Renshi Kyl posted this on his website. Helio I believe stood with other martial arts greats that have passed including Mas Oyama, Morihei Ueshiba, Gogen Yamaguchi, Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi and others. These men changed the way people defended themselves and their loved ones and for this we thank them.
Kyoshi Brad
Last Thursday the world lost arguably one of the greatest pioneers of modern Martial Arts.
Helio Gracie, the founder of the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu passed away last week aged 95. This is a man who right up to his death was training regularly, and was a true champion in the way he carried both himself and the Gracie name.
Throughout his martial arts career, he did what alot of styles are too afraid to do and openly invited fighters to defeat him so he could prove to the world that his style was superior. This is something that was instilled into his seven sons and two daughters, all of which have carried that tradition. I have had the privilege to train with Royler, one of his sons, and it is evident that their passion for their art is unrivaled.
For all those who ever think that they they are too weak, or not the build needed to be a martial artist, this is a man who as a weak and feeble 16 year old was finally allowed to join in and train with his brothers, and adapted the Jiu Jitsu style that was being practiced at the time to suit his stature, and developed a series of leverage principles and techniques that reflected this. This is demonstrated in some of his challenge matches, which went for as long as 3 hours.
I urge all of you when you are training next to think of Helio and what can be achieved when your mind is set on a goal.
Renshi Kyl
BJMA EAST COAST 