About Helio Gracie
Brazilian martial artist Hélio Gracie, who lived from October 1, 1913, to January 29, 2009, is thought to have had a net worth of $55 million. With his brothers Oswaldo, Gastao Jr, George, and Carlos Gracie, Gracie invented and developed the self-defense martial art style known as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). Great martial artists and combatants frequently come from backgrounds that people wouldn’t typically assume.
The inventor of judo, Jigoro Kano, was a bit of a sickly child. The same is true of Morihei Ueshiba, the man who created aikido. Well, in the 1920s, there was once a somewhat fragile youngster wandering the streets of Brazil who eventually became the creator of what is likely the most skillful martial arts system ever. The art Helio Gracie created while still a teenager is known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
In 1997, the American martial arts magazine Black Belt named Helio Gracie Man of the Year.
Helio, a 10th degree red belt, is regarded as one of the greatest BJJ practitioners to have ever lived.
Lifespan and Birthdate: Helio Gracie was born in Belem do Para, Brazil, on October 1, 1913. He passed away naturally on January 29, 2009, in Petropolis, Brazil. He was practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ten days before he passed away, which made him somewhat of an outlier.
Beginnings of martial arts
The story actually begins in Japan with Mitsuyo Maeda, a Kodokan Judo master (at the time, many still used the terms judo and jujutsu nearly interchangeably). Maeda visited Gastao Gracie of Brazil in 1914 and stayed with him. Few easterners have ever taught anyone in the west the art of judo, but when Gracie assisted Maeda with business in the region, Maeda did just that. He taught Carlos, Gastao’s eldest son, the judo technique. In turn, Carlos instructed the family’s other kids, notably Helio, the youngest and smallest of his brothers. Unfortunately, Helio had some health issues and was first prohibited from taking part in class activities.
From a sickly teacher to a creative one
For health concerns, Helio did not engage in physical training like his brothers did, but he was reportedly an expert observer. This was further supported when Mario Brandt, the director of a Brazilian bank, showed up one day for a private lesson at the Rio-based Gracie Academy. The scheduled instructor, Carlos Gracie, was late. He offered to tutor the man since Helio was there. According to the legend, when Carlos did finally show there, the pupil reportedly wanted to keep talking to Helio. After Carlos gave his consent, Helio began to educate.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu evolved from Judo
Some of the Japanese style martial arts maneuvers did not work for Helio because they were often dependent on strength and he was really small (it is said he weighed 155 pounds at his heaviest). He started experimenting with leverage in various ways, which ultimately resulted to a completely new style of martial arts. Later, this technique was referred to as Gracie Jiu Jitsu or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
introducing MMA and BJJ in America
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, a complete combat fighting organization in America that made its debut on November 12, 1993, was co-founded by Helio’s son Rorion. The first member of the Gracie team to compete in their maiden tournament was Royce, Rorion’s brother. The 170-pound Royce defeated several larger opponents from different styles to win the UFC’s first single elimination combat competition, demonstrating the value of the craft his father created. Later, Royce won three of the first four UFC competitions. This served as both the beginnings of contemporary MMA and the introduction of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to America.
Home Life
Rickson, who is widely regarded as the best BJJ practitioner of all time, as well as Rorion, Relson, Royler, Roker, Royce, and Robin are all sons of Gracie. Rerika and Ricci, his daughters, complete his family.
Arrest
At the age of 19, Gracie assaulted Manoel Rufino dos Santos, a Luta Livre instructor (1932). He provided the following account of the incident to Playboy Magazine:
“My worst issue started 66 years ago, and I was involved in it. Manoel Rufino dos Santos, a well-known Brazilian fighter and former Luta Livre champion, declared that he would prove to the world that we Gracies were nothing. I responded to him there, at the Rio Tijuca Tennis Club. “I came to answer the declaration that you made.” I remarked when I arrived. He punched me, and I tossed him to the ground bleeding profusely and with two fractures in his head and a fractured clavicle. But what I did was a stupid thing. Today, I would never do that again.
Gracie received a two and a half-year prison term, but Brazilian President Getlio Vargas commuted the sentence.
Helio Gracie- Vale Tudo Fighter
Within Brazil’s Vale Tudo circuit, Gracie established a reputation for himself (full contact, unarmed combat events). He reportedly used an armlock to defeat boxer Antonio Portugal in just 30 seconds (1932). However, Masahiko Kimura, one of the greatest judokas of all time, was the opponent in the little Gracie’s most well-known match, which resulted in a defeat. Kimura was considerably heavier than Gracie. He said before the fight that Gracie should consider it a win if it lasted more than three minutes. Gracie endured a remarkable 13 minutes of the fight before Kimura sank in a reverse ude garami, despite taking his share of blows and being thrown numerous times (arm entanglement, a shoulderlock). When Gracie wouldn’t tap, his arm was broken. In commemoration of the technique and this battle, the reverse ude garami later came to be known as the Kimura.
Kimura invited Gracie to teach at his school after being so pleased with him.
Deathbed
Gracie passed away in 2009 in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, from natural causes. Helio Gracie Net’s net worth was $55 million at the time of his passing. His last words were: “I created a flag from the sport’s dignity. I oversee the name of my family with affection, steady nerves and blood.”
Helio Gracie’s Fight by Fight Record
- 1932: Defeated Antonio Portugal by armlock
- 1932: Draw with Takashi Namiki
- 1932: Draw with Fred Ebert
- 1934: Draw with Wladek Zbyszko
- 1934: Defeated Taro Miyake by choke
- 1935: Defeated Dudu by side kick to the spleen.
- 1935: Draw with Yassuiti Ono
- 1936: Draw with Takeo Yano
- 1936: Defeated Massagoichi by armlock
- 1936: Draw with Yassuiti Ono
- 1937: Defeated Erwin Klausner by armlock
- 1937: Defeated Espingarda
- 1950: Defeated Landulfo Caribe by choke
- 1950: Defeated Azevedo Maia by choke
- 1951: Draw with Kato
- 1951: Defeated Kato by choke
- 1951: Lost to Masahiko Kimura by Kimura lock
- 1955: Lost to Valdemar Santana by TKO (fight duration 3h 42min)
- 1967: Defeated Valdomiro dos Santos Ferreira by choke
