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Royler GracieAustralian journalist
Adam Orlowski recently interviewed
Royler Gracie while Gracie was in Australia. Here's what Royler had to say:
AO: Welcome to Adelaide Royler.
Royler: Thank you.
AO: Can you start by giving us a bit of your competitive history?
Royler: Sure thing Adam. Well, I have been competing in BJJ tournaments since I was 6 years old, but I never took BJJ seriously until I was about 17. I never believed I would become a good fighter, because I was so skinny, weak and scrawny. It took me a very long time before I realized I could become good at BJJ. I used to go to the gym with my brothers and fathers and just play football (soccer) all day long, while they all wrestled on the mats. I thought they were crazy. But, one day I realized I could tap out all my brothers and not even try that hard. It gave me a lot of confidence and I just started training more and more, until I became a world champion.
AO: How about the Vale Tudo part?
Royler: Well, I started competing in Vale Tudo fights in the mid-90's, to test myself as a fighter. I felt that I had accomplished all I could as a BJJ fighter and submission wrestler, so with the help of my brothers, I started to train for Vale Tudo. I was offered a big amount of money to fight in Japan and since I could not attract sponsorship in Brazil for my BJJ fighting, I decided to take up Vale Tudo, full time as a fighter. You know how it is, you have a wife and kids to feed, so you go where the money is. Since then, I have been fighting and teaching full time.
AO: Did you give up competing in BJJ, when you started fighting MMA?
Royler: No, I competed for a few more years still, just not as often. I just got too old to be the best in the world at BJJ, and I needed new challenges in my life, by 1999.
AO: So you stopped competing in BJJ, in 1999?
Royler: Yes and no. You see, I stopped competing in the Mundials, but started competing in the Abu Dhabi Submission Championships instead.
AO: How long have you been competing in BJJ for?
Royler: I competed from the ages of 6 years to 33 years. I'm 39 years old now, so I guess in total, going by my brother Royce's calculations, I've been doing BJJ for 40 years, hahahaha.
AO: Do you prefer fighting in MMA or BJJ more?
Royler: Definitely BJJ. It's where my heart lies, and it's what my life is all about. BJJ has given me everything I have today, MMA is just an athletic pursuit that pays me a lot of money now.
AO: What was your career highlight?
Royler: Winning my first BJJ world championship. I was so proud, I couldn't even talk after I won. I was not just proud for myself either, I was proud for my father, my family, my training partners and all my supporters. I will never forget that moment.
AO: What's the worst decision you made in your career?
Royler: Hahaha, well, that's very, very, very easy. It was last year. I was surfing in the Maldives (Small group of tropical islands, of the southwest coast of India) with some friends of mine and I got a call from a K-1 representative asking me if I'd like to fight in a few weeks time, because they were looking for a new opponent for Genki Sudo. I wasn't interested in fighting MMA for them, so I said no. He said what would it cost to get me to fight? I told him an insane amount of money and he laughed and hung up the phone. I told everyone about this and they all laughed their ass off at the amount I just asked for. Anyway, 20 minutes later, the guy called me back and said "No Problems", I told the man that there was no way possible, that I'd accept the fight on that short notice. He then offered even more money again. Shit man, there's no way I could refuse that!!!
The reason why this was so stupid though, is because I didn't prepare well, I didn't take Genki seriously and I didn't take myself seriously. I made a bad effort in preparing for that fight and I was simply sucked in to taking a fight, that there was no way of winning. I cheated myself in accepting that fight. I am very regretful for that. My father taught me better than that and I suffered the consequences of that poor decision, by being knocked out. I was very lucky that the referee stopped Genki in that fight, because he could have given me brain damage if he kept on smashing my head in, like that, hahahahahaha. I believe you should never fight Vale Tudo/MMA without being paid well, but you should also never accept a fight without being well prepared. Especially when fighting very good opponents.
AO: What's your advice to those thinking of fighting MMA for the first time?
Royler: Some things to consider:
* Don't go in to Vale Tudo fights unless you have prepared by training for at least 9 months, for 5 days or more per week.
* Don't do it if you are trying to prove that you're a tough guy. Just doing MMA training makes you a braver man that 99% of the rest.
* Make sure you have a good trainer, who has your interests at heart, not just the image of your club/team/your trainer's ego.
* Don't be fooled that you won't get hurt, Vale Tudo contests often end with broken hands, jaws, arms and legs. This is a very tough sport and has a history of promoters not willing to take care of fighter medical costs/injuries.
* Only about 20 fighters in the entire world get paid very well. Most professional fighters get paid about the same per year as a call centre worker. If you want to make lots of money, become a boxer, lawyer, or make pornography.
* If you can, try some amateur MMA or Pancrase fights first. There is no point in jumping in at the deep end if you don't have to. Fighting with pads, in an event where there's about 10 people watching, is invaluable experience, as you can learn to get rid of those first time nerves, while being in a relatively safe area.
AO: Were you made to compete in BJJ as a kid?
Royler: No, my father never cared if I competed or not. He hoped I became good at football (soccer), but insisted I do some sort of sport, for my health and fitness. There was never any pressure as a child to even do BJJ, I just joined in because it was fun to jump around on the mats.
AO: What were the family expectations of you, from competitions when you were younger?
Royler: When I was 10, my father said to me that he'd give me $20.00 if I won my tournament and $40.00 if I lost my first fight. I didn't understand this at the time, but later on in life, I realized that losing is just as valuable as winning, because you learn something new from every challenge you face in life.
AO: What Age Were You When You Received Your Black Belt?
Royler: I was 18 years old.
AO: Why not when you were any younger?
Royler: Because we don't give Black Belts to those under 18. They have a different belt and grading system for youth and children. We don't believe a child should ever receive a black belt, as it gives that child a false sense of security in defending themselves in a real life dangerous situation. Children should be taught that no matter how good they are as a competitor, they should not try to fight an adult. I find that seeing an 8-year old with a black belt in a Karate or Ninjitsu dojo is very sad. Because they are really setting that child up to be grossly disappointed when faced with an actual dangerous situation, or fight on the street, because they will be horribly hurt by any attacker. I believe we all have a responsibility as adults and educators, to teach our children better than that.
AO: What's in your near future?
Royler: I will be fighting in the next Abu Dhabi and I will fight 2 or 3 more Vale Tudo fights in the next year or two. After that, I will retire. I'm getting too old for all this now and it's soon going to be time, to hand over the knowledge and opportunity for all my young fighters to take advantage of.
AO: What do you plan to do with your time, once you've retired from fighting?
Royler: I will continue to teach children at my academy in Brazil, as well as privately train fighters each morning. I will also travel a bit more, doing seminars, and attempt to keep spreading Gracie Jiu-Jitsu around the world. I would like to help many of my students go on to become champions now, in both Vale Tudo fighting and BJJ.
AO: How do you deal with students who go too hard in training?
Royler: I don't really have that problem, as I reinforce the fact that training must always be fun, about the technical, the basic elements, and relaxed nature of BJJ. I believe if you always start lessons off by telling the students to not go hard, just concentrate on the technique, you will avoid having this problem. Trainers who allow their students to go too hard, will face the difficulties of lower attendance, as getting injuries stops people from training, or being in the mind-set of regularly coming to training, unless feeling 100% fit. My students only ever go hard when training for a tournament, even then though, they don't go that hard. BJJ is about being aware and thinking two steps ahead of where you are. Rushing and using all your power to throw your opponent around won't lead you to becoming good at what you do, learning to set up your opponent will.
AO: Why do Brazilian fighters always thank Jesus so much, after winning?
Royler: Because you must always pay homage to Rickson... hahahahaha, just kidding. It's because many people are religious in Brazil.
AO: Outside of BJJ and Vale Tudo, what are your major passions?
Royler: My family and surfing. Sometimes I honestly question in what order those are, too. Hahahahahaha.
AO: What defines a truly "great" fighter?
Royler: Far more than what he does in the ring. A truly "great" fighter should be able to teach to others everything that he learns. He should give his time to give advice to children, and he should represent himself and his trainers with respect. Anyone can be good at throwing a punch, but it takes a much bigger man to teach others how to throw, when to throw, why not to throw... you know what I mean?
AO: Have you trained in other styles of martial arts?
Royler: Yes, a little of many different martial arts. Apart from BJJ though, wrestling and boxing is all that I train in. They are the most useful for my fights, especially the boxing.
AO: Why did you start Brazilian jiu-jitsu?
Royler: Because everyone else in my family did it. I grew up around the sport, and apart from football (soccer), there really wasn't much else to do when I was growing up.
AO: What do you think the differences are, in the way Australians train BJJ compared to Brazilians?
Royler: You Aussies seem very serious, and very structured with your classes. You all seem to train very hard and your cardio is a bit better than Brazilians of the same belt level are. Brazilians tend to train a bit slower, but for a longer period of time. We train six or seven days a week though, and seem more focused on BJJ as a sport. Many Australians do it as part of a Vale Tudo curriculum. Take your club for example, Adam, (ABS Extreme Combat): You guys offer BJJ classes five times a week, but only three of those are sport BJJ classes. The other two are from a Vale Tudo style of training. Many of the students here are training BJJ, but you are the only one who competes in it. The others do it because it makes their Vale Tudo skills more rounded.
In Brazil, not as many people work full time, so we can take much more time with our BJJ training. Don't forget, many people live in poverty in Brazil, unlike Australia. BJJ gives many poor people, especially the youth, a chance to do something constructive with their spare time. In general, in Brazil, classes teach more about creativity in your game, not just perfecting a standard stock of moves, positions, and reversals. Our style of BJJ, in Brazil, is a little different to that in Australia, though. It often has to be, as Australians are much bigger and heavier than most Brazilians.
AO: What is your view on the amount of politics in BJJ?
Royler: I think it's bad that it's already gone the way it has. I don't really like it. We have instructors here in Australia that tell their students where they can and can't go. Hell, they threaten to ban them from the club if they go to certain places to train, or go to certain seminars, if it's not being held at their gym. It's really sad, and it totally goes against what these head instructors/managers have been told and trained to do. I always tell my students to feel free to try all different clubs and trainers. Everyone should try different gyms until they find the one that suits them best. You won't ever reach your full potential under an instructor who wants to keep you there and take your money. If my student does not enjoy himself, he should find someone else to train him, which more suits his own needs. There is nothing wrong with this.
AO: What two movie stars would you like to see in an MMA Bout?
Royler: I don't really care, so long as I get to fight them, hahaha.
AO: What's your thoughts on BJJ trainer Bruno Panno?
Royler: Bruno is a great BJJ teacher and fighter, but don't you ever let him fool you, because his surfing is even worse than his English. I mean it, seriously. I think he just walks to the beach, surf board under his arm, and then just stands in front of the water and day-dreams. He is a very bad surfer compared to me.
Hahahahaha, but seriously, Bruno is a wonderful BJJ trainer and he's one of the best in the world at what he does. Anyone who trains with him is very lucky and will learn more than they ever expected. His current students are perfect examples of that.
AO: Thanks for your time Royler.
Royler: Thank you very much.
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By Tape Lord
Vanderlei Silva (top) knocking out Quinton Jackson in the final of the 2003 middleweight GP.Hello my friends! Welcome to Tape Lord's
'Monday Morning Mailbag'. Below are some of the more interesting e-mails I recieved as one of the editors of this newspage. Enjoy...
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WHO WILL WIN PRIDE GP?Tape Lord, who do you think will win the upcoming PRIDE middleweight GP?
- Phil
Bayside, NY
Tape Lord's reply: Phil, if I had to bet, I'd say that Vanderlei Silva finds a way to win it again, barring any serious injuries. But the truth is that there are at least 3-4 fighters who can will the whole thing, and they are, in my humble opinion... Vanderlei Silva, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Vitor Belfort, and Ricardo Arona (if he is indeed in the GP).
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UPCOMING PRIDE GP IS BEST TOURNEY EVER!I can't think of any other time an organization has put together a tournament the likes of the upcoming PRIDE middleweight GP. In my opinion it's the best tourney ever. What do you think?
- Rick
Los Angeles, CA
Tape Lord's reply: Rick, I couldn't agree with you more. We can only hope that the heavyweight GP, scheduled for next year, continues to raise the bar. Somehow I think it will ;)
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I'M A FAN OF THE Z-FILESThe Z-Files... I'm in a big sweat waiting for the third edition.
-Jack Johnson
Las Vegas, NV
Tape Lord's reply: Glad you enjoy them Jack. I'm not sure if we can say the same for Zuffa though :)
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IT'S TIME WE ACCEPTED HOMOSEXUAL MMA FIGHTERSI believe it's high time the MMA world accept the fact that many fighters are also homosexuals. In fact, I think the world needs to accept the fact that many gay athletes exist in many sports. They've been there all along, and we aren't going anywhere so long as Mother Nature sees it fit to keep producing homosexuals of all races and creeds.
I salute Dana White and "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show for helping to bridge the gap, and show that homosexuality does indeed exist in MMA, and it's not going anywhere any time soon.
-Andrew Bryant
Pheonix, Arizona
Tape Lord's reply: Andrew, I have nothing against homosexuals, but in my humble opinion, I don't believe it will ever be fully accepted by the populace where it pertains to sports.
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KTFO RULES!KTFO gear kicks major ass! I don't know why the entire MMA world seems to dislike them so much. Is it jealousy? Hate? Sour grapes?
- Beau Taylor
Tulsa, OK
Tape Lord's reply: I think it's just a matter of taste, and KTFO has no clue. Where to begin? KTFO has a lousy logo, lousy clothing design, lousy clothes, and an owner that seems to be putting his foot in his mouth every other day on the internet forums. The list goes on and on, but the bottom line is that KTFO has dug its own hole, and pretty much deserve all the criticisms they're recieving.
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Travis Lutter (left) brutally knocking out Marvin Eastman.American journalist
Keith Mills recently interviewed
Travis Lutter. Here's what Lutter had to say:
KM: Where are you in your training?
Lutter: I think we are in good shape and pretty excited about the fight.
KM: Are you doing anything different this time around?
Lutter: A little bit but nothing really exciting. Basically all the same.
KM: I thought it was obvious since your EVT fight you were working more on your boxing. (Note: Grzegorz Jakubowski, April 4th '04).
Lutter: Yeah. We've been boxing a lot. Sparring three times a week or something like that.
KM: At EVT you mentioned working on boxing but didn't really show it.
Lutter: No, we didn't really know much about the guy because they made a replacement at the last minute. I played it real safe and went after him that way.
KM: How would you describe that fight?
Lutter: Basically came out, jabbed a couple times, clinched, single leg to take him down, mounted him, he escaped, came up with his own single leg, I kimura'd his arm. It was fairly fast.
KM: I remember you kimura'd his arm standing and he was tapping on the way down.
Lutter: Yeah, he was hurt.
KM: What do you think about facing Matt Lindland?
Lutter: It's a great honor to fight anybody that has as much experience and is as good a fighter as he. He has accomplished a lot inside this sport and wrestling. I'm excited about getting to fight somebody of his caliber.
KM: He's pretty much the opposite of Marvin Eastman, your last opponent. You usually don't try to make an impression on the fans but does that mean anything to you the way your styles match up?
Lutter: No, all I'm concerned about is getting the "W"s. As long as I get my "W"s then good things will happen. I think I match up well with Matt and it is going to be a fun fight.
KM: You were talking about working your standup at the EVT fight and knocked out Eastman in your last fight while he tried to stand with Terrell. I'm speculating both of you may be planning on showing your standup a little more.
Lutter: It is really going to depend on him. If he sits back and tries to throw punches with me it will give me a chance to show more boxing. If he comes in and tries to clinch it is going to make it a lot more difficult. He has great takedowns and I don't really want to end up in a bad place on the ground. It will be good.
KM: What about the perception if both of you stick to your backgrounds on the ground you would neutralize each other?
Lutter: I think he is going to try. My wrestling is nothing compared to his but my combination of wrestling and jiu-jitsu... I always match up with wrestlers pretty good.
KM: How do you feel about winning your UFC debut? (Note: UFC 50 October 22nd '04).
Lutter: That was a good day. Taking the fight on short notice, getting the knockout... that was a good day.
KM: That surprised everybody you got the knockout.
Lutter: Yeah. Marvin is a great standup fighter but this isn't K-1, this isn't a boxing match, this is MMA. You got those tiny gloves and everybody hits hard. I didn't want to get hit by him either.
KM: Wasn't that your first knockout?
Lutter: I knocked down (Chris) Munsen. He went through the ropes but he wasn't out out so that was my first knockout.
KM: In that sense is there any sense of accomplishment that you proved you can knock somebody out?
Lutter: I was just happy to get the win. If I would have submitted him I would have felt just as good about it. Getting the knockout was a good day, it will be nice to get another one, but right now the main thing I'm concentrating on is getting the "W"s however they come.
KM: How is your gym going?
Lutter: The gym seems to be going really well. I'm not concentrating on it right now but it is doing what it is supposed to do. We got a lot of really good guys training there. We got a group of people going to the Pan-Americans this year. Everybody is doing well and getting better.
KM: Anybody in particular I should be watching for?
Lutter: Chris Westfall is going to do very well.
KM: Are you still going to the Lion's Den once a week?
Lutter: Actually I was supposed to fight Trevor Prangley in the UFC and that was a conflict of interest because those guys trained with both of us. They decided they weren't going to help train me for that fight so I quit going. I've been just training at my gym with my guys. Now Alex and Guy have been coming over and working out at my gym instead of me going over there.
KM: At the time you got into UFC you were scheduled to fight in WEC. Are you satisfied with the amount you are fighting now or should we look for you to fight outside the UFC between fights?
Lutter: It depends on what the UFC wants to do. This worked out pretty well I think as far as time between the fights. I was happy with it. If all of a sudden the UFC started to let me go a year... it's really going to be up to the UFC.
KM: We talked before about you twice winning ADCC qualifiers. How psyched are you to follow the ADCC Worlds in May?
Lutter: I'll be very excited to see who wins and how some of these guys do. It's pretty exciting, I wish I could be there. It's a cool competition that only comes around every other year so I'll definitely be watching.
KM: You haven't been competing in submission wrestling yourself?
Lutter: No, I have not since that Ultimate Submission show.
KM: Does this mean you yourself are concentrating on MMA and no longer submission wrestling or is submission wrestling just on hold because you are finding success in MMA?
Lutter: Just on hold. As long as I'm getting fights I'll definitely concentrate on MMA. If something should change I wouldn't have any problem going back and doing some submission wrestling.
KM: Sponsors to thank?
Lutter: Konjo Fight Gear and Sprawl.
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