RANDOM THOUGHTS WITH RICKSON GRACIE

RICKSON GRACIE IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE BEST OF THE BEST IN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, BUT HE’S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. HE’S A WARRIOR, A PHILOSOPHER, A THINKER, AN INSPIRATION AND A ROLE MODEL. WHICH IS WHY WE’RE PRESENTING THESE GLIMPSES OF THE MAN THAT NOT MANY BLACK BELT READERS HAVE SEEN.

- ROBERT W. YOUNG

The Water

“Whether it’s the ocean or a river, I always have to be on the water. Coming from Brazil, I’ve always been exposed to the ocean. I’ve been at the beach and surfing all my life. The most valuable thing I get from the ocean is at the energetic level. I truly believe we’re affected by the energy — maybe it’s the electromagnetic field. It’s not something we can sense at the physical or mental level; it’s at the energy level. Exposure to this makes me feel like my energy level is balanced. If I need more energy, I feel like I can get it at the ocean. If I feel stressed, I go there to relax. The feeling of equilibrium is beautiful.”

A Brazilian Thing

“I don’t think it’s necessarily a Brazilian thing. Brazilians like to stay at the coast because of the weather, the breeze, the marine layer, the fresh air. It’s so different from being in the high desert or the mountains. But for some Brazilians, they really like the contact with the ocean, which is relevant at that energetic level.”

Teaching Jiu-Jitsu

“I don’t think education should be based on fear. I never expose the student to a situation in which he has to feel afraid in order to succeed. With a growing knowledge of jiu-jitsu, you learn when to use different techniques and when to let it go.”

Gentle Art