Rickson Gracie is one of the most accomplished jiu-jitsu fighters in the world and, along with half-brother Royce, helped bring jiu-jitsu to prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art that emphasizes stand up & ground fighting including submission holds.
But what’s the true essence of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu - its underlying philosophy? At El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu, we believe that Jiu Jitsu is much more than just a physical practice; it’s a journey that shapes us on and off the mat. One book that encapsulates this philosophy is Breathe: A Life in Flow by Rickson Gracie.
Rickson Gracie, a legendary figure in Jiu Jitsu, recounts his life from the intensity of his early training in Brazil to the global impact he had in popularizing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). While he achieved fame as an undefeated fighter, his journey wasn’t solely about competition.
One of the core messages in Breathe is the concept of flow-a balance between focus, calm, and control. For Rickson, this wasn’t limited to Jiu Jitsu techniques; it extended to his entire life. He discusses how understanding breathing and the ability to stay calm under pressure allowed him to manage high-stress situations, whether in a tournament or in life’s challenges.
In addition to teaching readers about technical aspects of Jiu Jitsu, Breathe delves into the resilience needed to overcome obstacles, both physical and emotional. Rickson’s journey is filled with personal challenges, but he faced each one with humility and a commitment to growth. For Rickson, Jiu Jitsu was more than a family tradition; it became his purpose and path to personal evolution.
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Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your Jiu Jitsu journey, Breathe offers insights into the mental, spiritual, and physical aspects of the art. Next time you step onto the mat, think about Rickson’s journey and how it applies to your own.
In the history of mankind, many brilliant artists have pursued the fluid state when creating and working. This, of course, does not exclude the great martial artists. Flowing, in BJJ, means to roll on autopilot, with body and mind responding almost unconsciously to the opponent’s attack, thanks to an almost sensorial connection between you and your partner, or between you and their moves.
Those who are able to capture this connection will be capable of flowing. And then, at last, you will fight as if you’ve let your instinct do the driving as you ride shotgun and enjoy the wind in your face, almost startled by all that’s going on. To Master Rickson Gracie, reaching this fluid state comes with time and the sensibility of a student, who will slowly become able to execute almost magical transitions, as beautiful as a composer creating a symphony.
That’s when your mind appears to be in a trance, with no need to think about what’s coming or to try to anticipate anything; you just act -- and flow with the go.
Asked one day about how one can learn once and for all this central concept to Rickson’s philosophy, the master summed it up with his usual wisdom:
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“You need to educate your reflexes, and that comes with practice. You can read tens of jiu-jitsu books, but be aware that not even all the theory in the world contained within your brain will translate into efficiency in the critical moment, when you need to save yourself from a confrontation.
A practical breathing lesson with Rickson Gracie
Key Elements of Rickson Gracie's Approach
Among the luminaries of this martial art , Rickson Gracie stands out not just for his formidable record but also for his unique teaching methods that have significantly influenced the practice and philosophy of Jiu-Jitsu . Central to Rickson Gracie’s approach are the development of reflexes, connection, and base. Let's delve deeper into each of these aspects:
Reflexes
In Jiu-Jitsu, reflexes are crucial. Rickson emphasizes the importance of repetitive drills. These drills ingrained the fundamental movements into muscle memory, ensuring that reactions become instinctual.
- Repetitive Drilling: Rickson emphasizes the importance of repetitive drills.
- Flow Rolling: Unlike competitive rolling, flow rolling involves a less intense, more fluid exchange of techniques between partners.
- Positional Sparring: Starting from specific positions, such as mount or guard, helps practitioners focus on responses pertinent to those situations.
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Connection
Invisible Jiu-Jitsu: This concept involves subtle adjustments and techniques that are not immediately apparent. Rickson teaches how small changes in weight distribution, pressure, and grip can dramatically improve control and connection.
- Breathing Techniques: Rickson is well-known for his emphasis on breathing. Controlled breathing helps practitioners stay calm and focused, enhancing their ability to feel and respond to their opponent’s movements.
- Invisible Jiu-Jitsu: This concept involves subtle adjustments and techniques that are not immediately apparent.
- Energy Drills: Energy drills are designed to develop sensitivity to an opponent’s force and direction.
Base
A strong base in Jiu-Jitsu means having stable, balanced positioning that is difficult for an opponent to disrupt.
- Core Stability Exercises: Rickson incorporates exercises that build core strength and stability, crucial for maintaining a solid base.
- Balance Drills: Drills that challenge a practitioner’s balance help in developing a strong base.
- Pressure Application: Learning how to apply and distribute pressure correctly is key to maintaining a strong base.
Integrated Training
Rickson Gracie’s methodology doesn’t treat reflexes, connection, and base as isolated skills.
- Scenario Training: Rickson often uses scenario-based training where practitioners must maintain a strong base, stay connected, and react with appropriate techniques in dynamic situations.
- Mindfulness and Flow: By promoting a mindful approach to training, Rickson encourages practitioners to stay present and aware during practice.
- Feedback and Adjustments: Constant feedback and micro-adjustments during training sessions are a hallmark of Rickson’s teaching.
Rickson Gracie on Vale Tudo and Mental Fortitude
Unlike UFC matches or jiu-jitsu tournaments, vale tudo fights are competitions between different styles where anything goes. There are no weight classes, no time limits, and virtually no rules. As Rickson said in an appearance on James Smith’s podcast shortly after the publication of his biography (Breathe: A Life in Flow), vale tudo fighting requires a different mentality than when your opponent is another is another jiu-jitsu fighter. While all martial arts matches require some amount of improvisation, the range of potential attacks that you have to defend against is far wider in vale tudo than when you are in a jiu-jitsu tournament.
During the interview, James, who is a purple belt based in London, mentions how Jocko Willink’s forward to the book brings up the idea of jiu-jitsu can become a superpower. A lot of people who are new to jiu-jitsu may think the same way. Rickson notes that the perception of jiu-jitsu as a superpower comes from the fact that you’re not fighting with aggression, raw strength, and explosivity. You’re fighting to survive using leverage and angles.
“You want to be kind enough to submit him without violent aggressiveness-punches, elbows, kicks-so that you can easily, in a very gentle way, choke him out and put him to sleep and control the situation with much more peace in your heart,” Rickson said.
This may seem like semantics at its worst, but Rickson’s point is that everyone loses. “When you lose, the feeling of losing is traumatic. But you have to have two different mentalities after that experience.” The first is to dust yourself off, stand up, fix your mistake, and fight again. The second is to accept that you can’t win, which is the end of the road. “It’s a statement which you cancel any further strategies because you feel like you’re defeated,” Rickson said.
Although it’s rarely seen anywhere outside of SAT exams, the word “indomitable” captures the essence of what Rickson is saying. And it encapsulates what every jiu-jitsu fighter should strive to be. It comes from the Latin word domare, which is closely related to the word “dominate” or “domesticate,” and was used to refer to a passive animal. In other words, it’s a tamed animal. To indomitable means the opposite. What that means for your jiu-jitsu is not taking a loss to mean defeat. No one should be proud of getting tapped in under a minute at their first tournament. However, if you continue to train and to ready yourself for the next tournament, that is being indomitable.
Rickson also compares the words “passive” and “patience,” noting that the former is a defect and a weakness, whereas the latter is a virtue. The passive person is one who does not take opportunities when they present themselves either because of a lack of will power or bad timing.
Conclusion
Rickson Gracie’s teaching methods offer a comprehensive approach to mastering the fundamental aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By focusing on developing reflexes, connection, and base, practitioners can build a solid foundation that enhances their overall effectiveness on the mat. Through repetitive drilling, flow rolling, breathing techniques, energy drills, core stability exercises, and scenario-based training, Rickson’s methods ensure a holistic and integrated development of these essential skills.