In
the early 1900's, a Japanese jiu-jitsu instructor by the name of Esai Maeda
went to the state of Para in Northern Brazil. There he befriended Gastao
Gracie, a influential businessman, who helped the Japanese get established.
To show his gratitude, Maeda, also known as "Count Koma," offered
to teach the traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu to Gastao's oldest son, Carlos.
The youngest son of Gastao and Cesalina Gracie's eight children, Helio was
always a very physically frail child. He would run up a flight of stairs
and have fainting spells. Nobody could figure out why. So, after completing
second grade, he convinced his mother that he shouldn't go to school any
more.
After a couple of years, when he was about 14, he moved in with his older
brothers who lived and taught jiu-jitsu in a house in Botafogo, a borough
of Rio de Janeiro. He would spend the next few years limited to only watching
his brothers teach, especially Carlos, since doctors had recommended that
they keep Helio away from any physical activity.
One day when he was 16 years old, a student showed up for class and Carlos
was not around. Helio, who had memorized all the moves and words of his
older brother, offered to start the class. When the class was over, Carlos
showed up very apologetic for his delay. The student answered, "No
problem. I enjoyed the class with Helio very much and, if you don't mind,
I'd like to continue with him." Carlos agreed and Helio became an
instructor. Next>>
