Gracie Family is recognized as Cultural Heritage of Rio de Janeiro

H. Gracie (photo) and C. Gracie passed on their knowledge to their family. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook kyragracie

The importance of the Gracie Family to martial arts has never been questioned. Now with the decree of the Rio de Janeiro City Council, made by councilor Felipe Michel, the lineage of Jiu-Jitsu has been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of the “Marvelous City”.

See too

Gracie Family Special: UFC training headquarters, Maracanã was a historic stage 63 years ago

Gracie Family Special: 'We still have a lot of people to catechize', says Royler

Gracie Family Special: Clan members analyze 'disappearance' from MMA competitions

With the law sanctioned, politicians recognize the importance of Jiu-Jitsu adapted by Carlos and Hélio Gracie in Rio de Janeiro. The gentle art was disseminated by the Gracie Academy on Avenida Rio Branco in the capital of Rio. The place welcomed common people and important members of high society who learned about the family's lifestyle.

According to the decree, the Executive Branch, through its competent bodies, will support initiatives aimed at its valorization and dissemination, as well as its competitions in the city of Rio de Janeiro”.

Justification presented by councilor Felipe Michel:

“The Gracie Family has a fundamental importance in the history of world sport. They created Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, today also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, because they adapted the original Japanese technique so that smaller and more fragile people could dominate physically superior opponents.

The entire rise of the Gracie Family had its high point in Rio de Janeiro, when Carlos Gracie founded his academy here, where the great exponent Hélio Gracie emerged, who even challenged the Japanese academy, surprising everyone with the perfection of the technique he demonstrated.

After Hélio, the Gracie legacy is immense, with achievements and the affirmation of a unique style. Among her achievements is the fact that she was the one who created the UFC – Ultimate Fight Championship, the biggest fighting event in history, which is still an absurd success.

As a form of recognition and gratitude to the Family for giving Rio de Janeiro the importance of being the chosen location for the improvement of a historical martial art, nothing more fair than determining it as intangible heritage.”