. 

Royler Gracie has competed as a black-belt for 20 years. He stands alone as the only person to win the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship three years in a row. Royler is also a four-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion in the under 67 kg Black Belt Division.

He has competed in MMA competition and holds a record of 5-4-1 and has fought with the likes of Kid Yamamoto, Genki Sudo, Kazushi Sakuraba,  and once fought for 33 minutes to win by submission against Yuhi Sano in the Pride organization in 1998.

Do you see Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu evolving in any manner or the last six or seven years to meet the techniques of what is now considered MMA?

Lets see, there are many ways to answer that question so let me say this; Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was founded by my father and uncle (Carlson Gracie) strictly as a form of defending ones self. My father was not a big man. He developed it Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to use against a much larger opponent’s weakness against him. It is very technical; it is a way of life for us. It is all my family knows from before we could even walk. When we came to the U.S. and proved what it could do against other styles then it had proven itself.  Now as you say, it has evolved through other practitioners and they cross-train with other forms of combat but, we have a very strong foundation that has proven successful, so from there we can train in boxing, muay-thai or whatever to add to our versatility.

What I’m hearing is that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has not changed in its techniques.

Why should it? It has always been there for one reason. Self-defense! It is used for that and when it is applied in those circumstances, there is none more effective in neutralizing a conflict. When we use it in competition then it is a little different. It is more technical. What takes most in the U.S. to learn in 10 years is already there for most Brazilians. We don’t have to think about what to do, it just comes to us in competition arenas. We don’t change, the opponent and situation is all that changes.

Do you see Jiu-Jitsu, growing here in the U.S.?

Oh yes, I am very surprised and impressed with its growth here. I think Jiu-Jitsu will be much more popular in the future than MMA.

What are your reasons for believing that?

Look, I have moved over here with my family for about a year now. I see very small children, little, tiny toddlers coming to the classes, instructions and seminars. Look over there; see those two little guys over there? They are 3 maybe 4 years of age, wearing beautiful gis and proud. They have their belts tied and worn correctly. Marcello Alonso who is here and has a black belt under my uncle Carlson and brought me here says the same. Parents bring the little kids to his academy in Seattle to learn.  It is beautiful. You don’t see that in a boxing, kick-boxing or MMA gym. We get the kids when they are so small. If they want to box…well, they start at 14 or 15 years of age most times. Everybody likes Jiu-Jitsu in America, for different reasons than in Brazil. It is good for Jiu-Jitsu. In Brazil it is a way of life, everybody is Jiu-Jitsu. Here in America, the people see that it is good for the mind, body and spirit. It is fun and a way for the family to be together.

You have a school in Brazil?

Yes, it is Gracie Humaita’ Academy in Rio de Janeiro. When I am there I have no time for anything. I’m in the academy all day and everyday. Here is better for family time. In Brazil, when the light goes out, I have to change it, or when the toilet paper run out, I put it in, teach class, clean up place. It’s all the time, but it’s what I live. My family build it and do the very best I can to make sure it remains strong. I was in Vancouver the other week and I was able to go on a bike ride along the park and water with my little girl. It was amazing, so good. I never have that to do in Brazil. It is better for us here.

Can we expect to see you fighting again in the future?

No, I think it is time in my life to leave that behind and do what I’m doing. That was a different time and it was a good time. It has all changed now. It’s hard to fight in competition. It is hard to get money and sponsors, I would like to fight in MMA though if the money is right. So you never know. The money makes everything right in fighting.

Do you see any MMA fighters now that you like to watch?

Yes, I like Damien Maia very much. Anderson Silva, GSP and Lyoto Machida are all very technical fighters. They hardly ever get hit. That is the name of the game in fighting. I also have great hope for Diego Sanchez. He is very good and getting better. I help him train with the gi. It is much different training with the gi. He wears the gi training and about 2 weeks before his fight we tell him to take it off. It is like a tiger being let out of the cage. When it’s no gi, it’s like freedom. You can move so easily and in better shape because of being held in by the gi. Diego impresses me very much; I think he will do very great things in MMA.

Where to next?

Back to San Diego, CA to spend some time with my wife and children. More bike riding. Spend a day with Marcello and see some of Seattle.

Thank you, Mr. Gracie.

It is Royler, call me that and we will see you another time maybe huh?