Rickson

[NHBMARK1]

Does anybody know what his status is?
Will he fight again, or is he retired now?

[falcon3624]

I had been looking for something on that. My instructor got his black belt back before he moved to the states. When he moved to the states he trained for several years with Rickson and has a purple belt with his school.

I have to say though if I had been in over 400 fights and won them all I think I would just call it quits.

I have never met Rickson but his style must be quite unreal because my instructor just trained with him for a few years and he is a awesome grappler.

[NHBMARK1]

I always assumed that was bulls***

We can maybe document, what 20 fights tops?
Are we counting dojo challenges here?

I hate to sound negative but you know, 400 fights? (no scars?)

Anybody know this fight history?

[falcon3624]

I don't know it. I know his first fight was when he was like 15 and he has got to be in his 30's now. I mean you have to think about how many times people have come to there school and challenged them.

About the thing with no scars I saw why one time. There was a video floating around with him taking a challenge against some karate master. The fight lasted all of about 10 seconds and the guy was in the triangle and tapping out.

[NHBMARK1]

Interesting.

Although I'm pretty sure he's early to mid 40's by now.

[falcon3624]

Yea, I don't know how old he is right now. I was just saying I figure he was probably in his late 30's.....

[NHBMARK1]

Aside from the fact (IMHO) there's no way he could have fought & won that many times, who did he ever fight of significance?

How would he do against a top guy, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Sakuraba?? ( for me that's the fight that that means the most, since Sak was the "Gracie killer"
Do you think he could beat Sakuraba?

Thoughts?

[falcon3624]

I myself don't think that Sak could have beat any of the gracies if it was not for the simple fact of the mind games. I mean when he fought Royce there were 3 Saks that came to the ring dancing around. He was trying to mind screw him from the begining and get him off his game and you could tell the Royce was not as focused as usual. I think he beat them in there minds before the fight ever began and then it was downhill. After he beat one of them it put the doubt into the rest of there minds. I mean if there was someone that you trained with all the time and you knew that you were close to each other in skill and they went out and lost to someone it would put the doubt in your mind that you could beat them. It's all mind games with Sak.

As far as Rickson fighting a big name fighter I would say that he could do it. I know that he has been challenged by some of the greatest fighters from every MA out there and beat them all. They also say that Rickson has some of the best technique and best form out of all the gracies and he is suppose to be the greatest Jiu-Jitsu guy out there right now.

[falcon3624]

Rickson (pronounced Hickson), son of Helio Gracie, was born into Jiu-Jitsu. At six years old he began competing; at fifteen he started to teach the art; and at eighteen he received his Black Belt. At twenty Rickson won his first awe-inspiring victory against the famous 230-pound Brazilian brawler Zulu who until that time had enjoyed a 140-match, undefeated record. With this victory, Rickson gained immediate national acclaim as the top free-style fighter, leaving his mark on the history of Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie challenge. Five years later Zulu requested a rematch and lost to Rickson again, in Maracanazinho before an audience of 20,000 spectators.

Rickson is a 7th Degree Black Belt Open Class Champion of the Gracie Family, whose technique is considered to be the finest expression of Jiu-Jitsu in the world. His innate talent and early mastery of the sport have resulted in an impeccable undefeated record in more than 400 fights, Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, free-style wrestling, Sambo, open weight free-style competitions, and no holds barred challenge matches. Rickson is a two time Brazilian Champion in free-style wrestling, a Gold Medal Winner of Sambo, and for the last sixteen years he has been the middle-heavyweight and no weight division World Jiu-Jitsu Champion. Most recently, he conquered Japan's elite fighting in a tournament, the Japan Open Vale Tudo, winning both in 1994 and 1995. At this time, Rickson was acknowledged by the Japanese for possessing the Samurai Spirit.

In the 1997 Pride 1 Vale Tudo match in Japan's Tokyo Dome (before 47,860 spectators), he defeated Japan's top ranked fighter, Nobuhiko Takada, in 4:47 of the first round. A year later, to the day, in the 1998 Pride 4 Vale Tudo match, Rickson defended his title. In the most awaited rematch in martial arts history, drawing an overwhelming 50,000 spectators to Japan's Tokyo Dome, Rickson defeated Takata once again. At Colosseum 2000, held at the Tokyo Dome, broadcast to 30 million TV Tokyo viewers (the highest viewed television program for its time slot), Rickson fought Japan's number one fighter, Masakatsu Funaki. He defeated his opponent with a rear naked choke in 11:46 of the first round.

Rickson has proven himself as accomplished a teacher as he is a competitor. He has been teaching his martial arts style for over 20 years and his array of students have included FBI Agents, SWAT Teams, Navy Seals, military personnel, martial artists of various styles, athletes and actors. His highly practical self-defense style is widely recognized as the superior martial art, for real-life situations.

Rickson Gracie established the Rickson Gracie International Jiu-Jitsu Association in 1996 in order to help unify the community of Jiu-Jitsu. Through the Association, the traditional, technical and philosophical aspects of Jiu-Jitsu are able to be shared with people around the world. Rickson presently competes in invitational tournaments and teaches on Special Tours and seminars as well as at the Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Center in West Los Angeles. Rickson's students credit his teachings with the achievement of great self confidence, heightened awareness, stress reduction, youthful vitality, increased physical energy, balance improvement and inner peace.

A modern day legend, Rickson Gracie has gained international acclaim for his leadership in disseminating the art and philosophy of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He espouses strong family values and a healthy life-style. He is the epitome of discipline, determination and sportsmanship.

[Old Fat Kenpoka]

Falcon: That was an excellent post. But...uh...don't you owe a copyright acknowledgement to Kid Peligro? That sounds like it came straight from the Gracie Way book.

[falcon3624]

Originally posted by Old Fat Kenpoka
Falcon: That was an excellent post. But...uh...don't you owe a copyright acknowledgement to Kid Peligro? That sounds like it came straight from the Gracie Way book.

Sorry, I did not feel like writing all that crap so I just copied it from there page. Saving time you know.....

[El Luchador]

It does Not include the Zulu Fights so it is not complete.
I Do Know He has 1 documented Loss in Sambo.

Rickson Is A good Fighter but i wish he would fight
a big Name Like Kerr,Colmen, Sak-a Shamrock
Nogera Would Be an interesting Fight.

[NHBMARK1]

For me, the fight that I'd guess that would mean the most ( you'd think anyway) would be against Sakuraba.
He'd have to beat him to get back that "Gracie honor"

These days Sakuraba is a behind the scenes guy now too, so I'd think he'd have power to get that fight made.

[El Luchador]

there is any dishonor in the loss's that happend
at the hands of Sak. They are Human.
Sak Was just the better man that night.
He has a Great Fight Game, Kicks & Strikes,Takedowns,Submissons,He Fights With his Heart & Soul.

I Belive Renzo's speeh at the end of the Fight said it the best.
And That Fight was not just good it was great & up untill the Time
of The of The Hammer Lock it was verry close.

Rickson Vs Sak would be a great Fight im Sure.
But a fight against Nog. Would Be The Battle of Ju Jitsu
And Would Be old School Vs New school.

[ill_proph]

I predict that he might fight a few more weak - mediocre opponents. I don't think he'd risk his current status as legend by fighting any real top fighters.