Royce Gracie had a significant role in the development of mixed martial arts and achieved global reputation for his dominating performances in the early UFC fights. But in a recent interview, “Gracie Hunter” expressed his worries about the state of the sport today and the change in training approaches.
Some gyms, according to Gracie, put more emphasis on spectacular moves than the core ideas that guide Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His open comments have provoked debates within the martial arts world and prompted inquiries about how to strike a balance between innovation and upholding the core principles of traditional martial arts instruction.
Royce Gracie’s stern message to martial artist and gyms
The iconic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and UFC fighter Royce Gracie recently sent a stern message to contemporary MMA and BJJ gyms. Gracie emphasized his worry that the core of martial arts is being lost in the present environment in a number of interviews and speeches. He thinks that a lot of gyms have shifted their attention away from personal defense and towards excessive competition, emphasizing points and medals.
“Nobody takes up martial arts because they want to compete. Nobody puts their kid in martial arts because they want them to win a championship. Parents want their kids to learn how to defend themselves. A woman will join martial arts because she wants to defend herself.”
“Gyms have forgotten the essence of martial arts. Gyms are the ones who most influence you to join tournaments. Some people say ‘I started training because I saw you win the UFC’. I tell them that’s not true, it wasn’t because of me. It could have been anyone. The technique I displayed is what attracted that person.”
The 56 years old contends that martial arts should be practiced more for self- and other defense than for the sole purpose of competing in tournaments.
“As an Olympic sport, jiu-jitsu would become even bigger, but it would lose that self-defense essence. That’s the martial art. For example, in the last Olympic games, a guy knocked out the other one in karate, but the one who got knocked out won. The one who knocked him out got disqualified for excessive force. How can that be? That’s what karate was invented for, to knock someone out. Then they’re like: ‘No, you’re supposed to score points’. I’m not just talking about jiu-jitsu, but martial arts in general.”
The legendary Brazilian’s opinions have sparked debate because he previously opposed women competing in mixed martial arts. However, his message serves as a reminder of the fundamental ideals that martial arts should uphold, imploring practitioners and gyms to reassess their priorities and give priority to the crucial principles of self-defense and personal development.
Royce Gracie’s UFC career highlight
Royce Gracie’s UFC career highlight was definitely his astounding accomplishment in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a member of the renowned Gracie jiu-jitsu family and made an enduring impact on the history of mixed martial arts (MMA).
The Brazilian won the open-weight single-elimination tournaments in UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4 in 1993 and 1994 thanks to his outstanding grappling abilities. These events had few restrictions. By defeating bigger and heavier opponents, he demonstrated his prowess in submission grappling, enhancing his standing as a dominant force in MMA.
The UFC triumph of Gracie revolutionized mixed martial arts by making Gracie jiu-jitsu well-known and highlighting the value of grappling and ground fighting strategies. Together with Ken Shamrock, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking achievements in 2003.
What are your views on modern-day martial arts and gyms? Go ahead and share your perspectives in the comment section below.
