Rickson Gracie is known as one of the greatest martial artists ever, let alone within the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Hailing from the famous Gracie family, he made the family name even bigger when winning MMA Championships in Japan in the Pride organization. In doing so, he helped bring BJJ to the masses and expose his efficient fighting style to a global audience.
This blend of MMA and BJJ bought him a fighting record of 11-0. Since then, his influence has spread as he raised his son Kron to be a UFC fighter and ADCC champion. Not only this but to this day Rickson continues to train and teach BJJ into his old age. Because of his MMA roots, he is also a big advocate of old school BJJ being deeply entwined with self defense and effectiveness. For all those looking for some inspiration from one of the greatest martial artists ever, here are 15 of his best quotes.
- “Our fears don’t stop death, they stop life”
2. “In life when presented with any situation, breathe, take time and focus and then decide what to do”
3. “True strength is not always shown through victory. Stand up, try again and display strength of heart”
4. “You have to find comfort in uncomfortable situations. You have to be able to live with your worst nightmare”
5. “I’m always in control of my possibilities and my knowledge of my possibilities. Emotionally, technically and spiritualty. That’s what Jiu Jitsu gave me”
6. “When you learn to see Jiu Jitsu as a whole, you learn to accept a loss, to forgive your adversary, to be more patient and balanced, to ask forgiveness as naturally as you stand up to a challenge”
7. “Jiu Jitsu is perfect. It’s humans who make errors”
8. “I see a need for a revolutionary process for Jiu Jitsu, a return to its essence as a style of self defense. I want to bring that concept of effectiveness rather than advantage points and little stalling positions”
9. “A brave man, a real fighter is not measured by how many times he falls, but how many times he stands up”
10. “It’s part of my life. Being engaged in the moment. Maybe it’s because I was born and raised on the mat, feeling the grips, feeling the touch, feeling the compromise, feeling the victory, feeling the defeat. It’s all about how I feel about things, never expect much but I always feel like I obey my heart”
11. “There’s always a good side to everything. Nothing is totally desperate”
12. “Sometimes you don’t have to win. You cannot win. But that has nothing to do with losing”
13. “Fighting is not a physical thing. It’s a spiritual thing”
14. “Not the past, not the future. Life is now”
15. “My code of life and my personal bushido is honor, respect, loyalty, courage and surrender”
