One of the great symbols in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will soon cease to exist. The Padre Antônio Vieira school, located in Humaitá, South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, previously housed the academy of Grand Master Hélio Gracie in the 1980s. However, the school is slated for demolition.
According to journalist Marcelo Alonso, the site will be redeveloped for a new real estate project in the city. No further details were provided about the planned redevelopment of the location.
Grand Master Hélio Gracie’s gym was situated on the third floor of the school. There, the iconic Jiu-Jitsu master taught the refined techniques of the gentle art to all of his children. Rorion Gracie, creator of the UFC, even taught at the school before relocating to the United States.
Grand Master Hélio Gracie was instrumental in spreading Jiu-Jitsu throughout Brazil and worldwide, with a fighting system that prioritized self-defense and the use of technique over brute force. The legendary sports figure passed away in 2009 in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro.
