Master Rickson Talks about his worst fight in the rings
More at: rickson.academy
April 25, 1980 is an important date in the history of martial arts in general, and jiu-jitsu in particular. That was when Rickson Gracie, then a young man with talent for BJJ and a passion for surfing, owner of a pretty new black belt, tested himself for the first time in a no-rules duel in a ring in Brasília.
The lessons that 19-year-old was about to learn in the Brazilian capital would change his life forever, and would be branded on his mind as by a hot iron.
Rickson's opponent was heavier, stronger and more experienced. Casimiro Martins, known as Rei Zulu ('King Zulu'), was a colossus of 32 years, 1.9m, about 100kg and only one loss in his career of over 100 vale-tudo matches. Rickson was prepared for his biggest challenge. But how he would come down from the ring was a different story.
The fight lasted 11 minutes and 55 seconds. Rickson remembers: "Around the start of the fight, I threw a very powerful knee that caught him squarely in the face. I had never hit anybody that hard, and in that moment I thought, 'Bullseye - I win'. It seemed impossible for someone to resist a big knee strike like that. But Zulu shook his cheeks, spat out a tooth and came charging."
Rickson ended the first ten-minute round exhausted, bereft of strength. He thought of giving up, but his father Helio and brother Rolls pushed him back in, with a bucket of ice to the head and some efficacious words. Rickson took a breath and returned.
"After going to his back and finishing, I learned perhaps the greatest lesson of my life. I realized that our biggest opponent, the most powerful enemy of all of us, is inside our mind. If it were up to me, I would have stayed seated on that stool in the break. And, starting that day, I promised that I would never feed enemies in my own head, and that I would never give up when my head ordered me to. And that dying would be more acceptable than retreating."
Learning became part of his essence, and nowadays Rickson endeavors to teach students a jiu-jitsu focused exactly on this: refusing to retreat or hesitate in the face of a great challenge. Creating enemies inside your mind means going against jiu-jitsu.
"To beat a great challenge, and they occur daily in the life of any person, it is mandatory that you not be divided in two - that is, your heart ready to confront the problem and your mind in doubt, walking backwards,” he says. “Daily, with daily practice of good old jiu-jitsu, adequate breathing and good nutrition, you will see that your emotions and desires are in harmony, and you will be in control to make the best, and wisest, decision.”
Пікірлер: 75
I Trained under Rolls Brother. The late,Great Carlson Gracie. I met Rickson at that time. This was In 1997. Rickson,the Man,the Legend. Was also one of the most down to earth,kind and friendly human beings you can ever meet. Master Rickson,I wish you many blessed years of happiness,good health and peace of mind. Thank you 4 being so kind to a young kid. Who was just trying to find his way back in the day.
@johnsmith-wm9kp
5 ай бұрын
what,do,you,have against spaces after,commas?,?
@edwardrichard2561
5 ай бұрын
I watched a doc on Rolls. Very good and tragic life. That’s pretty cool. I got my daughter, nephew and niece into BJJ.
@jeffdj1975
5 ай бұрын
@@edwardrichard2561 where can I find that doc?
I am so proud of you Dear Grandmaster Rickson you were so young... and had to stand your man,,,, I admire you ! Mark from Germany
Dude is a mentor. I’m lucky enough to train directly under him in 2004, white to blue belt. His lessons on the mat carried over to my daily life.
The most amazing martial artist alive and one of the greatest martial artists of all times. A true legend from many points of view
Such a great story. Loved Breathe too!
Renzo n Rickson have lifted me up for so many years its hard to say i dont love them for that , i dont know what id be or if id be alive if not for the self defense renzo n rickson have shown ,not just figjting but self defense against my own mental enemy mi enemigo
Always a pleasure to see Master Rickson
@johnreidy2804
5 ай бұрын
You like him a lot huh?
@lechevalier745
5 ай бұрын
he is an example for me. Not only because he is the legend of bjj, he is also super wise. All the things he says about life are deep and true. @@johnreidy2804
Great video--truly. The man is fighter, teacher, and thinker--respect!!!
Grand Master Rickson is simply the Greatest .
Great story and great lesson. Thank you for sharing.
R.G. will always inspire and motivate every generation ! 🙇♂️
So well stated, from his heart and spirit, a great lesson for all of us. Thank you for this post and the use of the hall.
A powerful example that I’ll always remember and apply to my life.
Truly honorable fighter.
NEVER SURRENDER!!!!! Thx Rickson!!!!:)
Thanks for content
Master Rickson, Living Legend.
Awesome Rickson! that a great lesson, the mind is your worst enemy. Oss!!
The mind of a champion...Forever Respect..."OSS"
This is so inspirational💯 And you take ur first fight at 19yo against man like Zulu, is pretty f**king impressive🔥🔥 Massive respect from Finland🇫🇮 I started jiu-jitsu 2.5 years ago because of you🥋 Thanks a lot for everything🙏🏻
Wise words from one of the last true masters in modern times. Sure there are many phenomenal athletes in combat sports but there are very few that encapsulate the totality of what makes a ‘master’ the way Rickson does. And I’m not even a BJJ practitioner-but I recognize a true master when I see one.
Rickson's physique in the Zulu fight made me want to do nothing but work out. I'm proud to say that my thighs are now as big as his forearms!
All modern mma fighters making a living from fighting owe this guy a thank you 👍
Zulu was brutal.
This fight was the greatest fight I have ever seen in my life....
Hero
Mestre Rickson, is there any video of this first fight with Zulu? It would be a true gift to the fans if we could see the fight.
A great role model
When the heart of a lion…they mean RIckson.
That weird thing/exercise Rickson does with his stomach impresses me. Kron Gracie can do it too! It looks like an alien or something swimming around inwards, outwards, and sideways in their stomachs. I've never seen anything like it.
I trained with Rickson’s father > Jiu Jitsu, master Hélio, Gracie > and even as an older gentleman, the master > Helio, Gracie did not cut us any slack from our poor performance in a cross town tournament with the Machado brothers students . The Machado brothers fighters were dominating us at our own Academy . And the master told us all what we did wrong, and how to correct our mistakes . This is the mindset of Gracie Jiu Jitsu. Exactly what Rickson said in this interview . The Gracie philosophy > During any fight, there are windows that open up for you as a fighter. You must understand these windows and use them appropriately.
Zulu declared in a interview this fight was a fix.
@turntablesrockmyworld9315
5 ай бұрын
Zulu was well-known on the Brazilian fight circuit to tell some tall tales and a large ego. He did have a looot of experience, though.
✊
The best
Thank god for that bucket of ice.
Brother Rickson, you are the greatest of all time. Speak slower English. Your stories in Portuguese are wonderful; If you speak slower English, the whole world will understand you better and your spirit will flow naturally in people's minds. A loving hug Carlos (CRTG)
Irmão Rickson, vc é o maior de todos os tempos. Fale um inglês mais devagar. Tuas histórias em português são maravilhosas; se vc falar um inglês mais lento, o mundo todo irar te compreender melhor e teu espírito irá fluir naturalmente nas mentes das pessoas. Um abraço carinhoso Carlos (CRTG)
His worst fight is the fight with Kurasaba that he avoided
NO HOUNDCCCHHH NO HULESHHH !!!
Did they ever interview Zulu about this fight?? I want to hear his take
@chriswaldron843
2 ай бұрын
He only talks in clicks
Rickson Gracie is a BJJ legend. My only question is why didnt you fight Bas Rutten?
@HenryChinaski614
5 ай бұрын
Also, Sakuraba.
@SP-hs6bj
5 ай бұрын
@@HenryChinaski614his son died after the fight was signed.
@bulldogjoe1804
5 ай бұрын
@@HenryChinaski614 no Sakuraba was too young then.
Note to self, ice baths are real..
O que foi dito aqui, sem a sua família e Deus você é quase nada
In the rings ? you mean ring
Dad and Bro pushed him back🤣
La familia siempre ayuda, pero en este caso, sin ella, tendrías el mismo récord pero con 1 derrota 😱😎
@AnglandAlamehnaSwedish
5 ай бұрын
Nunca para haters odioitoas jajaja
@pedroiranzo3883
5 ай бұрын
@@AnglandAlamehnaSwedish Rickson quería avandonar después del 1er round vs Zulu, pero su familia (esquina) se lo impidió....¿sí o no?.
Ruas aguarda😂
against any cac fighter
macaco matou ryan gracie se voce mexece com macaco te voce ia chorar
@AnglandAlamehnaSwedish
5 ай бұрын
O que macaco en English sou Americano mi pai do Soa paulo mi Mai de Soa Miguel azoceres mas eu noa se comac diz monkey o macoc ,e drogas ?
Mas todo mundo tem tem direito de viver ate agora voce e o melhor porque o macaco pegou o ryan gracie e matou um mes depois que peguei um autografo com ele macaco te matava
@AnglandAlamehnaSwedish
5 ай бұрын
O que es Macao ? O que es monkey? Drogas?
@Charlessemmassagem
5 ай бұрын
Cuma?
Lost respect for you years ago when you refused to fight Sakuraba when he called you out after his fight. You gave an excuse but didn't hesitate to put your brothers and other family members to fight him. Your brother Royce I respect b/c, like Sakuraba, he fought anybody at any time and made no excuses.
@SP-hs6bj
5 ай бұрын
His son died… guess that isn’t good enough an excuse?
@Ash26Ken13
5 ай бұрын
@@SP-hs6bj Bullshit! The excuse he gave was that Sakuraba wouldn't go to the ground.
@tfajsh
Ай бұрын
Rickson Gracie doesn’t give one shit about whether you respect him or not, I promise.
@Ash26Ken13
Ай бұрын
@@tfajsh I don't give a shit whether he does or not. It doesn't change shit! You're someone who would eat his table scraps. Fuckouttahere with your weak promise 🤣
These clowns’ stories become more grandiose over time.
@SP-hs6bj
5 ай бұрын
Lol clowns. Have some respect.