Rickson Gracie has spoken openly about the deep depression he experienced following the tragic loss of his 18-year-old son, Rockson.

In an appearance on the Pura Vida podcast, Gracie described how the grief nearly consumed him and how he eventually found a way to rebuild his life:

With his passing I was left devastated.
I really wanted to embrace the pain and jump into a lake with 200 kg on my chest.

For almost two years, Gracie allowed himself to fully sit with his grief. He stopped training, stopped surfing, and lost all motivation to engage with life:

I spent almost two years like this with no desire to train no desire to surf.
I had a serious drop in testosterone.

I got depressed because I didn’t do anything and I didn’t act like I had to get back to normal.

He explained that his approach to grief was deliberate – choosing not to minimize it or escape through coping mechanisms.
To him, losing a loved one was like losing a limb:

When you lose an arm, you are not able to recover that arm…

So what you have to do, in fact, is reinvent yourself – to be reborn again without the arm.

A turning point came when he decided to build a memorial platform in a tree behind his house.

Spending three weeks on the project gave him a sacred space to meditate and feel connected to Rockson while overlooking the ocean.
And, out of tragedy, he discovered a new understanding of time:

Until Rockson’s passing, time didn’t mean much to me. When Rockson left, I discovered that tomorrow may never come.

I don’t waste my time anymore. The time we live, the present, the moment I currently have – a value like this…
I treat it like a diamond.

Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents

💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win? 💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers? It’s not your age. It’s your strategy. If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you. 🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:

Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu

Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.

Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.