UFC newcomer Rafael "Sapo" Natal has taken the losses of teammates Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida to heart.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt feels indebted to the Gracie family and says he won't let them down when he makes his octagon debut next month at UFC Fight Night 22 against Rich Attonito.

"I'm training harder to make sure that won't happen again," he recently told MMAjunkie.com.

Press Release

They are known for putting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on the map. Using revolutionary techniques that changed the face of combat sports forever, the legendary Gracie family consists of some of the best grapplers in the world. Now, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® prepares for its debut in the city of Boston, the Gracie family returns with its sights set on further solidifying its grappling domination.

UFC President Dana White announced today that the UFC® FAN EXPO™ in Boston will feature four grappling superfights, two of which will feature high-level black belts Rolles Gracie and Gregor Gracie of the Renzo Gracie Academy based out of New York City.

On Friday, Aug. 27 at 2PM ET, ADCC world champion Penny Thomas, fresh off her grappling superfight victory over MMA veteran Shayna Baszler at the UFC Fan Expo in May, takes on Team Lloyd Irvin product Tracey Goodell in an exciting women’s matchup. Plus, former UFC star Hermes Franca, a dangerous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who owns submission victories over the likes of Nate Diaz, Mike Brown, and Jamie Varner, takes on 23-time Grapplers Quest champion Ryan Hall.

Then, on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 12:30PM ET, the Gracie family invades the UFC Fan Expo with two explosive contests. First, UFC veteran and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Rolles Gracie takes on undefeated Grapplers Quest champion Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu. If that wasn’t enough, Renzo Gracie black belt Gregor Gracie, a four-time Grapplers Quest champion, locks horns with reigning ADCC world grappling champion Pablo Popovitch.

“The superfights in Boston give fans the chance to see some of the best grapplers in the world,” UFC President Dana White said. “With the Gracies, as well as the other competitors, we’ve got eight of the best grapplers in the sport. These are can’t-miss superfights for fans.”

Please note that all rings of the UFC Fan Expo tournament will be stopped during these Superfights, and that while fans will get to see all the tournament and Superfight action, seating will be limited and handled on a first come, first served basis.

This year’s UFC Fan Expo leads into UFC® 118: EDGAR vs. PENN 2 Presented by TAPOUT®, featuring the lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division kingpin BJ Penn. For more UFC Fan Expo information and to purchase tickets, visit UFCfanexpo.com. For companies interested in reserving space at this premier event, contact Ed Gallo, Event Director at 1-203-840-5546 or email egallo@ufcfanexpo.com.

Carlos Machado. Photo courtesy Carlos Machado Jiu-Jitsu.

Our feature interview this week on The FightWorks Podcast is with Carlos Machado, a returning guest to our show. What? You don’t remember our other conversation with Carlos? Well our last chat was in 2006, so I guess we can’t be too upset. We introduced that show by saying, “if there’s another surname that’s synonymous with jiu-jitsu along with Gracie, it’s ‘Machado’”, which is of course as true today as it was then.

Carlos is the oldest of the Machado brothers, cousins to the Gracie family who grew up alongside the Gracies on the mats, streets, and beaches of Rio de Janeiro as well as in the mountain town of Teresopolis where the Gracie estate was located. Carlos brings us back to those early days in the late seventies and early eighties when today’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu leadership were coming of age. We will hear rare details about Gracie family patriarch Carlos Gracie as well as Rolls Gracie, the son of Carlos Gracie who spent so much of his childhood with his uncle Helio that he referred to Helio as “father” also. A victim of a tragic early death caused by a hang gliding accident, Rolls is still considered one of jiu-jitsu’s most important innovators and remains beloved by all those who remember him.

From there Carlos Machado will bring us along to learn about the Machado brothers’ arrival in the United States around 1990 and their close relationship with martial arts celebrity Chuck Norris. So please join us for this visit to some very important moments in Brazilian jiu-jitsu history.

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show

Sergio Penha is one of the newest members of an elite club in Brazilian jiu-jitsu who have earned the red and black belt. After being a black belt for thirty-one years, he was awarded his red and black belt on June 7th at the 2010 BJJ World Championship alongside Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti and Mauricio Motta Gomes (Roger Gracie’s father).

Perhaps you have also heard of Sergio Penha for being “the man who almost beat Rickson Gracie“. That’s right, Penha was the closest to breaking the aura of invincibility of the lion of the Gracie family: Penha had racked up a significant lead against Rickson when in the final moments Rickson came back and submitted Penha just before the whistle blew.

And how many jiu-jitsu practitioners who have reached black belt do you know that were never a brown belt? I didn’t know any, until now. That’s right, Penha skipped brown belt altogether.

We will hear about all the above stories and much more straight from Rio de Janeiro native Sergio Penha himself in this episode of The FightWorks Podcast. But if there is one theme in the show, it is his sincere appreciation for the wonderful benefits that jiu-jitsu brings us.

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show

Sergio Penha displays the certificate awarded by the IBJJF certifying that he has reached red and black belt.

Kyra Gracie, Rilion Gracie, and Renzo Gracie last year at the 2009 BJJ World Championship.

Careful observers of the jiu-jitsu competition scene could not have missed a new entity on the registration lists for the 2010 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship that takes place this coming weekend. Also known as the Mundial, the event is the most highly regarded competition in the gi and draws the planet’s best jiu-jitsu athletes, so fans take note when several highly regarded competitors’ affiliation this year was listed as Gracie Elite Team.

So what is Gracie Elite Team, and how did it come about? The FightWorks Podcast caught up with Cesar Gracie and got a few answers. According to Cesar, the new squad is comprised of athletes from Gracie family members Ralph, Renzo, Rilion, Ryan, and from Cesar’s own crew. The intention was to put together a more formidable team than they might individually, and “shake things up a bit”. The idea to create the new team was proposed about a month ago. When asked if this was a team that jiu-jitsu practitioners can expect to see for many years to come in high-end competitions like the World Championship or if this was just an experiment, Cesar replied that you never know and that they would just see how it goes.

Gracie Elite Team’s 2010 Mundials black belt competitors:

Black / Brown Belt Women:

• Kyra Gracie (Leve)

Black Belt Men:

• Caio Terra (Galo)
• Joseph Capizzi (Galo)
• Almiro Barros dos Santos (Pluma)
• Samir Chantre (Pluma)
• Caio Almeida (Pena)
• Celso Venicius Alves (Leve)
• Joao Paulo Bertuccelli (Leve)
• Alexandro Ceconi (Pesado)
• Luiz Gustavo Costa (Pesado)
• Marcel Fortuna (Super-Pesado)
• Gabriel Vella (Pesadissimo)

(If you’re still having a hard time remembering what the different weight classes are, here’s a list.)

Several of the competitors listed are regular winners of medals in events like the World Championship like Alexandro Ceconi, Kyra Gracie, Caio Terra, and Gabriel Vella. Expect to see similar results this weekend in Gracie Elite Team’s debut performance.

Reila Gracie’s book, Carlos Gracie, the Creator of a Dynasty.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu fans all over the world like to do one thing when they are not on the mats training jiu-jitsu: they like to talk about and learn more about BJJ. In 2008, jiu-jitsu practitioners received a just what they need to feed that hunger, in the form of Reila Gracie’s book Carlos Gracie, the Creator of a Dynasty. Two years later we bring you this interview with Reila Gracie, with new information about the book’s availability to those outside Brazil.

The FightWorks Podcast: You wrote a book about your father’s life. Tell us about the book.

Reila Gracie: The story is too long and complex to be summed up in a few words. But I can put forth that I did not make a book just for jiu-jitsu practitioners, although this group may identify most with the story. The book could be of interest to any person for the unusual stories and for tackling subjects that go beyond the martial art. There’s an interlacing of various lives that came together in the life of my father, be it from jiu-jitsu or the mystical influence he exerted inside and outside our family. And the book also discusses the diet that he created based on the chemical combination of foods and their use, complemented by medicinal herbs, and the treatment of many illnesses.


The FightWorks Podcast: The Gracie family is not only is the family internationally known for spreading jiu-jitsu around the world, but it is a particularly large family. What was that like for you personally as you were growing up?

Reila Gracie: Growing up among many brothers was not easy at all, mostly because the family’s professional project was directed exclusively for men. On top of being immense, my family also possessed particular characteristics and was structured like a clan. But, despite the difficulties, I feel privileged for having been able to coexist so closely with such people and having a rich diversity of experiences and feelings. Thanks to the support I always received from my father I learned to observe events from a certain distance and this made it possible for me to find my own path and later write this book.

The FightWorks Podcast: Was the book popular in Brazil? Did it sell many copies?



Reila Gracie: The book was very well received in Brazil. The first edition sold out in two months and and the second edition is coming to an end. As it’s a book of historical reference, and deals with basic human questions, I consider it timeless and as such will always attract an interested public.


The FightWorks Podcast: Carlos Gracie, the Creator of a Dynasty was already written for several years before it was published. What caused the delay?
 
Reila Gracie: There was no delay in getting it published, as the publisher was ready to go. It was I who took ten years to write it, because researching the life of one’s own father and of the whole family was not an easy task. To reach the necessary distance and avoid that my own emotions contaminate the book with my view and understanding of the facts, there were times I needed to stop working and that’s why it took so long.

The FightWorks Podcast: The book was critical of some members of the Gracie family. What type of feedback have you received about the book from family members?

 
Reila Gracie: The majority praised the book a lot and some did not want to give an opinion. But I know that even those who have benefited from the false of our history that has been spread in the last twenty years, enjoyed the book because I was very careful in telling the facts without resorting to sensationalism. I wrote a serious book, that places Carlos Gracie in the place that he earned, and no one can deny the facts when they are shown with documented proof. And all those who participated in my father’s life, including himself, are exposed as human beings who sometimes make mistakes and sometimes get things right, not like gods or supermen. “I understand that each person has their own time; it’s necessary to respect the moment of each.” I ended the book with that sentence.

Roger Gracie victorious again in jiu-jitsu competition.

The FightWorks Podcast: Your son Roger Gracie is the most dominant Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor today. When he was growing up, was there any sign he was going to be special? What is it like being the mother of a jiu-jitsu athlete in the Gracie family?


Reila Gracie: Roger always demonstrated a physical ability, but because I found him especially sensitive and devoid of aggression, I feared that the fight world would turn him into a brute. With the death of my brother Rolls, I became cynical about the future of jiu-jitsu and stopped going to tournaments. I felt that I should offer Roger more options so he would have the liberty to chose, and find his own options. I took him to swimming, soccer, visual arts courses, music, and also jiu-jitsu. At 13 he decided to participate in some jiu-jitsu tournaments and he didn’t perform well, lowering the expectations of him. There were others in that generation who showed more ability and possibilities. At 15 years old Roger got tired of losing, lost weight, and began to take training seriously. From 16 years old onward he began to win all the tournaments until he reached becoming the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner in the world.

The FightWorks Podcast: What is it like being the mother of an athlete in the Gracie family?

Reila Gracie: Being Roger’s mother always filled me with pride, and the fact that he allowed me to actively participate in the contruction of his career broke a taboo in the family: that a female Gracie does not have an opinion about fighting and does not participate actively in decisions related to jiu-jitsu. As his professional career took root at the same time as I was writing the book, I was able to feel like my father was sending him important philosophical lessons.

The FightWorks Podcast: Brazilian jiu-jitsu has spread outside Brazil to the rest of the world. What are your thoughts on the direction Brazilian jiu-jitsu has taken? And how do you think your father would view jiu-jitsu as it exists today?


Reila Gracie: I particularly feel like there should be greater investment by the academies in transmitting the philosophical aspects that my father instilled in this martial art. Because for him jiu-jitsu was more than a way to help a student overcome physical and psychological difficulties and to be able to integrate with the world in a way that is more safe and confident. A way of preserving health in all aspects and becoming a better and wiser human being.

The FightWorks Podcast: How do you think your father would view jiu-jitsu as it exists today?

Reila Gracie: My father was an optimist and he was always looked to focus on the positive aspects of life and of people, so, I’m sure that he would adore the amazing diffusion that jiu-jitsu has reached all over the world.

The FightWorks Podcast: Many people outside Brazil are interested in reading the book in English. Are there any plans to translate the book to English, and if so, when will it be available?

Reila Gracie: The book is being translated into English already and I believe that in September the translation work will be done. It will probably be available to Americans in this coming year, that is to say, in 2011.

The FightWorks Podcast: If your book has one message, what is it?

Reila Gracie: The reader will find various positive messages in the book, because above all it’s a book about life lessons. The trajectory of a man with few possibilities, who searched for direction in his life and when he found it, positioned himself ahead of his own destiny and made history. A collective story that transcends the Gracie clan and conquered the world, and that today belongs to everyone who wears a gi and practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu with honor.

Many thanks to Reila for the interview. For more background on the book, check out this FightWorks Podcast video!

According to DREAM matchmaker Daisuke Soto on Ustream, a very big fight might be going down at Dream 14. It’s the return of one of the sports greatest rivalries: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. The Gracie Family. The Gracie Hunter is possibly prepping to go on the hunt against the new generation of Gracie family members, starting off with Ralek Gracie.

Ralek Gracie is the grandson of Helio Gracie and the son of Rorion Gracie, the original founder of The Ultimate Fighting Championship. Gracie made the jump to MMA in 2008, and has gone 2-0 with submission victories in both of his fights. His recent fight was at DREAM 4 against Alavutdin Gadzhiyev, whom Gracie dispatched of with an armbar and round one.

Sakuraba currently holds victories over Royce, Renzo, Ryan, and Royler Gracie back in the PRIDE promotion. The last time Sakuraba fought a Gracie was in 2007, against Royce Gracie at K-1’s first MMA event in America. Lately, Sakuraba has picked up victories over boxer Rubin Williams and Croation Zelg Galesic via submission.

A legendary rivalry will begin again, and this time the rivalry goes to the cage.

Ryron and Reylan Gracie during a recent visit to Virginia.

Last week two of Rorion Gracie’s sons, Ryron and Reylan visited FightWorks Academy in Northern Virginia, where cohost Dan runs the school. This week on the show we bring you a conversation between Ryron, Reylan, and Dan. Ryron and Reylan discuss what it is like to grow up as a member of the Gracie family, with its corresponding pressure and expectations; their thoughts on whether competition is necessary to earn your jiu-jitsu black belt; the past contributions of the Gracie family and what they believe the future holds for Gracie family members.

We will also cover a ton of listener email from the Mighty 600,000 on topics as varied as Atos Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, women’s weight divisions in competition, and more!

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (recommended)
[mp3] Download the show

Thomas Gerbasi, UFC - If there is one trademark of the Gracie family, it's the remarkable ability to perform and persevere in situations that would break most people. Whether it was Royce fighting and beating those who were bigger, stronger, and faster than him in the early UFC's, Renzo refusing to tap out to Kazushi Sakuraba's kimura in PRIDE, Rickson's overall brilliance in competition, the understated grace of Royler, or the intensity of Ryan, the members of the first family of mixed martial arts have been remarkably proficient at defusing pressure when the lights are at their brightest.

Relson, Helio, Margarida, Richard Bresler, and Rolls. Photo courtesy of Bresler.

For many, jiu-jitsu’s arrival in the United States can be traced back to 1993 when Royce Gracie demonstrated jiu-jitsu’s effectiveness at UFC 1. However the Gracie family had actually been working hard to spread the word long before. On Sunday our guest on the show will be Richard Bresler, a black belt in jiu-jitsu under Fabio Santos. Bresler was present in the earliest days of jiu-jitsu in the United States when Rorion arrived in Los Angeles to begin sharing his family’s art with the world. Bresler spent much of the 1980’s training under Rorion at a time when no one knew what “jiu-jitsu” meant.

Get ready for tales of the Gracie Challenge, training days with many Gracie brothers on the mats at once, and the beginnings of the UFC. You may have heard vague references to this time frame and maybe seen Gracie in Action, but Bresler will tell stories that surely have not been shared before!