Carlson Gracie, one of the most important coaches in jiu-jitsu and MMA history, will be honored with a statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.

Grandmaster Carlson Gracie, Sr was the eldest son of Carlos Gracie, founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu with his uncle Hélio Gracie, and learned the art from his uncle and his father.

Back when Carlson 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.

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.

“It was a real fight to get this statue approved,” Mauricio Carneiro, a black belt under Carlson Gracie and one of the leaders of the project, told MMA Fighting on Thursday.

”The statue is expected to be installed on Aug. 12, which is when Carlson Gracie liked to celebrate his birthday. Even though his birth certificate said he was born on the 13th, he didn’t like that day, so he always celebrated on the 12th.”

Gracie mentored a long list of champions and coaches that includes Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort, Paulo Filho, Ricardo Arona, Stephan Bonnar, Andre Pederneiras, Mario Sperry, Wallid Ismail, Amauri Bitetti, Ricardo Liborio, Conan Silveira, Ricardo De La Riva and Miguel Torres.