SUGARLAND, TX, June 15, 2012 – Master Rickson Gracie recently stopped into the Houston area last weekend to host a special seminar at longtime friend and student Professor Leonardo Xavier’s academy, LX Jiu-Jitsuin Sugar Land, TX.
Now an 8th degree black and red belt in Jiu-Jitsu and retired Mixed Martial Arts fighter, Rickson has long been known as the champion of the Gracie family. Growing up in Jiu-Jitsu, he began competing at the age of six and gained acclaim in the world of vale tudo at the age of 20 when he took on and defeated Rei Zulu. Hewould then go on to fight in events such as Tokyo’s Vale Tudo 1995 (see full-length movie: Choke) and the inaugural Pride FC event at the Tokyo Dome in 1997 where he defeated Japanese pro wrestler Nobuhiko Takada.
In more recent times, he’s since turned his attention back to championing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in a different way, by giving seminars aimed at providing insight on what the art was originally intended for – as a tool for both self defense and personal growth.
As is such, those aspects were in focus at the recent seminar at Leonardo Xavier’s Academy.
We were only present for a brief portion of the two-day seminar but based on speaking to attendees, it seems much more was in focus beyond “how to properly pull off an armbar.”
The true value came in being able to catch a glimpse of how Rickson saw the art (and himself) based on the sum total of experiences from a lifetime spent dedicated to it. It was that which he wished to impart most to the students in attendance.
From childhood days to present, Rickson spoke of his journey from a young man seeking perfection and constantly seeking to be better than everyone else to who he is now, much older with a different perspective on things but still with battles to face as far as continuous growth as an individual.
“Feel more than just do,” he says about both jiu-jitsu and day-to-day life. “”You have to put yourself first and really be at your own center in order to be at your best – not just for yourself and everybody around you.”
For a more in-depth look at Rickson Gracie’s BJJ philosophy, please our article here.
For more on the Leonardo Xavier’s Jiu-Jitsu Academy, please visit the school website here,
Rickson Gracie – Additional Resources
• Rickson Gracie (interview) Article by Maynard Keenan – here
• Rickson Gracie Seminar Thoughts by Tony Pacenski – here
• Rickson Gracie seminar at Gracie Academy: a legend returns to his roots by Andreh Anderson – here
• 6 Questions for Rickson Gracie by Marcelo Alonso – here
• TXMMA Video of the Day: Choke (A Rickson Gracie Documentary) – full-length documentary here