ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie
"Become a Modern Samurai who fights for their own happiness."
Q: What about the possibility of producing a new mixed martial arts event?
Mixed Martial Arts is an extremely neutral stage where people who have learned different disciplines of martial arts come together to fight. I feel that it's very important to establish a place for that, and I wouldn't mind if that became one of my goals.
However, if the philosophy behind martial arts isn't included in a place like that it has no meaning.
Under the current conditions, I don't believe there are too many parents who would be pushing their children to train to enter mixed martial arts events.
When my family began to promote Vale Tudo in the United States for the world to see, it was a tournament to test and measure the most efficient style of martial arts.
Nowadays its not so much about the best martial art, but a competition to see who is the strongest person. And on the surface of all this we tend to see a clashing of strength rather than a technical battle between the opponents.
If I was able to present and spread the Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts I believe across the world, undertaking a project like that doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Q: Are there any current martial artists you have your eyes on?
I'm not going to bring up any specific names, but there are plenty of technical and talented fighters in Japan.
Unfortunately, the current state of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) with shorter rounds and time limits and clearly defined weight classes, the physical fighters are the ones making an impact.
Therefore there's no guarantee that the more technical fighter will end up on top.
This is what I mean by technique. Waiting for a chance to attack when your opponent makes a mistake without wasting any strength. When there is a time limit, that becomes impossible.
Therefore as long as the rules stay the same it will be rare to see a sequence of delicate and technical moves. For Japanese fighters I think that would be to their disadvantage.
Q: Speaking of Japanese fighters, it seems to this day there are many fans who would like to see you and Kazushi Sakuraba in the ring.
I have no inclination to fight anyone right now.
If I were to look back at the times before I was retired..... As long as the circumstances were right, it would have been right to settle the score with Sakuraba, a guy who had beaten many Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighters.
Up Next Part 4-E: "Regardless of age, sex, or occupation, everyone is fighting a daily battle of many problems, grief, or fears. I want them to win those battles."
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=4
Translation by:
Eliot Kelly
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-C
ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie. "Become a Modern Samurai and fight for your own happiness."
I would first like to spread Jiu-Jitsu to everyone as the art of self-defense and then would like to host tournaments in different countries.
Regardless of whether you are a competitor or not, I would like to initially spread Jiu-Jitsu to everyone in the form of something that would benefit your everyday life and contribute to your health and well being.
Q: Do you have the feeling that Jiu-Jitsu is being successfully spread around the world?
It's spreading at a very rapid pace. It's spreading so fast that I think it might be spreading at the fastest rate out of all the other martial arts.
Currently, Mixed Martial Artists need to be training in some form of Jiu-Jitsu. The presence of Jiu-Jitsu is becoming larger and larger.
Q: What does it mean when your students and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu participates in MMA match ups?
As a result of teaching, my students might choose to enter those events. However, I'm not training people to become, nor do I have an interest in training people to become Mixed Martial Artists.
As I said before, I think the current state of Mixed Martial Arts is only interested in the competition aspects and as a result, the good parts of martial arts has fallen off.
In the past, I've tried to display the strength an power of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with my fights.
However, the goal of all martial arts should be to promote and nurture a better society. Just being excited and entertained by the shows and events are not enough.
That's why I don't train my students to have the ultimate goal of fighting at my dojo.
Up Next (Part 4-D): "There are a lot of fighters in Japan with talent and skill."
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=3
Translation by:
Eliot Kelly
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie. "Become a Modern Samurai and fight for your own happiness."
 |
| "I'm not training people to become, not do I have an interest in training people to become Mixed Martial Artists" |
Regardless of whether you are a competitor or not, I would like to initially spread Jiu-Jitsu to everyone in the form of something that would benefit your everyday life and contribute to your health and well being.
Q: Do you have the feeling that Jiu-Jitsu is being successfully spread around the world?
It's spreading at a very rapid pace. It's spreading so fast that I think it might be spreading at the fastest rate out of all the other martial arts.
Currently, Mixed Martial Artists need to be training in some form of Jiu-Jitsu. The presence of Jiu-Jitsu is becoming larger and larger.
Q: What does it mean when your students and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu participates in MMA match ups?
As a result of teaching, my students might choose to enter those events. However, I'm not training people to become, nor do I have an interest in training people to become Mixed Martial Artists.
As I said before, I think the current state of Mixed Martial Arts is only interested in the competition aspects and as a result, the good parts of martial arts has fallen off.
In the past, I've tried to display the strength an power of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu with my fights.
However, the goal of all martial arts should be to promote and nurture a better society. Just being excited and entertained by the shows and events are not enough.
That's why I don't train my students to have the ultimate goal of fighting at my dojo.
Up Next (Part 4-D): "There are a lot of fighters in Japan with talent and skill."
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=3
Translation by:
Eliot Kelly
Eliot Kelly
"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt."
Friday, July 22, 2011
Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 4-B
ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview (Part 4) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie
Q: Tell us about the new organization you established and named, the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Japan.
It's an international organization with the purpose of broadening accurate Jiu-Jitsu knowledge. The organization also sponsors the "Rickson Gracie Cup International Tournament." This year, my son Kron is scheduled to compete in the tournament.
Right now, Jiu-Jitsu is continuing to develop at an international level. As Jiu-Jitsu gains the worlds interest, my cousin has organized a world championship that brings competitors from all over the globe. However, if you look at things objectively, you could say that the tournament hasn't quite become organized.
I didn't form a new federation with the intention of simply surrounding myself with other Jiu-Jitsu authorities.
I serve as the representative, but the purpose of the federation is to go around and promote Jiu-Jitsu tournaments regardless of affiliations. The purpose is to elevate the standards of all Jiu-Jitsu players regardless of where they got their black belt.
Q: So, even if they were your competitor you would welcome them?
Of course. To raise the value of an event, you need to host tournaments in places where television stations would become interested while gaining sponsorships. I'm always thinking about how the growth in our operations would lead to offering better services to tournament participants. However, it all boils down to being able to produce profits.
Starting with Japan, my plan is to hold the Rickson Cup in the United States, Brazil, and Europe.
It's a project where we anticipate growth, but I'm thinking if it brought in a hundred thousand dollars then seventy thousand of it would go back into project funds to pay for the staff and future development of this project.
Eventually I would like to implement uniforms for the referee, have a jumbo-tron, television sponsorship, a great event stadium, and a top of the line warm up area.
I plan to nurture an internationally renowned tournament where people say, "This is amazing! It's a tournament that really cares about the competitor. The facilities and services are perfect."
Up Next (Part 4C): "I have no interest in training people for Mixed Martial Arts"
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=2
Translation by:
Eliot Kelly
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview (Part 4) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie
Q: Tell us about the new organization you established and named, the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Japan.
It's an international organization with the purpose of broadening accurate Jiu-Jitsu knowledge. The organization also sponsors the "Rickson Gracie Cup International Tournament." This year, my son Kron is scheduled to compete in the tournament.
 |
| "Starting with Japan, my plan is to hold the Rickson Cup in the United States, Brazil, and Europe." Photo by Takahiro Kohara |
I didn't form a new federation with the intention of simply surrounding myself with other Jiu-Jitsu authorities.
I serve as the representative, but the purpose of the federation is to go around and promote Jiu-Jitsu tournaments regardless of affiliations. The purpose is to elevate the standards of all Jiu-Jitsu players regardless of where they got their black belt.
Q: So, even if they were your competitor you would welcome them?
Of course. To raise the value of an event, you need to host tournaments in places where television stations would become interested while gaining sponsorships. I'm always thinking about how the growth in our operations would lead to offering better services to tournament participants. However, it all boils down to being able to produce profits.
Starting with Japan, my plan is to hold the Rickson Cup in the United States, Brazil, and Europe.
It's a project where we anticipate growth, but I'm thinking if it brought in a hundred thousand dollars then seventy thousand of it would go back into project funds to pay for the staff and future development of this project.
Eventually I would like to implement uniforms for the referee, have a jumbo-tron, television sponsorship, a great event stadium, and a top of the line warm up area.
I plan to nurture an internationally renowned tournament where people say, "This is amazing! It's a tournament that really cares about the competitor. The facilities and services are perfect."
Up Next (Part 4C): "I have no interest in training people for Mixed Martial Arts"
Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9711?page=2
Translation by:
Eliot Kelly
Eliot Kelly
"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"
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