Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 3-C

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview(Part 3) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie
"Reasons for Retirement"

Until about 2007, I had every intention of stepping into the ring had something been able to be negotiated. Eventually, the decision was made that the likelihood of me fighting again was very little.

"I resolved to retire from a world that no longer fit me."
Photo by Takahiro Kohara

The world of Martial Arts had completely changed, and as multiple martial artists stepped up to take fights, the number of promotions had diminished. As a result, the possibility of working out another fight for me was getting smaller and smaller.

I decided it was time to retire from a world that was no longer appropriate for me.

I was undefeated and had become famous. However, I had passed up my last big opportunity to  take a fight that could have led to an enormous payday.

That fight could have completely changed my life.

But, just because you have money doesn't give you the ability to fly, so you just have to accept the situation you are in. I regained my footing and set up a new plan. Being reborn as the new me, I decided to start walking on my new path.

Life just keeps going on.

The effectiveness of "Visualization" confirmed by the Funaki fight

Q: I heard you realized the value of "Visualization" from what ended up being your last fight against Funaki Masakatsu.

Visualization is an essential tool for athletes. Obviously I use it for special events, but I would also visualize before regular matches.  Even if the fight ended in a different way, I would imagine every fight as though I was dreaming, ending every visualization with my hand being raised.

However, in my visualization I included getting dizzy or taking a heavy punch. I would have to guard myself and patiently wait until I recovered from being dizzy.
I always felt these type of visualization exercises were beneficial, and eventually an event took place that would confirm its effectiveness.

Q: And that was the battle against Funaki?

That's right. The fight against Funaki was sold out, and over forty thousand people packed Tokyo Dome. An estimated twenty million people viewed the televised fight.

Immediately following the beginning of the fight, both of us went down to the ground and Funaki started throwing heavy punches.

Funaki just kept dashing out punches without being in a really good position. He was wearing MMA gloves with his thumbs exposed, and some part of the leather that was sticking out hit my eye. You wouldn't really say those were accurate punches, but my eye began to feel compressed and I was unable to see anything out of my eye.

Up Next (Part 3-D):
"Crap, I can't see. I can't stand up like this!"

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9643?page=3

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

www.edhbjj.com

"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 2-C

Article Translation:

400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview (part 2) with Legendary Martial Artist: Rickson Gracie 

"What Present Day Martial Arts has Lost."


- How do you see the world of Martial Arts expanding in the future?  What is the stance of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu on all this?

Rickson: Unfortunately this trend will continue for a while. Hundreds and thousands of people are thinking they want to watch two men slug it out, so there is no reason for things not to become popular. As a result, the money moving behind the sport will continue to grow.

"I would like people to learn Jiu-Jitsu, just as
they would learn the piano or the violin."
Photo by Takahiro Kohara

I have always fought for the sake of showing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie Technique. I have never adapted other types of Martial Arts into my training to win fights.

If one day my son Kron decides to participate in one of these events I would like for him to fight as a representative of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

It wouldn't be to entertain the audience anticipating to see a flutter of jumps, punches, or kicks. I am positive that Kron would enter the ring to use the power of jiu-jitsu he has acquired to neutralize an opponent influenced by another form of martial arts.

Jiu-Jitsu is the "art of becoming a person that won't lose."

- There isn't a chance for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to be swallowed up by Mixed Martial Arts?

Rickson: At this moment, there is no mistake in saying that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is at the center of martial arts, and is the most practical form of martial arts. I am sure Gracie Jiu-Jitsu will continue to be what it is, and will it's style and purpose will continue to be a great aid to many fighters.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has spread all over the globe, but I personally don't feel mesmerized at all by the present state of Mixed Martial Arts.

My Goal is to strengthen Jiu-Jitsu and bring it back to the forefront. I would like to respond to our society's greater needs with the power of Jiu-Jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu has the ability to change your life and expand an individual's ability. Confidence, self-esteem, and a tranquil spirit is born as a result of Jiu-Jitsu. Traditional elements of martial arts such as respect, honor, and discipline are acquired. These are all things I would like to show and teach to little children.

Rather than seeing people learn Jiu-Jitsu to beat other martial artists, I would be happier to see children doing Jiu-Jitsu and improving their self-confidence while living a better balanced life.

That's why I would like people to learn Jiu-Jitsu, just as they would learn the piano or the violin.

Up Next (Part 2-D):
I guarantee those I teach Jiu-Jitsu to will become invincible.

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9562?page=3

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu
"Read, Share, Train, Adapt"

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 2-A

Article Translation:

400 Undefeated Fights! The legendary Martial Artist
Rickson Gracie Special Interview (2)
"What has been Lost in Present Day Martial Arts"
An interview with Rickson Gracie brought to you in a four part series. In part two, we will find out what the legendary Martial Artist thinks about the current state of Martial Arts as well as his commentary on what Jiu-Jitsu means.

Q: In part one we heard your thoughts on the "Japanese people," what are your thoughts on the current state of Martial Arts ?

Rickson Gracie
Born: Nov. 21, 1959
Country: Brazil
Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner

Rickson: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) originated as a battle ground for a variety of different Martial Arts. The reason my brother put together the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) was to prove that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was the most dominant form of Martial Arts.

As these types of fight promotions continued to move forward, fighters began to take on a comprehensive approach to training. Fighters well versed in striking began to develop their grappling skills, and fighters well versed in grappling began to improve their striking skills.

Much of Martial Arts has followed this trend, and these days everyone seems to have the same style of fighting. As a result of intertwining all these styles of martial arts and techniques, the most important element has become the fighter himself.

Q: Ultimately it comes down to how good the individual is, right?
Rickson: Exactly. Mixed Martial Arts has become the ultimate new sport. Limitations on movement, rules, regulations, and technique don't seem as restricted as in the past. Therefore, it's a battle to see how strong the individual can become.

The match is decided by these elements; How strong you are, how resilient you are, how fast you are, and how efficient you are.

Mixed Martial Arts has come down the defining the individual. I say this because no one is capable of learning all these skills within different disciplines of Martial Arts.

Up Next Part (2-B): "Being a Fighter, the Beauty of Hand-to-Hand Combat and the artistic nature has completely changed."



Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9562

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly 

www.edhbjj.com

"Read, Learn, Share, Train"

Fundamental Jiu-Jitsu Lessons from My Cat (Part 1)

I used to think cats were the laziest and most boring pets to own, but recently realized I was just never around long enough to appreciate their unique characteristics. In the last year my wife and I have acquired 2 cats, and it has been enlightening to see them play and roll around with each other. In my opinion, it sometimes looks like a simplified application of no-holds-barred Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Recently I have found myself observing my cats with a keen eye, hoping it would somehow enhance my awareness on the mat. Here are three very dominant traits that I have noticed from my cats, Maru (the runt of a litter born near our apartment), and Tomo (a tomboy adopted from the SPCA).

The first trait would be my cats’ ability to establish a solid guard. While observing my cat in the guard, I noticed how the back of the head was off the ground, the feet were up and positioned between the bodies, and the limbs were used to test the balance and posture of the other cat. Rather than keeping the back flat on the floor, the cat would roll from shoulder to shoulder and post up on an elbow (or whatever joint that could be comparable to an elbow) when there was a small gap between the two. When the cat on top would make a move, it forced the other to reposition in guard using a hip-escape.

The second trait would be the hip-escape. Also known as shrimp-ing, this action is one of the fundamental movements in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Not only is it an essential movement when trying to move and position your body on the mat, but it’s also an essential action to create or take away space. Whenever it looked as though the cat on top was positioned a little out to the side, the cat in guard would casually push off the ground to distance the hips in order to maintain a position where their bodies were facing one another. Within this display of Jiu-Jitsu movements, I realized flexibility was a key factor allowing for the action.

The third trait would be flexibility within the back and hips. Although I have never seen my cats do the butterfly stretch, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have any problem doing so. Their flexibility allowed them to move freely and maximize the use of their body without strain or discomfort. They have also shown me the ability to curl into the smallest ball or arch backwards into a semi-circle.

Although it may be a little silly to compare cat’s play with Martial Arts, we should realize the movements we are acquiring follow principles that exist in nature. The movements we train our bodies to do instinctively “make sense” in nature and therefore are practical and applicable. We are essentially re-teaching our bodies to do what we have untaught ourselves. What tied all of these traits together were Maru and Tomo’s ability to adjust their speed and balance, maintain an element of surprise, and stay relaxed all while having fun.

Eliot Kelly
www.edhbjj.com