Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Experts Only Classic Jiu-Jitsu Techniques from the Master

Carlson Gracie is the man who ushered Brazilian jiu-jitsu into the modern era. The oldest son of Carlos Gracie-who founded Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s-Carlson reigned as world champion for thirty years in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. He was never defeated in nineteen professional fights. During this time, he was also considered one of the preeminent teachers of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the world-a reputation he holds to this day. Carlson catapulted to fame at the tender age of seventeen when he avenged the defeat of his uncle Helio. A former student of Helio's, Waldemar Santana, had defeated the much older Helio in a match in 1955. That match lasted four hours and is still the longest in modern history. Carlson's match with Santana in 1956 was a much shorter affair: four rounds of vicious vale-tudo combat left Santana bloodied, beaten, and unable to crawl back into the ring. Riding on his newfound fame, Carlson became the most sought-after jiu-jitsu instructor in Brazil. After teaching at his uncle's academy for several years, he opened his own, where over the past thirty years many of the greatest names in jiu-jitsu and no-holds-barred fighting have trained as members of the famed Carlson Gracie Arrebentacao Team. Born under the sign of Leo, Carlson's success in the ring and the academy owes something to the fearless and tenacious leadership qualities of that sign. Brazilian jiu-jitsu's conquest of the mixed martial arts world might not have happened without Carlson's lion-hearted decision to teach everything he knew at his academy. At the time, Helio's academy taught only the most basic positions to outsiders, reserving the advanced positions for the family elite. Carlson opened up Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the masses, and the masses responded, hungry to learn everything they could. To compete for students, the other academy was forced to offer all their positions as well. This good-natured competition breathed creativity and invention into Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and the sport has never been the same since. Carlson's influence on no-holds-barred fighting is extensive as well, for the style of jiu-jitsu he taught at his academy was distinct from that being taught by Helio. While Helio's brand of jiu-jitsu emphasized technical proficiency, Carlson favored a "warrior style" of jiu-jitsu that encouraged physical prowess and barraging your opponent with a series of attacks. Watch any Pride or UFC event today and you can see Carlson's influence. A big-hearted man who embraces life with a wide smile, an inquisitive mind, and a deep spirit, Carlson Gracie considers his proudest achievement to be the scores of students that he has instilled with his love for the sport that changed his life. Carlson now lives in Chicago, where he continues to train the next generation of champions. He can be reached at: www.carlsongracieopen.com. Julio "Foca" Fernandez was born in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Julio started training in judo when he was six years old. At age seventeen he started training in jiu-jitsu with Carlson Gracie. He has been training under Carlson for thirty years and is a fourth-degree black belt, logging more than two hundred matches as a member of the world famous Carlson Gracie Team, where he fought alongside many of the greatest names in jiu-jitsu and competed in all significant jiu-jitsu tournaments in Brazil in the 1980s. Among other awards, Julio is a five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu Feather Weight Champion, two-time Minas Gerais / Rio de Janeiro Challenge Champion, and three-time Rio de Janeiro State Champion. In addition to his jiu-jitsu prowess, Julio was a world-class surfer. He was twice Rio de Janeiro State Champion and three-time Brazilian College Champion, as well as being a member of the Company Surf Competition Team and Brazilian Nuts Surf Competition Team. Julio's surfing career ended with his move to Vermont in the 1990s. But his career as a top-notch Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher was just beginning. Along with the Gracies, he became one of the pioneers in the movement to bring Brazilian jiu-jitsu to America, and his Burlington, Vermont, academy has produced many champions in sport jiu-jitsu, freestyle jiu-jitsu, and NHB. As president of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu United States Association (BJJUSA), Julio is committed to seeing that his students learn properly and completely the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He teaches with great affection, does not criticize, and helps his students to feel inspired. Among many other accomplishments, Julio's team has won multiple New England Open Grappling Championships, NAGA Championships, and Pan-American Championships. The cofounder of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu Revolution Team with his friend Rodrigo Medeiros, another black belt member of Carlson's elite team, Julio continues to train students at his Vermont academy and enter his team in elite events and competitions. For information about associated schools and where to best learn the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, visit the websites www.bjjusa.com and www.bjjrevolutionteam.com.Gracie, Carlson is the author of 'Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Experts Only Classic Jiu-Jitsu Techniques from the Master', published 2004 under ISBN 9781931229340 and ISBN 1931229341.