World’s strongest man Thor Bjornsson grapples against Jiu-Jitsu great Gordon Ryan: “Went against the best and got humbled quite badly.”

Thor Bjornsson gordon ryanWhat would happen to the world’s strongest man in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappling match against someone as accomplished as Gordon Ryan? Thor Bjornsson took on the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu great with a massive size and strength advantage. Thor Bjornsson (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) stands at an incredible 6’7? (2.06 m) and weighs 335 pounds (152 kg). The […]

Thor Bjornsson gordon ryan

What would happen to the world’s strongest man in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappling match against someone as accomplished as Gordon Ryan? Thor Bjornsson took on the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu great with a massive size and strength advantage.

Thor Bjornsson (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) stands at an incredible 6’7″ (2.06 m) and weighs 335 pounds (152 kg). The Icelandic lifter is a world record holder in numerous feats and has won dozens of strongman world competitions. Although, he is likely best known for playing ‘The Mountain’ in Game of Thrones.

Gordon Ryan is considered one of the all-time greats in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This American heavyweight athlete has won the ADCC World Championship multiple times for the heavyweight and absolute division, among several other world titles.

In most bouts, Ryan has a strength and size advantage. However, against Bjornsson, he was eclipsed. Gordon Ryan stands at 6’1″ (1.88 m) and competes at 218 pounds (99 kg).

Gordon Ryan vs Thor Bjornsson

Gordon Ryan and Thor Bjornsson rolled against each other in the gym recently. After the match, Thor shared an Instagram video saying he got humbled.

“Literally went against the best and got humbled quite badly. @martinslciis and I got the opportunity to meet up with [Gordon Ryan] while he was doing his last workout before he competes tomorrow. I love trying out new sport and what a pleasure it was. Excited to watch Gordon crush his opponent tomorrow! This guy is next level!”

Despite a massive advantage in both size and strength, Bjornsson was unable to mount any meaningful offense against the grappling great.

Earlier this year, Thor Bjornsson defeated fellow strongman Eddie Hall in a boxing match. Fans may remember Bjornsson from a video in which he took on a featherweight Conor McGregor seven years ago.

The Half Nelson – Effective Grappling Technique

Half NelsonFor those that have competed in wrestling, they are well aware of the power of the half nelson. This effective technique has translated very well to Jiu Jitsu, where it’s to advance to dominant positions and set up submissions. Let’s dive in and tell you everything you need to know about the half nelson. We’ll […]

Half Nelson

For those that have competed in wrestling, they are well aware of the power of the half nelson. This effective technique has translated very well to Jiu Jitsu, where it’s to advance to dominant positions and set up submissions.

Let’s dive in and tell you everything you need to know about the half nelson. We’ll go over how the technique works and important details you need to know for successfully using the move.

Who Invented The Half Nelson?

The half nelson has been an effective technique that has been used in wrestling for thousands of years. It has primarily been used as a way to control an opponent.

Hooking their arm and controlling their head to either force them to their back or just control them. The effectiveness has led to all forms of grappling like BJJ and MMA to adopt the technique.

It has evolved from just a controlling position in wrestling to a more diverse technique in the other forms of grappling. 

Fighters now use the half nelson to do everything from advance to better positions, set up submissions, or land strikes.

How Does The Half Nelson Work? 

The half nelson gives you control over your opponent by controlling their head and arm. In wrestling, it is predominantly used to force an opponent to their back to gain points and set up a pin.

Jiu Jitsu and MMA have adopted the move to do a wide variety of different tactics. You can use the move to do everything from set up submissions, back takes, advance to mount, or just strikes.

It is an incredibly effective move that all grapplers within BJJ, wrestling, and MMA learn to improve their ground games. They all use it, because it’s proven to be effective.

The Traditional Half Nelson

The traditional half nelson in wrestling is used to turn your opponent to their back and set up a pin. It starts when you already have your opponent flattened out on their stomach.

To start the half nelson, you gain wrist control on their far arm by reaching under their arm. Grab their wrist and pull it into their chest.

You then reach under their near arm to grab your half nelson hold. When you grab the half nelson, be sure to grab the back of their head. Grabbing the back of their head gives you better control.

Next, lift your chest up, and drive diagonally as you force your opponent to roll their head under their shoulder. Making them do a forward roll to their back.

In wrestling, you can now set up your pin or take the mount if you’re doing BJJ training.

Power Half Nelson

The power half nelson is a stronger version of the standard half nelson that’s done a variety of ways. This variation starts out where you have your opponent flattened out and a figure four on their leg.

Base your hand on the back of their head and reach under their arm with your other hand. Grabbing the blade of your opponent’s head and bringing it to their head.

Next, you can either lock in the half nelson by grabbing your wrist or your opponent’s wrist. It makes no difference as the control is the same.

To turn your opponent to their back, undo your figure four, step toward their head, and keep turning your arm. Do it slowly to keep pressure on their neck/back as they go to their back.

Gordon Ryan’s Half Nelson For Back Control

In Jiu Jitsu, Gordon Ryan has been using the half nelson in his back attack system for years. It creates optimal control over his opponent’s to set up submissions and make their lives miserable.

Ryan uses it in a variety of ways to make his opponents turn and set up his rear naked choke.

Half Nelson On Turtles Opponent

When Gordon is on his opponent’s back, he is able to make them turn on his side by using a half nelson. He switches from the traditional seatbelt grip, bringing his top arm behind his opponent’s head, and Gable grips his hands together.

The blade of his forearm presses into the back of his opponent’s neck to apply pressure as he makes them turn. It’s normal for an opponent to try to block the turn by basing out with their hand. 

When they do this, Ryan anchors his back foot to the mat and forces them to turn. Once he addressed this counter, Gordon uses his half nelson to force his opponent’s head down and gets his hooks.

Half Nelson To Mount

Ryan has also been shown to use the technique to take the mount position. The use of this technique works similar to how it’s traditionally used in wrestling.

You have your opponent’s back with them flattened out, but you want to take mount. Lock on the half nelson to force them to turn and get the mount. 

Another Back Attack Variation

There’s a nice back take that involves using the half nelson to open your opponent up when they’re turtled. Start by pulling your opponent off-base towards you on their side. 

When they go to recover, hook your near leg onto their near leg to establish a point of control. Next, you’re going to go into lock on your half nelson on their far arm.

Hook one hand under their far arm and frame your arm on the back of their head. You can either lock your hands together with a Gable grip or S-grip.

As you lock in your half nelson, take your free foot and hook the inside of your opponent’s far foot. Use the half nelson grip along with the foot hook to pull your opponent into your back mount.

Half Nelson To Defend Guard Recovery

A lot of BJJ grapplers have begun using a pseudo form of the half nelson to counter their opponents’ recovering guard. From the side control, your opponent tries the traditional escape by turning in and doing an elbow escape.

When they turn in, you’re going to take semi half nelson on their near arm. Your arm overhooks your opponent’s arm and your other hand bases on the back of their head.

Use this semi half nelson to push your opponent’s head in as you transition around their head. Going to the other side control and controlling them from there.

Hammerlock Half Nelson

The half nelson can also be used as a submission, which in catch wrestling they call a hammerlock half nelson. A mix of the two techniques with numerous variations that are taught.

When your opponent is in turtle, hold their hip with one arm and take wrist control on their near arm. Next, flatten them out by driving forward as you push your forehead into their elbow.

Once they fall to their stomach, slide your wrist control up and grab your opponent’s tricep. From there, keep your weight down as you slide across their back to the other side of their body.

Take your half nelson on that side to establish full control over your opponent. Drive forward, lock your hands, together, and keep driving forward to put immense pressure on your opponent’s arms and neck.

Important Tips To Remember

A half nelson provides optimal control over your opponent, no matter what form of grappling you’re doing. Here are important tips and details to remember.

  • Palm The Head: Always palm the back of your opponent’s head when going for a half nelson. It provides better control than the back of the neck.
  • 2 On 1 Grip: A two on one grip is always the best option when attempting a half nelson.
  • Turn Opponent’s Head In: When you do a half nelson technique, always try to force your opponent to turn their head inward. This makes them completely prone and open to any attacks you want to do.
  • Drive Diagonally: Always drive at an angle when finishing the half nelson. It puts pressure on their neck and forces them to turn to their back.

Jiu Jitsu Tattoos – BJJ Culture

Jiu Jitsu TattoosIf you practice Jiu Jitsu, then more than likely you have or have teammates that have tattoos. Jiu Jitsu tattoos have become embedded in the culture of the martial art with numerous grapplers tatted up. Here is a full breakdown of Jiu Jitsu tattoos from common types of Jiu Jitsu tattoos to famous tatted grapplers. […]

Jiu Jitsu Tattoos

If you practice Jiu Jitsu, then more than likely you have or have teammates that have tattoos. Jiu Jitsu tattoos have become embedded in the culture of the martial art with numerous grapplers tatted up.

Here is a full breakdown of Jiu Jitsu tattoos from common types of Jiu Jitsu tattoos to famous tatted grapplers.

Why Are There So Many Grapplers With Tattoos?

No one really knows why tattoos have become so popular within BJJ. In modern culture, more people are getting tattooed more than ever. 

Before it was just small sub sets of people that got tattoos, but now any type of person has them. This includes grapplers that get their own Jiu Jitsu tattoos.

Tattoos that symbolize their love of the grappling art and what they dedicated their life to.

Types Of Jiu Jitsu Tattoos 

There’s a wide variety of Jiu Jitsu tattoos out there that grapplers put on their bodies. Here are some of the most common types of Jiu Jitsu tattoos.

BJJ/Jiu Jitsu Scripts

Jiu Jitsu Script
Jiu Jitsu Scripts

Many Jiu Jitsu practitioners will merely just get the words “Jiu Jitsu” tatted onto their bodies. You’ll commonly see the words Jiu Jitsu or BJJ tattooed onto a grapplers body in various types of scripts/lettering.

Jiu Jitsu School Crests

Jiu Jitsu School Crest
Jiu Jitsu School Crest

All Jiu Jitsu schools have their own crests that represents their schools. Instructors and students of these schools will often pay homage to their gyms by tattooing the crests onto their bodies.

Any Jiu Jitsu academy/affiliation you can think of has numerous students that have tattoos of the school crest. 

Kanji

Kanji
Kanji

Along with the words Jiu Jitsu, many grapplers have gotten the kanji lettering of the term tattooed on them. Usually in black coloring, so it can be seen.

Arte Suave

Arte Suave
Arte Suave

The Portuguese nickname for BJJ is arte suave or the gentle art. You will see many Brazilian grapplers with this term tattooed on their bodies.

Animals

Jiu Jitsu Animal Tatoo
Jiu Jitsu Animal tattoo

Animals like bears, sharks, gorillas, and lions are associated with Jiu Jitsu. Seeing one of these animals used in Jiu Jitsu tattoos is very common to see when you’re on the mat training.

Chess Pieces

Chess Pieces
Chess Pieces

Many grapplers view Jiu Jitsu as a game of chance, which is why they tattoo chess pieces on their body. King or Queen pieces blended with the words Jiu Jitsu or a black belt are a common type of Jiu Jitsu tattoo.

Black Belts

Black Belts
Black Belts

Whenever a grappler reaches the rank of black belt, they will often commemorate it by getting a tattoo. Something like a black belt somewhere on their body along with the date they received the rank.

BJJ Ranks

BJJ Ranks
BJJ Ranks

To go along with a black belt tattoo, many Jiu Jitsu practitioners will get every rank tattooed on them. They will tattoo an outline of the ranks on their body and fill them in everytime, they level up. Once they earn their black belt, the tattoo is complete.

OSS

OSS
OSS

Many grapplers love saying “OSS.” So much so that it’s common to see BJJ practitioners have tattoos of the phrase.

Warrior Tattoos

Warrior Tattoos
Warrior Tattoo

There are a lot of BJJ athletes out their that like to think of themselves like warriors. To show this side of their personality, they will get a tattoo of some type of famous warriors. The most common Jiu Jitsu tattoos with warriors often include either samurais or vikings.

Religious Tattoos

There are alot of Jiu Jitsu practitioners that are religious. They will often get tattoos that demonstrate both their devotion to BJJ and their religion.

Portraits Of Famous Grapplers

Gracie Tattoo
Helio Gracie Tattoo

Seeing portraits of BJJ pioneers like Helio, Carlos Sr, and Carlson Sr. are normal to see in the Jiu Jitsu world. Grapplers like to pay homage to those that created or helped grow the martial art.

Famous Jiu Jitsu Athletes With Tattoos 

  • Gordon Ryan: The current best grappler on the planet Gordon Ryan is covered in various tattoos. Including the words Jiu Jitsu on his arm.
  • Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu: Multiple time BJJ champion Cyborg Abreu’s most noteworthy tattoos are his gym and name on his forearms. He has also added a full arm sleeve to go along with these Jiu Jitsu tattoos.
  • André Galvão: GOAT grappler André Galvão has three distinct tattoos on his body. His daughter’s name on one forearm, equilíbrio (equilibrium) on the other, and a dragon on his side.
  • Frank Mir: Former UFC heavyweight champion and BJJ black belt is covered in tattoos. The most noticeable one is his samurai back piece. 
  • Jeff Glover: Darce choke expert Jeff Glover has quite a collection of tattoos on his body. Probably his most noticable one is the words Jiu Jitsu that’s tattooed on his knuckles. 

Guide For Training After Getting Jiu Jitsu Tattoos

If you train and decide to get a tattoo, just know there is a certain protocol you’ll have to follow. Remember to follow these steps before training again.

No Training

After getting a tattoo, you should not under any circumstances immediately train afterwards. A fresh tattoo is a giant wound that needs to heal before you do any type of training.

Training with a fresh tattoo will lead to bacteria entering the wound and causing a staph infection. Prolonging your time off the mat.

To prevent this from happening, you will need to wait until your tattoo is fully healed. The bigger the tattoo, the longer the wait period will be.

Keep The Area Clean And Dry

In order to prevent getting an infection, you must keep your skin dry and clean. Moisture or rough texture can open the wound back up. 

Possibly leading to an infection that could affect your health and ruin your new tattoo.

Remember to put antibacterial cream and lotion on your tattoo during the 48 hours after getting it.

Should I Get Jiu Jitsu Tattoos

Here at LowKickMMA, it is not our job to tell you what you can and can’t do. If you like Jiu Jitsu and want to get Jiu Jitsu tattoos to symbolize your passion, then go right ahead.

Calf Slicer BJJ Submission: Everything You Need To Know

Calf slicerThe calf slicer submission is one of the most painful submissions to get caught in. If you’ve ever had the misfortune of being stuck in a calf slicer, you know just how miserable it is.  Here is everything you need to know about the calf slicer submission. Below are detailed setups for the calf slicer […]

Calf slicer

The calf slicer submission is one of the most painful submissions to get caught in. If you’ve ever had the misfortune of being stuck in a calf slicer, you know just how miserable it is. 

Here is everything you need to know about the calf slicer submission. Below are detailed setups for the calf slicer and tips for successfully locking in the submission.

Who Created The Calf Slicer? 

The calf slicer is a compression lock that is taught within nearly all forms of grappling. No one person can be given credit for developing the submission since it’s been used for centuries.

Just like with leg locks, compression locks like the calf slicer were frowned upon for decades. Particularly for lower ranked BJJ students, who could easily injure their training partners.

But in recent years, bicep slicers and calf slicers are now being practiced more. Gyms like 10th Planet have really made some innovations with these compression locks and popularized their use.

Today, we even see calf slicers in MMA from time to time. It’s great to see these compression locks being used more as Jiu Jitsu and grappling as a whole continues evolving.

How Does The Calf Slicer Work?

The calf slicer like the bicep slicer is a compression lock. Meaning that instead of attacking the bone in joint locks, the aggressor attacks an opponent’s muscle.

Driving the blade of your shin or forearm into their opponent’s calf. It feels like a mix of your calf being crushed and sliced at the same time. Which is why they’re called calf slicers or calf crushers.

They are extremely painful to be caught in and not tapping could result in your calf muscle tearing. Once you get caught in a calf slicer, you’ll never want to be stuck in one again..

Legalities

In Jiu Jitsu, many BJJ practitioners frequently ask about the legality of the calf slicer in competitions. For most major federations like the IBJJF, they only permit upper belts to do calf slicers and bicep slicers.

Just like they do with most foot locks like heel hooks and kneebars. If you’re a lower belt grappler, you’ll just have to wait until you are a brown belt to use calf slicers.

Although in MMA, there are no rules against using compression locks or any leg locks you want.

Calf Slicer From Turtle 

Probably the simplest setup for the calf slicer is in the turtle position. Generally when you have an opponent in the turtle position, they assume you want to take their back. But instead, you’re going to attack their leg.

This makes getting a calf slicer rather easy. It starts with getting a leg on your opponent’s near leg. When you do this, your shin is already pressed against your opponent’s calf.

The first way to finish the submission is to grab their foot with both hands and pull their leg towards you. If you want to put more pressure on their calf, use your free foot to push on your foot. Doing this as you pull your opponent’s leg into you puts immense pressure on their calf.

Sometimes, your opponent will try to roll out to escape. All you have to do to counter this is roll with them and finish the submission.

Calf Slicer From Lockdown Half Guard 

The calf slicer from a lockdown half guard is probably the second most simple setup for this submission. It starts from lockdown, where you triangle your legs and hook under your opponent’s foot.

After establishing your lockdown, you’re going to cup both of your opponent’s armpits. Use these holds along with bringing your knees to your chest to lift them up.

This movement gives you the space to slide your body out on the side of your lockdown. Once you cleared your opponent’s arm, switch the lockdown to a figure four, and take your calf slicer.

Always remember to grab your opponent’s foot with both hands when going for the submission.

The Vaporizer From Top Stoner Control

One of the most popular calf crushers from the 10th Planet system, the vaporizer for top stoner control. Top stoner control is what they call the top position, where you place your far knee between your opponent’s legs. Giving you quality control over their movement.

In the top stoner control, your leg between your opponent’s is hooked onto your opponent’s bottom leg. All you have to do is front roll over your inside shoulder to go right into the vaporizer.

Grab hold of their foot with both hands and lock on the submission.

Calf Slicer From Top Quarter Mount

For the calf slicer set up from top quarter mount, you do a similar roll like with the vaporizer set up. Your opponent will be on their side with a quarter hook trying to defend against the full mount.

Turn your body towards their back and where you see the open space is where you’re going to roll. Do a shoulder roll over your inside shoulder and go right into the calf slicer position.

Grab your opponent’s foot with both hands and pull their leg towards you to get the submission.

Calf Slicer From The Truck Position

Another common calf slicer set up from the 10th Planet system is done from the truck position. The truck position is where you have a lockdown on one of your opponent’s legs as you’re holding the other.

It’s a position that sets up many submissions from the banana split, electric chair, and a powerful calf slicer. In the 10th Planet system, there are numerous finishes for attacking the calf.

You can just pull down your opponent’s foot like normal or push on your foot as you pull them in. There’s also the kamikaze, where you triangle your legs together

Whichever calf slicer finish you want is all available from that truck position.

De La Riva Counter To Calf Slicer 

One of the many ways to counter the De La Riva guard is to go into a calf crusher. Start by gripping your opponent’s pants or hold their feet down in No-Gi and do a back step.

After the back step, reach across to hug your opponent’s far leg and lay on your side. This is to control your opponent and keep them from moving.

From this position, your shin is already pressing against their calf from their DLR attempt. To get the submission, lock your hands together, stay close to the hips, and open your knees.

Calf Slicer From Back Control

If you watched the fight between Roman Dolidze vs Jake Hermansson, you saw Dolidze use a beautiful calf slicer. He used this control to set up punches to TKO Hermansson.

From his back, Dolidze underhooked Hermansson’s foot, who was standing over him. When Roman did this, he also brought his outside leg in between Jake’s legs and hooked it on his outside leg.

Place his shin across Hermansson’s calf, triangling his legs, and using this control to sweep him. Once Hermansson hit the ground, Dolidze hugged his quad and locked on the submission. 

Jake was in immense pain, but wasn’t tapping, so Roman flattened him out and finished him with strikes.

Knee Ride Calf Slicer

A great calf slicer set up is from the knee on belly position. Push on your opponent’s shoulders to get them thinking that you’re going to attack their upper body.

When you get them defending their upper body, you’re going to move toward their legs. Take a small back step, grab under their knee with your outside hand, and sit down on their foot.

This movement places the blade of your forearm against their calf as you’re hugging your inside leg. Be sure to triangle your legs, keep hugging your thigh, and lean back to apply the submission.

Do not forget to keep your legs triangled or your opponent can counter with a heel hook.

Important Tips

There’s numerous ways to hit a calf slicer, but the details have to be exact. Here are some important tips to remember.

  • Isolate The Leg: All calf slicer set ups start with isolating your opponent’s leg. Without first doing this, you’ll never get a calf slicer.
  • Shin/Forearm Against Calf: For the calf slicer to work, either your shin bone or forearm must be pressed against the calf muscle. If you don’t do this, your opponent will be uncomfortable, but they won’t tap.
  • Two On One: Whichever calf slicer set up you do, it must be finished with both hands controlling your opponent’s foot. They can muscle out of one hand, but probably not two.

UK Jiu-Jitsu Gym Breaks Guinness World Record For Longest Class

A jiu-jitsu gym in the UK set out to break a record and raise money for a good cause in the process. Revolution Martial Arts Academy in Dewsbury, Yorkshire in the United Kingdom has set out to do something amazing. The academy, run by head coach Steven…

A jiu-jitsu gym in the UK set out to break a record and raise money for a good cause in the process. Revolution Martial Arts Academy in Dewsbury, Yorkshire in the United Kingdom has set out to do something amazing. The academy, run by head coach Steven Scaddan has put together a 24-hour jiu-jitsu class…

Continue Reading UK Jiu-Jitsu Gym Breaks Guinness World Record For Longest Class at MMA News.

Rolls Gracie – BJJ Legend

Rolls GracieRolls Gracie was considered the best grappler of the Gracie family, revolutionizing the martial art. He made a huge impact on Jiu Jitsu and grappling as a whole, changing how the martial arts are trained. Here is the important story of Rolls Gracie and how he changed the BJJ world. Going over how he influenced […]

Rolls Gracie

Rolls Gracie was considered the best grappler of the Gracie family, revolutionizing the martial art. He made a huge impact on Jiu Jitsu and grappling as a whole, changing how the martial arts are trained.

Here is the important story of Rolls Gracie and how he changed the BJJ world. Going over how he influenced his students to cross-train in wrestling, various stories, and his tragic death.

Rolls Gracie Growing Up

Rolls is the son of Carlos Gracie, but he was actually partly raised by his Uncle Helio. His father, Carlos, had numerous children, and Rolls was a result of an affair Carlos had. Helio was in his second marriage, and his wife Margarida couldn’t have children.

Like most in the Gracie family, Rolls was raised on the Jiu Jitsu mat. From the time he was a toddler, Rolls was on the mat playing and learning small techniques.

He loved Jiu Jitsu and wanted to do everything he could to improve his skill. When he got older, he began competing in the kid’s divisions. Going on to win every single competition that he could during his time.

Rolls Gracie Begins Cross Training in Judo

By the time Rolls was around 20, he wanted to expand his grappling ability as a whole. He began branching out and learning other grappling techniques to supplement his Jiu Jitsu.

Rolls would first begin learning Judo under family friend Osvaldo Alves. Osvaldo Alves was one of the best Judokas in Brazil during this time.

After spending five years training at the Kodokan in Japan, Alves won two Judo Pan Am Championships. He was also an expert in Judo ground attacks called newaza which he would show Rolls and other Gracie family members.

Rolls Begins Learning Wrestling, and Sambo

Along with Judo, Rolls also began practicing various forms of wrestling. Gracie met a 5x wrestling champ named Bob Anderson through the Colombian Wrestling Federation.

He quickly became friends with Anderson and invited him to stay in Rio de Janeiro to teach wrestling. Bob would teach Rolls numerous No-Gi takedowns that Rolls would pass on to future students.

There was already wrestling in Brazil, but Bob Anderson’s time teaching Rolls would have a huge influence. Rolls would instill the importance of having solid wrestling skills to his future students and not relying on just Jiu Jitsu.

One funny story about the two is when Anderson first met Rolls. He could not believe that Rolls had won the open-class division at the Brazilian wrestling championship.

Rolls offered to spar Anderson and would submit the larger wrestler numerous times in a short time span. Bob could not believe how good Rolls was and gave him the utmost respect after they rolled.

Rolls Gracie’s Competition Career

Much like the legend of Rickson Gracie, Rolls Gracie was said to have never lost a match in Jiu Jitsu competition. He beat literally everyone he could during his era and won every major championship.

Most of the matches weren’t competitive, so Rolls would later just accept challenges for super fights. From 1973 to 1977, he had four different super fights against much larger opponents.

The only opponent Rolls didn’t submit in his competition career was his last one. He competed against a Judoka named Paulo Boca, a Judo champion weighing 90 kg. 

In the match, the two competitors exchanged takedowns before Rolls pulled guard. Boca stayed defensive, which led the referee to give the match to Rolls for being offensive. 

Rolls Gracie Competes in Wrestling and Sambo

Since Rolls didn’t have any competition in Jiu Jitsu, he began competing in wrestling and sambo. In Brazil, he would win the Wrestling Brazilian National Championship in both his division and the absolute division.

Rolls would also begin competing in Sambo since he had already trained in both Judo and submission wrestling. He would qualify for the Pan American Championship in 1979, which was held in San Diego, California.

Once again, Rolls would win gold in both his division and the absolute division. Later that year, Rolls would return to San Diego and compete in the San Diego Wrestling Pan Ams.

He initially wanted to stay in LA with his cousin Rorion during the trip, but Rorion didn’t let him. Rolls would instead stay with his good friend Bob Anderson during the trip and again won double gold.

During this stay, Rolls was offered a job by the LAPD to teach them self-defense. Unfortunately, his Uncle Helio ruled against it as his son Rorion was already teaching in LA. If Rolls had stayed, it would have certainly changed the history of Jiu Jitsu.

Rolls Gracie Goes For The Olympics

In 1980, Rolls attempted to make the Brazilian Wrestling team. He wanted to compete at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

While Rolls’ abilities were unquestionably worthy of being on the team, he didn’t make it. He was met with bureaucracy and an unorganized committee. The fact that Rolls was a Jiu Jitsu practitioner may have also played a part in not getting on the team.

Since he wasn’t allowed to compete, Rolls got his own team together for the 1980 Pan Am in San Diego. He would earn a bronze medal at this event, which would be the last time he competed.

Rolls Gracie’s Journey To Opening His Own Academy 

Rolls first began teaching Jiu Jitsu in the original Gracie Academy under his Uncle Helio Gracie. Although, friction developed between the two as they had different philosophies on Jiu Jitsu and training. Helio also favored his sons over Rolls, which created problems.

He would then ask his brother Carlson if he could teach at his academy in Copacabana. Carlson let his brother begin teaching in his academy for the next few years.

Rolls would then want to go out on his own and open his own academy. His brother, Carlson, gave him his blessing, and Rolls would go on to open his academy.

Needing help to run his academy, Rolls called upon his younger brother Carlos Gracie Jr. to help him. Since the academy was near Carlos’ university, he accepted Rolls’ offer.

The academy would find a lot of success until his sudden passing in 1982.

Rolls Gracie Stories

Even though Rolls died young, numerous stories involving him are still told to this day. Here are some of the most known and talked about.

Rolls Fight Against A Karate School Instructor

There was one time when a Karate school challenged the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu school to a fight. Rolls was chosen to fight the Karate school’s instructor. He easily took down the instructor and submitted him in under two minutes.

Rolls Gracie was Supposed to Fight Zulu

Rickson Gracie famously fought the larger and undefeated Zulu when he was eighteen. Helio actually volunteered Rolls to fight Zulu, but Rolls suggested Rickson fight him to prove himself.

Rolls would be in the corner of Rickson for his first fight and actually motivated him to win the fight. Citing, he would kick Rickson’s ass if he didn’t win the fight and fight like he knew he could.

Rolls Beats Up a Famous Surfer 

Rolls had a student named Mario Gomes, who later became the star of many Brazilian novelas. One day, Gomes came to class discouraged. Telling Rolls that a famous surfer named Daniel Sabba and his friends had kicked Gomes off Arpoador beach.

Gracie would later go to the beach with a group of students to discuss the issue. Sabba and his friends immediately tried to fight Rolls and students and were quickly put to sleep. 

This event led many surfers to start training with Rolls at his academy.

Rolls and the BJJ vs Luta Livre Saga

In 1982, Roy and Charles Gracie were beaten up by members of a Muay Thai school during a Carnival event. Hearing that his younger relatives were beaten up, Rolls got his best students and walked to the Muay Thai school.

He embarrassed the Muay Thai instructor. These events are what kicked off the violent BJJ vs Luta Livre clashes during the 1980s and 1990s.

Rolls Gracie’s Strength and Conditioning

What made Rolls such a fierce competitor was his strength and conditioning routine. Along with his Jiu Jitsu training, Rolls also practiced gymnastics, various calisthenics and was an avid surfer. 

He wanted to strengthen his body the best he could for competition while using his body’s natural movements. Rolls’s importance on strength and conditioning would influence his younger family members.

Particularly Rickson Gracie, who is famous for using ginastica and yoga for his strength and conditioning.

Rolls Gracie’s Tragic Death 

In 1982, Rolls Gracie died from a tragic hang-gliding accident at only thirty-one years old. His death broke the hearts of the Gracie family and left his two sons without a father. It has been forty years since the death of Rolls, and he is still deeply missed by his family.

Rolls Gracie’s Sons

Rolls had three sons before he died. Rolles Gracie Jr, Gregor Gracie, and Igor Gracie. They all followed in their father’s footsteps, becoming BJJ black belts, fighters, and later instructors.

Rolls’ Gracie’s Black Belts 

Before his death, Rolls Gracie gave five black belts to five of his original students. These five students were given the nickname “the famous five.”

  • Marcio Stambowsky
  • Mauricio Gomes
  • Romero Cavalcanti
  • Nicin Azulay
  • Paulo Conde

Rolls actually gave a sixth student their black belt named, Mario Claudio Tallarico, before his death. He was also technically the teacher of Carlos Gracie Jr and Crolin Gracie. But as in Gracie family tradition, Helio Gracie promoted them to black belt. 

The Legacy of Rolls Gracie

Rolls Gracie only lived for thirty-one years but was able to reach legendary status. He was arguably one of the best BJJ practitioners of all-time and heavily influenced future generations. 

Encourage everything from cross-training in other forms of grappling to promoting the importance of strength and conditioning.

His younger cousin, who Rolls influenced, had a great quote about him. “There is an era before Rolls and one after him.”