Why Renzo Gracie Is A Martial Arts Legend
BJJ Royalty. Renzo Gracie goes up against Yuki Kondo in a battle of martial arts icons on 27 July!Manila | 27 July | LIVE and FREE on the ONE Super App: http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast | Tickets: http://bit.ly/onekings18
Posted by ONE Championship on Friday, July 20, 2018
The word ‘icon’ is thrown around a lot in the world of martial arts, but Renzo Gracie is exactly that.
A true legend, he is respected throughout the worlds of mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a pioneer, elite athlete, and fearless competitor. Now, he will show the world what he is capable of in ONE Championship.
As a member of his discipline’s founding family, he began his combat education before he could walk, and took his skills into a career that has lasted more than a quarter of a century.
Before he arrives at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, to take on Yuki Kondo on 27 July at ONE: REIGN OF KINGS, learn why his name is so respected across the globe.
BJJ From Birth
Few people come from a martial arts lineage like Gracie’s.
Renzo was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – the son of Grand Master Robson Gracie, a ninth-degree BJJ black belt, and the grandson of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie.
As a member of martial arts royalty, he started to learn his art before he could walk or talk.
“I begin learning from the moment that I was born, because every time my father played with me, he played like it was a jiu-jitsu move,” he says.
He began formal training aged 5, and as he grew older, he was taught by the dozens of black belts in his family. Two of his biggest influences were Rolls Gracie – known as the father of modern jiu-jitsu – and Carlos Gracie Jr, who awarded him his black belt.
“To grow up among the amazing people in my family was like growing up with your superheroes,” he says.
“Most kids have comics or watch cartoons to choose their heroes, but I had them inside my house. I saw my father fighting my grandfather, and my uncle fighting my older brother. It was an amazing experience, and it was easy to become a fighter.”
Becoming A Legend
BJJ means everything to Renzo Gracie.
BJJ means everything to Renzo Gracie.Manila | 27 July | LIVE and FREE on the ONE Super App: http://bit.ly/ONESuperApp | TV: Check local listings for global broadcast | Tickets: http://bit.ly/onekings18
Posted by ONE Championship on Sunday, July 22, 2018
When Gracie began to compete as a professional mixed martial artist, he developed a reputation as a warrior who would take on any challenge.
He saw his career as a way to extend the history of his family, rather than achieve personal glory, and took on far larger opponents to show that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the ultimate martial art. He defeated several heavyweights by knockout and submission.
The New Jersey resident also took his skills to pure BJJ competition, and proved his mastery as a two-time ADCC Grappling World Champion.
He is now also known for the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City, USA, which is regarded as one of the best gyms in the world, as well as its many affiliates all over the planet.
It has produced countless world-class athletes and coaches, but Gracie is proud of his influence on all of his students.
“I think this is the greatest gift martial arts gave me – to give to others,” he explains. “I think the most positive thing that comes from martial arts is the opportunity is to open a door that will touch students’ souls, change them as human beings, and make them better.
“People talk about how sports can change people’s lives. Martial arts can change them 10 times faster, and 10 times more efficiently.”
Coping With His Greatest Loss
Despite being known for his ability to persevere through adversity, there was one time in his life when Gracie was almost defeated.
Throughout his life, he had been by his younger brother Ryan’s side – growing up together, training with him, and serving as his cornerman when he competed.
After his untimely death in 2007, Gracie was crushed.
“I didn’t train for three years right after my brother’s death. I really stopped training – I wouldn’t do a push-up.
“He was such a talented guy – 10 times more powerful than I am. I was the one who raised him, who trained him, who taught him.”
He was saved from despair by the chance to compete in the cage again. Even though he would turn 42 before the bout, he roused himself from the depths of despair to begin his preparation.
He had to lose more than 20 kilograms to make weight, but he made it back to compete under the lights once again. Now, instead of mourning his brother, he uses his memory as a source of inspiration.
“My way is to sit back, relieve all those amazing memories I had with him, and realize that our lives cannot be measured by the time that we live. Our life has to be measured by the intensity we live – and nobody could outlive my brother,” he says.
“He outlived all of us. Even though he died at 33, he probably will outdo any ordinary 85-year-old.”
Age Is Just A Number
Renzo Gracie is now 51 years old, but he still shows no sign of stopping.
He has fought a who’s who of mixed martial arts from around the world, but there is something he wants to cross off his list – to compete in The Home of Martial Arts.
“It’s an amazing company. ONE makes one of the best shows in the world. That’s why I’m feeling so privileged to be fighting in ONE, and in Manila,” he says.
His main-card contest will see the legend face another legend in the form of Yuki Kondo. As a three-division King Of Pancrase and a veteran of more than 100 bouts, Kondo is one of the most successful and experienced mixed martial artists who has ever lived.
Gracie can’t wait for the challenge, for many reasons.
“I honestly think the biggest challenge I’m going to have is my next fight.
“It’s not because I think my opponent is someone out of this world. It’s because it’s going to be something new. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“The only thing that I know is that I’ll be a better man, I’ll be a better teacher, and I’ll be a better person in the sense of passing forward everything that I learn in there.”
