Rickson
Gracie
Rickson
Gracie, 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.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. Rickson also won matches in Pride 1 and 4 and Coliseum 2000 in Japan. 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 he defeated Japan's top ranked fighter, Nobuhiko Takada, in 4:47 of the first round. A year later, 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, 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. Next>>
