MMA Remembers a Legend for His Lifetime of Contributions

Gracie. That’s all that needs to be said. That name commands our respect. If you don’t know you should ask somebody who does and take notes. That name is entwined with the very roots of the sport now known as Mixed Martial Arts, particularly the UFC. 

The history goes much deeper than MMA and the UFC though. 

The Gracie family not only played a pivotal role in the invention of the UFC, but perfected and displayed one of the most dominant fighting styles the world has ever seen.

While the roots of exactly how Jiu Jitsu came to be is blurred, one thing remains a fact. The Gracie family refined the art and went on to make it both more dangerous and  infamous. 

In 1914 Helio’s older brother Carlos witnessed traveling Judoka Mitsuyo Maeda in a Jiu Jitsu demonstration. He showed an interest, and was accepted as a student by Maeda, then went on to share with his brothers. 

At the time Helio was young and ill. He could not participate, but this did not prohibit him from learning and perfecting the techniques. 

Once he was well he and his brother went on to not only master, but improve upon basic Jiu Jitsu as they learned it.  Thus planting the seeds of what we now know as Brazilian or Gracie Jiu Jitsu. 

Helio’s brother Carlos issued the first Gracie Challenge in the 1920’s.  Simply put the Gracie Challenge entailed an offer to any fighter, of any discipline, to come test themselves and their style against Gracie Jiu Jitsu in a Vale Tudo match.

Vale Tudo (translated literally as allowed everything) is one of the earlier forms of MMA.  The Gracie Challenge set the very ground work for the UFC as we know it today.  The Gracie Challenge is the corner stone of the sport we have all grown to love and adore.

Today, most hardcore MMA  fans may remember Rorian Gracie as was the creator of the UFC in the spirit of the Gracie Challenge. Many more recognize Royce Gracie who made the sport and his families discipline famous in this era. Helio was their father. Helio taught them to be the men they became. 

It was Helios teachings and guidance the brought us one of the greatest fighters that early MMA ever saw. 

Royce Gracie taught us all that any man can win a fight against any odds with a little leverage and some heart. In essence it could be said that lesson was handed down to us by Royce but it was Helio that taught it originally.

Helio’s legacy started long before his sons injected the family name into the mainstream. He himself was an accomplished fighter as a young man, with many victories and defeats. Before his passing, Helio was the only 10th degree Grand Master of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

In his day of fighting, a fighter couldn’t count on Herb Dean to step in and protect them. In his day it was tap or be broken. History has told us that Gracie men do not approve of tapping. It is unacceptable. That family tradition has been displayed by both Royler and Renzo Gracie. 

Both were defeated by Kazushi Sakuraba by shoulder lock, both refused to tap. Renzo suffered a broken arm in his case and even pleaded to continue the fight afterwards.

This adamancy about protecting honor in the face of adversity, not submitting a lifetime of pride at the expense of a moment of pain started almost a century ago.  Helio led his pupils by example. 

There is an account of a match between Helio Gracie and a man known as Masahiko Kimura. These men met in 1955  for a Submission Judo match. This match saw Kimura dominate Gracie with repeated throws and finally gaining a shoulder lock.  Helio refused to tap. 

Kimura stated that he felt and heard bones breaking, but Helio never tapped regardless of repeated attempts to tighten  and wrench the hold deeper.   Helio’s corner had to throw in the towel. 

What discipline, what heart, simply amazing.  This heart and discipline was implemented, exercised, and expected throughout the Gracie family, all the way to modern times.

The legacy this man leaves in his wake has changed sport forever. It has cemented the Gracie name in time.  The boys he raised to become men set an example all fighters should aspire to. Pride, honor, discipline, and sheer machismo. 

They raised the bar of what a fight is, and how it is won for the entire world of combat sports. They did this under Helio’s tutelage, guidance, and examples.

We should all be so fortunate and driven to excel at something we love. We will be fortunate if our great great grandkids know, much less remember our names. Not only has this man ingrained his name in time but he has implemented a frame of mind, a discipline that transcends generations within his family, honor that will never waiver. 

Again all you have to say is Gracie, and anyone will recognize the legacy.  If they don’t know they probably would not understand if they did.  

He gave to his family and the world his gift of knowledge and discipline.  There is no MMA fight that takes place today that is not effected by the teachings of this man and his families legacy.  What this man had in his heart, and his mind, was shared and has blossomed into greatness that can never be denied or taken away from this family.

The MMA world has suffered a great loss today with the passing of Helio Gracie.  He lived a long, prosperous, legendary life. He died a prestigious master of the sport he learned and perfected so many years ago. Surely he left this world a proud and content man. We owe him our thanks and appreciation on this sad day. 

Deus te abençoe Helio, Obrigado! God Bless you Helio, Thank you!

Helio Gracie  Oct. 1, 1913-Jan. 29, 2009  R.I.P.

Todd is a staff writer for Inside Fights.  This article was originally published there.