Royce Gracie on Winning UFC #1 and Being a MMA Pioneer

JRE MMA Show #156 w/Royce Gracie
KZbin: • JRE MMA Show #156 with...
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[@mjwbulich]

Those early UFC days were a lot of fun. Gracie, Abbott, Frye, Severen, Shamrock, Taktarov, all these fighters from different places with different styles. It was like Street Fighter come to life.

[@CornDude12]

Don the fuckin predator frye

[@michaelpenirelli9003]

It was like that for me. At that time I was into Street Fighter 2 at the arcade. I was a kid so when I saw it I viewed Gracie vs Shamrock kinda like Ryu vs Ken

[@1individeo]

well, not exactly... did you notice there was no Muay Thai, Letwei or Sambo in the first events? Any martial art that could grapple, clinch or wrestle was not invited because the goal was to make the best Martal Arts ad ever. They did have Shamrock but he was no olympic wrestler. And they did better than they expected. Only around UFC 4 they allowed any kind of fighter to participate and guys like Tartakov started to emerge. They invited Bill Superfoot Wallace for UFC 1, because he was very popular in MA world at the time, but he asked to change the rules to something similar to todays MMA rules. They refused and he ended up being the commentator of the event (the first Joe rogan). Try to look on the web for "the Gracie Conspiracy"

[@baatunde1980]

Don Frye was a bad bad man! Certified ass kicker

[@wardengentles53]

Don Frye was ALWAYS worth the price of admission

[@thakingofdetroit]

A friend had UFC 1 playing at a party in the background, everyone else was partying, I was locked in...shit changed my life lol

[@n1kobefan]

Sounds gay.

[@vegetaspride69]

@@n1kobefan you're gay

[@thakingofdetroit]

@@n1kobefan what does that even mean?

[@dragopoolos]

So, you started training and became an UFC champ or become a degenerate sports gambler likes the rest of us?

[@thakingofdetroit]

@@dragopoolos lol what an oddly specific range of outcomes 🤣

[@dealincat933]

Instant click

[@thedethrocker8858]

Fucking oath buddy

[@bryanstevenson912]

This comment is about to get thousands of likes

[@ViolinMustard-jo3hp]

Instant thumbs up to this

[@loudawg907]

Absolutely

[@e.t.5456]

I’m not a big fan of the sport but even I know this gonna be a juicy one

[@leonardwilliams7772]

The SECOND, severn tapped, immortality set in. At THAT moment, there was zero doubt anymore. STILL, the best crowd eruption ever. I saw it.

[@andrewehrmantraut4742]

Rorion's brilliance for showcasing Jiu Jitsu was picking Royce to represent the family. Royce's brother Rickson was already a world class fighter in Japan, but Rickson looked like Ken Shamrock, and looked like he could kick anybody ass. They picked Royce because he was a skinny kid and looked unassuming. It was absolutely BRILLIANT marketing showcasingnthe family's legacy and changed the way the whole world looks at fighting.

[@soakedbearrd]

The first 5 ufcs were like the movie bloodsport for me, I was instantly hooked and Royce was the man.

[@OrangeJuicePapi]

This guy was at UFC 1 and still looks fantastic. Wow

[@johngillespie3409]

Bjj doesn't face punch, so yeah💪🤣

[@kellyallen8528]

Yeah Rogan looks like he hasn't aged a bit.

[@tresbien1837]

@@kellyallen8528Rogan wasn’t at UFC 1 you fool. Leave the jokes to the funny ones.

[@neverascent]

you should see the other guys.

[@radioclash84]

He is also latino though. They age much, much better than white guys. Plus clean living.​@johngillespie3409

[@TheNaturalust]

I started with Royce when we were both untrained and learning the basics from Rorion. I spent hours locked in a grapple with him. We were similarly skilled and I still can’t believe it. Rorion was the man. I remember the day he quit training me personally and said I’m going to pair you with Royce because you are both learning the very same thing. We did 2 hours training every other day in the beginning and we started with EVERYTHING we learned previously before we learned a single new thing. Royce, can’t believe how awesome you became. We learned together back in 1985/1986. You have become a fine man my friend! -Tod

[@josephlittle1752]

I know this is real because he was clearly an adult in 1985 and only someone over the age of 50 would think his comment would be read. Story is awesome

[@TheNaturalust]

@@josephlittle1752 Who could make up such a story, that’s only a bit of it, but basically learning all these years later how far Royce took it just makes me super proud of him. My bragging days are far behind me but my sons are impressed. Rorion was the true spark and the mentor for all of us! Aloha Joseph.

[@josephlittle1752]

@@TheNaturalust I didn’t mean it to insult if that came across that way, genuinely sounds cool and real to me. Aloha!

[@TheNaturalust]

@@josephlittle1752 no worries I wasn’t insulted, maybe a tad confused so I clarified a bit. Take good care!

[@jesusthroughmary]

Royce was already a black belt by 1985

[@davidcaldera1353]

This one was a long time coming

[@dwavyy300]

HES been on the show before lmao

[@Hullabaloo23]

fr bro definitely GOAT material

[@davidcaldera1353]

@@dwavyy300 really? I thought it was just Rickson Gracie

[@theevolutionofthebear3093]

I was a black belt in traditional karate when the UFC started. I thought I knew how to fight, then in a matter of 20 min I realized I knew nothing. (edit) Some goofy comments.......This was over 30 years ago. No cell phones, no internet......it was a different time.

[@healer81]

GSP and Stephan Thompson have done Karate right. The problem is most gyms don't have pressure testing. GSP had real-life experience because he grew up getting into real fights to put his martial arts to the test. Most people that take up martial arts are civilized so they don't get to practice.

[@swibwi]

(fun fact) before big john fury suffered his catastrophic under water welding injury whilst saturation diving in the south Chinese sea mid 80's this was.. he was fluent in 37 languages, taught mindfulness courses and opened the very first clinic for cats with erectile dysfunction , he was a true Renaissance man , the Caucasian sensation,straight as an arrow and as sure as the bow that fired it , god speed

[@NotaGabeItch]

@@swibwiwtf did I just read

[@lasanhaMomento]

​@@healer81lyoto Machida

[@healer81]

@@lasanhaMomento ahh yes of course

[@justbob2133]

Starting with UFC 1, we watched all the originals at my brother's place. He would order the PPV, and I would bring the wings. Those tournaments were crazy! No weight classes, no gloves, no rules(except for biting & eye gouges), and here's this little brazilian guy kicking ass on EVERYBODY!!! Thanks Royce, you are the man! Those are great memories.

[@GeneralShermansMarch]

...and no fish hooking, oddly enough. There were 3 rules

[@Beastie_Boy33]

back in high school, me and a couple friends rented UFC#1 from blockbuster couldn't believe what we were watching. this dude changed combat sports forever. he looks like he could still destroy dudes half his age and twice his size

[@elplugomma4206]

Love royce but naw he got his shit beat late in his career MMA has evolved

[@Narrator007]

@@elplugomma4206 True, but it likely evolved BECAUSE of him

[@darrellainsworth4539]

What a legend, beating people twice his size

[@marcinlebida6730]

Well. There were no rules 😅 still fun af to watch innit ?:)

[@macmichaels2239]

And got beat by a guy half his size.

[@nobrkt]

@@macmichaels2239 Gracie Killer! The Legend!!

[@robroy9185]

Royce had to fight 3 guys in one night to win the Championship.

[@tylerchapman9234]

I never saw him fight. He would just pull guard and submit ppl

[@Solidus__]

The definition of a legend, BJJ saved my life

[@rowdyrout477]

I still remember watching this live! Changed my whole perspective.. awakening

[@kramer1372]

..truly…it was like magic…my friends and I, just could not figure out how he was doing it, ha…amazing…

[@jordanalexander5275]

You're showing your age!

[@jonrobbin170]

LEGEND. Dude was my idol in elementary school

[@weeniehutsr1205]

cap

[@johncena3034]

​@@weeniehutsr1205how tf do you cap something like that lmaoo

[@Zdjiugbr124]

@@johncena3034he’s trolling lol

[@weeniehutsr1205]

@@johncena3034 take it easy john cena

[@JasonStorm419]

​@@weeniehutsr1205 Take it easy, weenie, lol.

[@d0ublestr0ker0ll]

I always loved Royce's game face, he always looked slightly pissed.

[@KD0LRG]

I remember this on cable PPV. He was a killer for his size. Those old UFC fights were the best.

[@juggalo4life247]

It's been a long time since I watched a ufc fight that got my heart pumping.those classic fights were legendary!!!

[@chrisvand2678]

I guess you didn't see Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje..

[@bigpickles]

Dropped everything for this one

[@Azhalan]

Royce Gracie was incredibly important for MMA because he was the living proof that grappling was very efficient in 1 on 1 fights. BJJ literally changed the way fighters thought about the importance of grappling and being able to defend against it.

[@DouglasGomesBueno-jw9lh]

Everyone who train Judo in 80s know how Grappling are efficient, Kimura Master of Judo Mop the floor with Hélio Gracie in Brazil.

[@thakingofdetroit]

I don't know who I idolized more growing up...this guy, or Jordan.

[@spo0ny2k]

You idolized guys

[@majinvegeta3181]

​@@spo0ny2kwith his hands 😂

[@thebilsproject]

Royce Gracie the OG the Goat 🙌🏻

[@billbennett9537]

OG for sure, would disagree about being the goat.

[@jking5772]

Legend. Hands-down, the guy that put MMA on the map.

[@TruLuan]

He signed my Blue Belt back in 2011 at a seminar were i got promoted. I'll never forget that day.

[@luiscruz7343]

I remember one day my brother and i were watching WWF and my father said "this aint real. Its not real fighting. Let me show you something real" he had a tape of UFC 1and it changed our lives forever. My brother and I eventually enrolled in karate and we represented the U.S in a pan american championship. And part of the reason was watching royce!

[@josephbanker3829]

Whoa whoa whoa, what you mean WWF ain't real... imagine Bret Hitman Hart putting Gracie in a Sharpshooter .. would be over

[@Dj_lilfate]

@@josephbanker3829I train in bjj and sometimes I think it would be funny to try a sharpshooter on someone lol

[@redtaipei]

Why karate and not BJJ if UFC1 changed ur life?

[@shoeplayisbad1]

Bret wouldn't last two minutes And the minutes bret had legs within reach its over​@@josephbanker3829

[@luiscruz7343]

@redtaipei my dad did karate so that what he was familiar with also there was a karate dojo less than 10 minutes away from where we lived

[@JMag1]

I worked a 12 hr shift last night in the emergency department and still stayed up after work to watch this. Royce is a living legend.

[@Thedudeabides803]

A real living legend. Watching his fights, the best fighting videos you’ll ever see. David vs Goliath.

[@dreddykrugernew]

I watched this when I was about 15 years old in the 90s, this was the real UFC, so inspirational to see someone like Royce do what he did it was like watching magic, if anyone needs inspiration in anything in life and need some belief just watch UFC 1 and Royce Gracie...

[@smokebreakmma6524]

Legend gets thrown around a lot but this man is the definition of a legend.

[@mikeradie7758]

Excellent conversation, would love to see more. What a great humble man 👊

[@vincesheedy9751]

I'll always remember watching the first few UFC's on VHS at my buddy's house. We thought it was the coolest thing we ever seen. Much respect Royce

[@gordonj.wallis2826]

I wrestled in high school. I always thought dirty wrestling would be a good martial art. And when I saw Royce, and the double leg take down.. wow!! I didn’t wonder anymore if a wrestler could beat a boxer. I knew.

[@darrellainsworth4539]

Except he was a bjj black belt not a wrestler

[@jking5772]

Agree. Pure grappling > pure striking

[@williambarton5681]

@@darrellainsworth4539 A wrestler can still land a double leg and then do ground and pound.

[@jessegarcia291]

I met and spoke with him in Japan. He is a legend and a gentleman.

[@TedAlexandro]

Royce Gracie is the definition of the word legend. Those early fights of his were like watching a magician.

[@madchad77]

Watched it live. Those were the best days.

[@victormartin6608]

Royce Gracie inspired me then and now.

[@mbieb1]

Royce Gracie choked me out one time :) He is a legend, and a truly GOOD dude. I have so much respect for this man! He is so humble, and willing to share his knowledge and experience. Thank you for taking time out to train us, Royce!

[@mocarpenter8836]

Royce = Living Legend!!

[@mikehicks304]

This makes me respect him so much more than I did before. The true 🐐 of fighting.

[@bjjbrawler1]

I am old enough to have experienced this. 1994 saw the second UFC, 1995 saw an ad in Black Belt magazine and signed up training with David Lentz in NJ. Renzo and Craig Kukuk were training there. Steve Maxwell in Philly was the only other practitioner at that time. Good stuff, crazy to look back at it all.

[@shaner67]

Thank you for bringing Mr Gracie on the show.. The most honourable guest ever in my opinion.. All the best to you both. 👍

[@dasnutnock6408]

I remember seeing my first UFC (3, I think) back in the mid 90s and not having a clue what I was seeing. Years of watching martial arts movies led me to expect to see two guys stand in front of each other, exchanging unblocked roundhouse kicks to the head for several minutes, before one finally went down. When they started grappling on the floor, I genuinely couldn't understand what was going on, and the submissions just left me completely bamboozled. Definitely an eye-opening experience. Royce and his family really showed us the way, huh...

[@MartialArtUK]

Best interview of the year. Wish my experience of bjj had this approach to teaching I would still be a gracie jujitsu student

[@lukemoody6299]

Theirs a gym for everyone

[@rickmarvelli9238]

From a UFC fan from the beginning this is a huge treat! As Royce once correctly declared from the Octagon, “This is MY house!” All respect and honor to him!

[@robgau2501]

Royce!!!! It's great to see him. Brings me back.

[@jopo7996]

Royce Gracie is on UFC's Mt. Rushmore with GSP, Anderson Silva and Brendan Schaub.

[@Pgeorgiex]

Big Brown? lol

[@mass-cp6jf]

hahahah bapa

[@KinoTechUSA69]

Bapa whadarwedewinhere

[@CoachMak]

😂

[@mitchelldriggers8522]

Did u really add shaub in this lol

[@cassiox.fernandes1054]

the Cornerstone of the UFC. It should have a statue of him in front of UFC's HQ

[@TRICKYRIDE]

Thus guy is a legend to legends

[@axlbazz1]

I remember watching the first, 2-3rd.. etc UFC. It blew us all away. Nobody had ever seen anything so damn gangster. No rules. No weight classes. When Royce won, it was inconceivable. The smallest guy. I remember my guy was Dan Severn(?) Then the next year he won again. After that, every time the VHS tapes would come out, we'd buy it . When they imposed rules, we were upset and like dumb young men, we didn't watch it for a couple years... Lol What a ride we've been on, my friends. I can't believe Royce, now lives in my town. Hopefully I'll run into him one day

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

Body size matters in every fighting discipline. Even BJJ. If two people have equal skill body size will be the deciding factor. BJJ isn't magic.

[@performancecartel]

Absolutely Joe didn't compare apples to apples. He said kickboxer to kickboxer with a weight difference the person that's smaller would most likely lose then proceeds to compare a BJJ practitioner to someone that doesn't know anything....make that make sense. Imagine if a 250 Marcelo Garcia went up against smaller 160 Marcelo if he even weighs that😂

[@TENNESSEETV.]

Straight up legend!!!

[@gemrpt26]

"There's only going to be no. 1, and that's you" That hits hard. This man is a definition of a pioneer. Props to Joe for giving this GOAT of a man his flowers.

[@KING_OF_FARTS]

Ju jit su & muay thai is still the best combo. Love Royce Gracie. I have an old UFC belt with his signature & it says UFC 1, 2 & 4 hof then his signature. With an authentification card.

[@barbaricus_]

Its called sambo )

[@dinbachok6424]

Charles oliveira basically. But sambo got both striking and jiu jitsu in them.

[@shoeplayisbad1]

Wrestling

[@joesphruggiero3707]

Classic I'm been doing jiujitsu halfway my life I'm 44 yrs old jiujitsu change my life thanknu Mr gracie

[@tombystander]

It's like hearing Charles Oliveira when he's older. The passion, the humor, Brazilians are amazing ppl

[@tucsonmaui]

And they’re humble too🙌🏼

[@kidpeligro7878]

Wow, this is the first time I saw Royce in a casual conversation. I always saw him in formal interviews and never realized what at a chill dude he is! Totally levelled up my respect of him more.

[@peterquinn3424]

I got to train with Royce once as a white belt. He came to our school for a seminar. Also train with some guys who know him really well / have become friends with him. Very stoic guy. Nice to see him laughing and smiling here. 🙏🏆

[@leechysquad2k893]

Royce Gracie was in the first ufc fight I ever saw back wen I was about 17, on a vhs tape, so the fight may have happened a couple of years before I actually saw it, can’t remember his opponent, but loved ufc ever since

[@chathamgrimmer]

Amongst the pioneers of NHB/MMA; Royce is the MAN.! 🥋

[@RedLegs13b]

Royce is a legend...

[@mikespires6091]

What a beast !!! Ahhhh the memories.

[@TheNaturalust]

He only spoke Portuguese when we trained together. Rorion was bilingual and my first teacher and Royces. A solid and totally smart and family man! Love you guys!

[@MrWinning43]

Royce is a MMA OG/Legend

[@Yendor-vz4lb]

Inspiration for shows like " bully beat down" which was pure entertainment at its finest.

[@Spice-kid]

I remember scrambling for the VHS tapes and watching the UFC. Nothing was like it and it changed everything. Nobody knew what Jui Jitsu was and it changed the world. Royce is a living legend and put the UFC on the map.

[@bgwhalley]

This is what's crazy about fighting. You look at Royce. Average size. Skinny. Looks friendly. But he could literally take your life in a second if he wanted to or if provoked to defend himself.

[@Snizzle_Fizzle]

I jumped into ufc quite late, round the rousey era so it was soooooooo fun for me to go back and watch the original shows. This man literally made my jaw drop. Legend.

[@t-virusterrance4734]

An absolute legend. I respect Royce Gracie so much, it's very difficult to put in words. This man changed my way of thinking, when it comes to life and Martial Arts. Much respect. TERRANCE OUT

[@mang-ganern]

One of my most favorite fighters of the early MMA! My goodness gracious!!!!!

[@thejchristopher]

One beautiful thing that emerged from the UFC is the recognition of MIXED Martial Arts. Jui-Jutsu isn’t enough but it was essential. Stand up isn’t enough but you need a stand-up game. You need a take down game, take down defense and wrestling. Bruce Lee understood this. Pankration understood this. There were others but that well rounded reality did emerge.

[@Bink1221]

I still got UFC1 on VHS. I was only a kid, used to watch them with my dad. Ken Shamrock was my favorite though lol.

[@kwesty1]

I watched UFC 1 when I was in the Marine Corps and was blown away. As soon as I got out in 95 I started training in Orange under Alan Goes..Despite having grown up in wrestling, the BJJ guys made quick work of me. Love this sport.

[@kirks386]

I'm 61. When I was 58 I went to a BJJ school. First day, OK. 2nd day I was concussed. 3rd day dropped on my bad shoulder. At 52 I did a 9,000 bicycle tour around the USA. No problems.

[@wungabunga]

Stick to cycling lol

[@kairau1519]

My favourite era was the chuck,rampage,Forrest,Rashad,Machida and shogun era. Then the UFC 1 days. UFC has come along way since then

[@frisk151]

I remember the early days! I was first introduced to JKD in 1992... It also was mostly standup.. Didn't study or practice JJS until after UFC 2, and it was hard to find anyone at that time around Houston or Dallas at that time... Never missed a UFC fight I could get my hands on since UFC 2.

[@Mactar4]

Hell yeah, growing up in Torrance in the 90's you know where you were when UFC1 came out

[@beausneed9885]

GOAT FOR SURE

[@randyburrill2340]

Mad respect. I saw UFC 2 on VHS and couldn't believe what I was watching. This man was like Superman.

[@CheeseLayong]

Legend. I remember watching UFC in the early days. This man...goodness.

[@Woodstocks]

A true fighting champ. I was a kid and still remember watching the first couple ufc. I rember it being a tournament, not just a single match fight like they are now

[@harborwolf22]

The GOAT. My brother an I got to watch UFC 1-10 because my dad had a black box back in the day... I remember being absolutely blown away by Royce being able to beat a giant monster like he did.

[@cjbunker8889]

Royce is a true legend!!

[@Phxdavinci727]

A real OG

[@PabloIzurieta]

It has been about 30 years and I''ve never forgotten the name Royce Gracie.

[@arresthillary9502]

this guy and Mike Tyson was my jam in the early 90's. his skills were fascinating

[@robroy9185]

I was on a Carnival Cruise in the 90's .Royce and his brother Horian were doing a seminar. I met up with them and ask if I could take a picture. They said sure and invited me to stand between them. I wasn't part of the seminar but they treated me as though I was. I wore their Gracie tee shirt for years.

[@mikebushaw7586]

I watched allot of your fights Royce and thank you…. Good times and a great fighter you were and probably still are.

[@tbtaijeron]

What a great interview! Always paid respect to the Gracie family for their evolution of combat. My eyes were opened to how gentle the family is to and was to people they defeated and intended to teach with the Jason Deluca fight. They are brilliant!

[@ELDERGODDD]

Absolute freaking legend 🙌

[@davidmarkham4891]

I trained with the Gracies in their garage , mainly with Royce , before the UFC , and I can tell you for a fact , they are exactly what you would hope a martial artist would be like ; helpful , generous , gentlemanly , and also really , really cool !

[@edkruzel]

My first instructor in jitz was Renner, and what an incredible teacher. I later joined a gym in DC that was an affiliate of Royce, but it just didn't have the same feel or flow. I've been through a dozen studios since then and while some good, some bad, none had the same feel and effect of learning from a Gracie in person.

[@edwardsanchez3708]

My friend got the ufc events on paperview starting with the 1st one, and then for years, we were always attacking each other using those moves on each other, lol Those early days were very exciting

[@matthewblakley1822]

That’s the goat ! Gracie was the one! Good job Joe Rogan! Enjoyed this interview thank you!

[@robertwilson22]

What a humble champion. I remember those first fights and he truly changed the face of martial arts and fight sports across the globe.

[@StonerCreek74]

I remember recording the first UFC on Vhs and my friends and I must have watched it 1000 times. Nobody knew anything about it back then and couldn't believe what they were seeing.

[@kerethp]

THE MAN!!!!!!

[@williambailey9950]

I had the privilege of meeting Royce quickly at the elevators in the Flynt building next to the Brazilian consulate. What a nice and humbling experience! Nice man!

[@ausgepicht]

Ken Shamrock said that in the locker room before the first fight, everyone basically just assumed that it was fake or it was going to be a bunch of works to use the Japanese term. Essentially everyone thought the promoter will say to you "Go out their and spar, make it look real." then tell you who was going to win. Japan was doing this in Pancrase, etc. a year before the UFC. Works were also a part of the Catch Wrestling tradition that gave birth to "Pro" wrestling in both Japan and the U.S. Ken said that was everyone was watching the first fight on the monitor in the back, everyone was laughing, joking, warming up. But when Kathy Long said, "A tooth just landed in my lap." Ken said the entire back room went silent. He then realized - along with everyone else - that there weren't going to be any works but actually fighting each other. I was fortunate to have BJJ experience at a Rickson seminar in 1992 before the UFC started. It was two days of learning, rolling, learning, rolling. At the end of each day Rickson would go live with everyone. He let everyone do ANYTHING. One guy even had a rattan stick and another guy had a staff of some sort. He would either take someone down or pull guard and submit everyone no matter what they did. He was unscathed after about 40 such bouts each day. At the time I had been fighting in the streets with my buddy and we both had years of Folkstyle wrestling and boxing, but we wanted to keep adding things to make us better in the street, this the Rickson seminar. So, when the UFC started, we already had the eye-opening experience about BJJ. We would laugh at all our friends that were boxers, kickboxer, Kenpo and Karate guys, Aikido, etc. We were like, "Your Kenp guy is going to get his butt kicked." We won a ton of money for like the first 15 UFCs because even after that many UFCs they were STILL in denial. Our friends would say stuff like, "He's a 5th-degree Ed Parker Black Belt and can kill someone with one punch. He can break 5 bricks with one punch or elbow so imagine what the punch will do to someone's head or spine? They'll be paralyzed or die." My buddy and I would laugh and scoff at them. We already didn't think highly of Karate and Kenpo because we beat up too many black belts to remember in the 80s and 90s and EVERY chance we got we would ask people, instructors, black belts, etc. to come down to our cellar gym for sparring. We didn't know what Vale Tudo was back then but my buddy and I were trying to do MMA in our cellar without knowing it. NO I am not saying we invented MMA, just that we were boxer/wrestlers that dove into BJJ to make us better streetfighters. We would use Bruce Lee's Tao Of JKD since he was saying to combine all the arts and just use what works and throw away what doesn't. That book had not just kickboxing, but submissions, takedowns, leg locks, elbows, kneeing, you name it. That's where we got the idea of putting all the arts together in a proto-vale tudo, It was Bruce's idea. Having said that, the first recorded CONTEMPORARY historical documentation of no-holds barred/Vale Tudo was by European settlers in the Americas. The settlers would entertain themselves with fights. Think Irish Travelers or something. The whole hamlet would gather and make bets. There were literally no rules. You could throw people, choke them, use "hooks" or submissions from Catch or Lancashire wrestling, bite, pull hair, and the fights kept going when they were on the ground. Of course, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, etc. had no rule fights as well.

[@lordhughes7690]

In 2003 I named my first pup as an adult living on my own Gracie. After this man, Found her in the woods with 32 ticks on her and throwing up worms, vet said she wouldn’t survive so I gave her the strongest name I could think of. She was the best dog ever and lived long. Also made me a pit bull lover, was hard to tell at 4 weeks old what kind of dog she was but quickly became apparent she was a pit, great dogs and was very protective of my wife and son.