interesting helio gracie interview....

[amadeus]

i found this on another site today. it's from an interview helio did for the japanese press shortly after UFC3 but wasn't printed till 2002. i'd never seen it before and found it intresting and figured others would too.
***Nishi: Could you tell me more details about the fight with the master Kimura?

Helio: Sure!

Helio: In the beginning I carefully tried to find a breakthrough, but I was in his control as soon as we stood close to each other. I had no time to even hold or grapple him. What I barely could do was to avoid his perfect throw in such a way that I relaxed the strength of all my body and moved my position a little bit at the moment when Kimura tried to throw me and as a result Kimura lost his balance. I was taken into the ground, and I got choked at first. It was difficult to breathe. I felt it working enough so I was wondering if I should tap as I promised Carlos.

Nishi: ?

Helio: Well, this is what I've never told anybody before. It seems I went unconscious while I was thinking about what to do [give up or not].

(Naturally all the staff let alone Nishi were surprised to hear that, but what was more impressive than that was the shocked expression on Rorion's face.)

Helio: If Kimura had continued to choke me, I would have died for sure. But since I didn't give up, Kimura let go of the choke and went into the next technique. Being released from the choke and the pain from the next technique revived me and I continued to fight. Kimura went to his grave without ever knowing the fact that I was finished. If possible, I wish I could have talked about the fight with him and let him know about it.***

i know the kimura Vs. helio thing has bee beat to death but this kinda adds a new side to the story that i thought others would be intrested to know.

[Great Sage]

Interesting insight... Although, I would blame the referee for not realizing that Helio had gone unconscious... Say, wouldn't it have been great if they had the same ref who did the Yoshida/Royce Gracie fight?

[smith&wesson]

Could someone please choke amadeus? He needs some breathless time.

[amadeus]

Originally posted by smith&wesson
Could someone please choke amadeus? He needs some breathless time.

and why is that??

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Originally posted by Great Sage
Interesting insight... Although, I would blame the referee for not realizing that Helio had gone unconscious... Say, wouldn't it have been great if they had the same ref who did the Yoshida/Royce Gracie fight?

well this was Brazil versus Japan held in Brazil probably brazilian refferee, if a refferee at all ( the old days hea)
National pride makes a refferee wait a few seconds longer before intervening

[Mr. Heel Hook]

Seems a bit much to swallow...

[amadeus]

why so hard to swallow?

[Mr. Heel Hook]

Just do...seems to me he would have mentioned something in the book "The Gracie Way" rather than some random interview if he wanted the truth to me known. But either way, it doesn't matter to me that much.

[jules]

Well according to his bonus interview in the Gracie intermediate tape he tells a different story...

[falcon3624]

One question........

What's the difference? It's not going to change the outcome of the fight. Whether he was choked out or got caught in Kimura he still lost so what's the big deal. I mean the fight happened forever ago. Just let it go man, let it go.......

[Mr. Heel Hook]

YOU LET IT GO FALCON! YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!

[smith&wesson]

Originally posted by amadeus

Helio: If Kimura had continued to choke me, I would have died for sure. But since I didn't give up, Kimura let go of the choke and went into the next technique.

I don't think this is a good technique to wait till you die. Good to have referees in this situation

[Toudiyama[NL]]

Originally posted by smith&wesson

I don't think this is a good technique to wait till you die. Good to have referees in this situation

Pride can get you killed

[spiderchoke]

I was told a few years ago, that he passed out twice during the fight, but no one noticed.

He must have been very relaxed while fighting for no one to be able to tell if he was awake or not.

"Is he dead? No, he's winning."


LOL

"Everyday spent training is one day closer to learning something."
.....Spiderchoke