Hélio Gracie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hélio Gracie |
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Hélio Gracie in 2004
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| Born | October 1, 1913 Belém, Brazil |
| Died | January 29, 2009 (aged 95) Petrópolis, Brazil |
| Other names | "Caxinguelê" ("Squirrel"), "O Caçula" ("The Youngest") |
| Style | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Catch wrestling |
| Teacher(s) | Donato Pires Dos Reis, Carlos Gracie Orlando Americo da Silva Chugo Sato |
| Rank | 10th deg. BJJ red belt (Grandmaster) |
| Notable relatives | Gracie Family |
| Notable students | Rolls Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Royce Gracie, Relson Gracie, Rorion Gracie, Carlos "Caique" Elias |
Hélio Gracie (born October 1, 1913 – died January 29, 2009) was a Brazilian martial artist. He is famous for helping to create and develop Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He worked with his brothers Oswaldo, Gastao Jr, George, and Carlos Gracie to build this self-defense system.
Many people see Hélio Gracie as the "Godfather of BJJ." His son, Rorion Gracie, says Hélio was one of Brazil's first sports heroes. In 1997, Black Belt magazine, a martial arts publication, named him "Man of the Year." Hélio was a leader of the Gracie family, and many of his family members have become successful fighters in sports like MMA.
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Hélio Gracie's Early Life
Hélio Gracie was born in Belém, Brazil, on October 1, 1913. Even though some people thought he was weak, he was actually a very good athlete from a young age. He enjoyed rowing and swimming.
He started learning martial arts at 16. He trained in judo (which was often called "Jiu-Jitsu" back then) with his brothers Carlos and George. He also learned catch wrestling from a well-known teacher named Orlando Americo "Dudú" da Silva.
How Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Started
When Hélio was 16, he got a chance to teach a judo class. This helped him develop the unique "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" style. One day, the main instructor, Carlos Gracie, was late for a private class with Mario Brandt, a bank director. Hélio offered to teach instead. When Carlos arrived, Brandt said he was happy with Hélio and wanted to keep learning from him.
Hélio soon realized that some judo moves were hard for him to do because he was smaller. So, he started changing the judo techniques he learned from Mitsuyo Maeda. He focused on newaza (ground fighting) moves. From these changes, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was born. Like judo, these techniques allowed smaller, weaker people to defend themselves against much larger opponents.
Hélio also trained with other judo experts, like Sumiyuki Kotani and Chugo Sato.
Hélio Gracie's Fighting Career
Hélio Gracie began his professional fighting career when he was 18.
First Fights and Challenges
His first fight was against a boxer named Antonio Portugal on January 16, 1932. Hélio won quickly by using an armlock in just 40 seconds.
Later that year, he had an exhibition match against Takashi Namiki, a Japanese jiu-jitsu fighter. Namiki was heavier, but Hélio fought well, and the match ended in a draw after many rounds.
Matches Against Wrestlers
In November 1932, Hélio faced professional wrestler Fred Ebert. Ebert was much heavier and a skilled freestyle wrestler. Their match had no time limit and lasted almost two hours! The police eventually stopped it because neither fighter was making progress.
In 1934, Hélio fought another jiu-jitsu fighter named Miyaki. Hélio spent the first 20 minutes defending from the guard position. Then, he moved to the mount position and used a gi choke. Miyaki did not give up, so he passed out, and Hélio won.
On July 28, Hélio fought the famous professional wrestler Wladek Zbyszko. Zbyszko was much heavier and older. The match was fought under jiu-jitsu rules. Hélio pulled guard right away, and they stayed in that position for the whole 20-minute match, ending in a draw. People saw this as a win for Hélio because he wasn't defeated by the much larger wrestler.
Hélio then faced his former teacher, Orlando Americo "Dudú" da Silva, in February 1935. This was a "vale tudo" (anything goes) fight. They exchanged punches, and Dudú, who was heavier, took Hélio down. Dudú hit Hélio from the top, even breaking his nose. But Dudú got tired, and Hélio started fighting back from the bottom. When the referee stood them up, Hélio landed two side kicks, and a tired Dudú gave up.
Matches Against Judokas
After the fight with Dudú, Hélio was challenged by a judo expert named Yasuichi Ono. Hélio agreed to fight Ono, but only under jiu-jitsu rules, with no points or judges. He also wore a judo uniform with very short sleeves to make it hard for Ono to grab him.
In this match, Ono threw Hélio 32 times and almost won with an armlock. But Hélio never gave up and escaped all of Ono's holds. He even tried some submission moves himself. After 20 minutes, the fight was a draw.
On June 13, 1936, Hélio fought judoka Takeo Yano. Hélio again asked for a match without judges and wore a modified uniform. Hélio showed improvement, but Yano threw and took down Hélio many times. The match ended in a draw.
Later in 1936, Hélio fought Massagoishi, who was said to be a sumo wrestler and judo black belt. Hélio won by armlock after 13 minutes.
Hélio fought Yasuichi Ono for a second time on October 3, 1936. Hélio had improved, but Ono still threw him 27 times and controlled most of the match, which again ended in a draw. Hélio also had a rematch with Orlando Americo da Silva, but Hélio lost by being disqualified for using a forbidden hold. In 1937, Hélio won a match against Erwin Klausner by armlock.
Hélio Gracie stopped competing for the first time in 1937 and didn't fight again until 1950.
Gracie vs. Kimura
In 1951, Hélio challenged Masahiko Kimura, a famous judoka and professional wrestler who was visiting Brazil. First, Hélio fought Yukio Kato, a member of Kimura's team. Their first fight on September 6, 1951, was a draw. In their rematch on September 29, Hélio won by choking Kato. The big match against Kimura happened on October 22. Kimura defeated Hélio Gracie in the second round using a move called gyaku-ude-garami. This move later became known as the Kimura lock in Hélio's honor.
Gracie vs. Santana
In 1955, Hélio was challenged by Valdemar Santana, a former student of his academy. Santana was 16 years younger and 60 pounds heavier than Hélio. They fought in May in a "vale tudo" match. The fight lasted almost four hours! Hélio defended from his guard for most of the fight. Eventually, Hélio got tired. Santana then picked Hélio up and slammed him to the mat, then kicked him in the head while Hélio was kneeling. Hélio was knocked out, and his team threw in the towel.
This fight with Santana was Hélio's last match before he retired from competition.
Later Life and Legacy
Hélio Gracie's son, Rorion Gracie, was one of the first Gracie family members to bring Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the United States. Another son, Royce Gracie, became the first champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Hélio coached Royce from outside the cage at the first two UFC events.
Hélio Gracie passed away on January 29, 2009, in his sleep at 95 years old. His family said he died of natural causes. He was still teaching and training on the mat just 10 days before he became ill. He was known for using the Jiu-Jitsu techniques he helped develop throughout his life.
Family Life
Hélio Gracie was married to Margarida for 50 years. He had seven sons and two daughters with two different women. His sons are Rickson, Rorion, Relson, Royler, Rolker, Royce, and Robin. His daughters are Rerika and Ricci. After Margarida's death, he married Vera. Hélio was also a grandfather to many BJJ black belts, including Ryron, Rener, Ralek, Kron, and Rhalan.
Hélio Gracie was part of a Brazilian political group called Brazilian Integralism in the 1930s.
Awards and Honors
- Black Belt Magazine 1997 Man of the Year
Fight Record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 19 matches | 9 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By submission | 8 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 0 |
| Draws | 8 | |
| No contests | 0 | |
| 9 wins (1 (T)KOs, 8 Submissions), 3 losses, 8 draws | ||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Location | Method | Time | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 16, 1932 | Win |  Antonio Portugal |
Submission (Armbar) | 0:40 | 1–0–0 | |
| 1932 | Draw |  Takashi Namiki |
1–0–1 | |||
| November 6, 1932 | Draw |  Fred Ebert |
1:40:00 | 1–0–2 | ||
| July 28, 1934 | Draw |  Wladek Zbyszko |
30:00 | 1–0–3 | ||
| style=background:white colspan=7 | ||||||
| June 23, 1934 | Win | Miyaki |
Submission (Choke) | 26:00 | 2–0–3 | |
| February 2, 1935 | Win | Orlando Americo "Dudu" da Silva |
TKO (Side kick to the spleen) | 3–0–3 | ||
| December 5, 1935 | Draw | Yassuiti Ono |
1:40:00 | 3–0–4 | ||
| 1936 | Draw | Takeo Yano |
3–0–5 | |||
| 1936 | Win | Massagoichi |
Submission (Armbar) | 4–0–5 | ||
| 1936 | Draw | Yassuiti Ono |
4–0–6 | |||
| 1937 | Win |  Erwin Klausner |
Submission (Armbar) | 5–0–6 | ||
| 1937 | Win | Espingarda |
Submission | 6-0–6 | ||
| 1950 | Win | Landulfo Caribe |
Submission (Choke) | 7-0–6 | ||
| 1950 | Win | Azevedo Maia |
Submission (Choke) | 8–0–6 | ||
| 1951 | Draw | Yukio Kato |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 8–0–7 | ||
| 1951 | Win | Yukio Kato |
São Paulo, Brazil | Submission (Choke) | 9–0–7 | |
| 1951 | Loss | Masahiko Kimura |
Technical Submission (Kimura lock) | 9–2-7 | ||
| 1955 | Loss | Valdemar Santana |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | TKO (soccer kick) | 3:42:00 | 9–3–7 |
| 1967 | Win | Valdomiro dos Santos Ferreira |
Submission (Choke) | 10–3–7 | ||
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Exhibition Notes | ||||||
See also
In Spanish: Hélio Gracie para niños
- List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
- Oswaldo Fadda
