Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 3-B

ARTICLE TRANSLATION:
400 Undefeated Fights! A Special Interview (Part 3) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie 
"On why he stopped fighting"

-- Retirement was decided because "there was nothing left to prove."

Q: Spending time with your family was more of a priority than your fights, right?

Even if devoting myself in training would have been the best way to overcome my grief, I couldn't allow myself to only be thinking about me, or to not be face to face with my family.

"Unfortunately, there were no longer any fights I
thought I would like to do."
Photo by Takahiro Kohara

I passed up an opportunity that was never again, and the fighter that I was supposed to take on at one of the most premiere promotions, lost in another fight that took place shortly after. Having lowered his popularity, the charm in having me fight him was lowered. Meanwhile, two years passed while I waited for another opportunity, and I gradually began to close myself off.

My hormone levels had gone down, and my testosterone levels had significantly declined.

While my family and I were regaining our footing, my golden ages had slowly rolled on by.  By the time I looked up, they had completely disappeared.

Q: Is that around the time you decided to retire?

No, even then I was still waiting for the next opportunity. I was thinking it wouldn't have mattered even if the terms behind the fight were not as good as the one before.

However, I didn't want to stand in the ring for the sake of just pleasing the promoters or fans.

I wanted to take on a fight that was appropriate for me. However, unfortunately, there were no longer any fights I thought I would like to do. The only thing I heard from people were about talks of marketing related strategies or business expansion.

Q: So, Rickson Gracie won't stand in the ring again?

Ya, I don't have any intention of taking another professional fight.

Right now for me, there is nothing I have to prove to myself. The fact that a right offer at the right time didn't come along is one reason, but there's also the fact that it's harder to maintain my best physical condition because of my age and the intense training I've put myself through.

Up Next Part 3-C:
I realized the effectiveness of "Visualization" from the Funaki fight

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9643?page=2

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ

"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt."

Rickson Gracie Article Translated: Part 3-A

Article Translation:
400 Undefeated Fights! Special Interview(3) with Legendary Martial Artist Rickson Gracie. "The reason for retirement"

Rickson Gracie
Born: November,  21. 1959
From: Brazil
Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner
Photo by Takahiro Kohara

Q: Rickson, could you tell us how you started thinking about retirement?

Rickson: In February of 2006, eight months after my fight in Tokyo Dome against Funaki, my first born son passed away. 

Within three weeks of my son's passing, I was offered another fight. Had this fight taken place, it certainly would have been the best fight of my career, since the proposed terms of the fight were unmatched.

However, those talks took place too soon after the passing of my son. I couldn't accept anything offer no matter how good it was.

I certainly could have "dedicate the win to Rockson," and justified my actions. Doing so probably would added fuel to my desire to get stronger.

However, if I was always prepping for my fight by "going to go train" or "going for a swim," for the 8 months leading up to my fight, I would have grown distant from my family. For example, I wouldn't have had the time to be close to my family to talk while dropping and picking everyone one up from school.

How much we wanted to see Rockson. If Rockson was in heaven, how happy he was up there. I would have lost the opportunity to have those conversations, to look back and be reminiscent of the many little memories we shared. 

Coming Next:

Part (3-b) The reason I decided to retire was because  "I had nothing left to prove."

Article Source:
http://diamond.jp/articles/-/9643

Translation by:
Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills BJJ
"Learn, Share, Train, Adapt"