Rickson was diagnosed a couple of years ago with Parkinson’s.
“Gracie announced the Parkinson’s diagnosis earlier this year in a podcast interview with Kyra Gracie. Parkinson’s is a nervous-system disorder that causes vital nerve cells in the brain to die, cutting production of dopamine, a chemical that helps the brain control motor skills, causing tremors in the hands and diminishing the ability to move. Left untreated, people can be bedridden in 10 years. Life expectancy is reduced.”
“In July (2023), I meet Rickson Gracie at his academy in a Torrance, California, industrial park. It’s a spartan space with a training area and small office. Gracie is puttering around when I arrive. We settle into two chairs near the mats. It’s impossible not to notice the Parkinson’s as he sits across from me. His knee bounces as if he is entertaining a baby. His hand shakes. A constant tremor rolls through his body.”
Probably a conversation for him to have with Rener and Ryron.
The dilution is celebrity privates, social media self promotion, white belt classes and protectionism/politics in the gym.
One of the coach’s jobs when I started was to make sure people aren’t mollycoddled by insulating themselves from tough rolls. Not overbelting people because they stay in the shallow end of the pool and choosing favorites to promote.
Now it’s just a numbers game. The more people means more money and it ruined my gym in Maui. Took away training opportunities for upper belts because we have to have 5 nights of white belt shit. Coach gave them the early class at 5:30pm so if I wanted to train I’d have to wait to eat until 9pm after class was done after a whole day of work.
I could go on.
Rickson’s right in a way. And my gym was run by a 6th degree Rickson BB.
Kid Peligro said Rickson was the only Gracie he met that didn’t bother with the vegetarian diet. Also, wasn’t his mom an African servant that Helio was banging? He doesn’t have the skinny genetics the others have.
Rickson was one of the best of his time. I don’t know why he needs to put down modern BJJ practitioners. I don’t think he would beat them in no Gi with the leg locks, prime for prime.
I didn’t like how he used to bad mouth modern mma fighters but wouldn’t fight them
Rickson is pretty rigid about his beliefs and they come from Helio. He does not mince words. I certainly understand some of his points, but some are dated. When it comes to GJJ, he has a pretty big ego. ha
No BJJer of any level should take be too upset by what Rickson says, it’s not really personal. It doesn’t matter who it is, everyone can learn fine details of BJJ technique from him if they ever get the chance. Even the highest level BJJers of all time talk about it.
Things change over time and I think it’s a bunch of shit. And that’s why I watch old reruns of Magnum PI & Cheers instead of TikTok! I think Rickson would agree with that.
1st of all Sakuraba already smashed the gracies. Even a judoka beat the gracie godfather. And the other guy Hillbo used to talk about on the old forum that beat one of the gracies then they beat him with pipes,
There are millions of people completely dedicated to BJJ. Or atleast hundreds of thousands.
And what maybe 100 guys in the world actually trained in Catch Wrestling at a high level? I have no idea.
Not enough of a sample size. Its a dead art.
BJJ won. There are BJJ gyms everywhere. Some cities have them across the corners from each other.
As far as in MMA, for further proof, Wrestlers smash BJJ guys. There are no more high level BJJ guys tapping everyone.
Maia couldnt get past high level wrestlers. Ryan Hall couldnt. Gordon Ryan would get smashed in MMA by Bo Nickell who is relatively a beginner.
Being a BJJ specialist doesnt win you UFC belts anymore. Wrestling + submissions is superior.
I thought it was common knowledge already that the UFC was used as an advertisement for Gracie Jiu Jitsu - with matchups to their favor so their art wasnt exposed. It was then exposed in pride.
Im not the most knowledgable about this, but Im sure someone else here is.
