- Royce Gracie called out MMA gyms and coaches prioritizing competition over self-defense
- The Brazilian is one of the most respected pioneers of MMA
MMA legend Royce Gracie has vented his disappointment over the wrong mentality that modern MMA gyms and coaches have been instilling in their pupils. For the BJJ icon, learning self-defense should always be the top priority of all practitioners and not being competitive at a high level.
Focus on the right Goal
According to Gracie, MMA practitioners have been motivated by the glare of winning in competitions when the main focus should be on how to defend themselves. The former UFC champion blames the academies and coaches for the spread of this mindset over the years.
“Nobody enters the martial art because he wants to compete. No one puts a son to take up martial arts because he wants his son to win a championship. Parents want the child to learn to defend himself. A lady, a woman, goes into martial art because she wants to learn to defend herself,” Gracie pointed out.
“The academies forgot the essence of martial art. The academy influences this competition business the most,” he added.
The originators of BJJ
The Gracie family has long been famous for introducing Brazilian jiu-jitsu to mainstream combat sports. Royce was one of its pioneers, having won countless titles and awards in BJJ tournaments. He was even hailed as the first-ever UFC champion by beating Gerard Gordeau via submission.
Royce has a pro MMA record of 15-2-3 and he last fought at Bellator 149 in 2016 where he TKO’d Ken Shamrock in their epic trilogy match. Even though Royce has been officially retired for years, he still trains with some of the most decorated grapplers in the world, including Gordon Ryan.
Quotes vis Globo
