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Carlson Gracie Team Successful In Paying Homage With Team Trophies

Carlson Gracie Team Successful In Paying Homage With Team Trophies

 

 

Earlier this year marked the 10th anniversary of Carlson Gracie’s passing. The legend is one of the most beloved jiu-jitsu figures of all time.

Back when Carlson Gracie (Son of Carlos Gracie) decided to leave the Gracie Academy in Rio de Janiero and to teach Jiu-Jitsu to common people, a rivalry started with his uncle Helio.  He started the famous Carlson Gracie Academy and for the first time in BJJ, he was teaching group classes open to all including lower classes. Helio had previously only taught private classes at a high price and reserved for the higher classes. Carlson also allowed some poor students to train without paying but demanded full commitment in exchange. Carlson was know for his generosity, and kind heart.

Carlson Gracie Sr Quotes & Words Of Wisdom

 

Helio Gracie was against Carlson’s decision to teach Jiu-Jitsu to common people. As a reaction, Carlson said that he would train his fighters to defeat Helio’s sons. The famous Wallid Ismail vs Royce Gracie match was the most famous example.

Later on Carlson Gracie Team established itself as a powerhouse in both MMA and bjj competitions.  But the team eventually split and awarded itself another spot in the history – among most controversial team changes in bjj history.

Lead by the charismatic Carlson Gracie, they had fighters such as Ricardo Liborio, Amauri Bitetti, Paulo Filho, Murilo Bustamante, Ze Mario Sperry, Cassio Cardoso, Fernando Pinduka, Walid Ismail, De La Riva, Ricardo Arona, Ari Galo, Sergio Bolão etc..

 

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In 2000, things fell apart at Team Carlson Gracie. Carlson Gracie had moved to the USA in the 90’s and the students left behind still had to pay the academy a percentage of their fight purse when competing. Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Liborio, Mario Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte left the gym to form their own school, focused completely on training fighters for MMA. Brazilian Top Team was born. Ricardo Arona, Vitor Belfort and both the Nogueira brothers joined BTT. In 2003, there was another break up as Liborio left Brazil for Florida and established American Top Team. In 2007, the Nogueira brothers would leave BTT and form their own gym. Their students include champions like Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Paulo Filho and Rafael Cavalcante. An offshoot of ATT is the Blackzilians.

But at this World Masters they chose to reunite and honor the memory of Carlson Gracie Senior by once again competing as a team.

Naturally such powerhouses combined their legacy and conquered the coveted Team Trophy in both male and female categories.

Carlson Gracie’s son Carlson Gracie Jr accepted the trophies in front of a large crowd of gathered supporters.

 

 

The numbers stand at:

Master Male was won by Carlson Gracie Team by a landslide, 2nd place belonged to Gracie Barra at 283 and the third went to Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu. The female division was somewhat closer but still largely dominant by Carlson Gracie Team – with 103 medals for first spot followed by Ribeiro JJ and Gracie Barra with 87 and 85 respectively.

 

A video posted by FloGrappling (@flograppling) on