Rickson vs Carlos Jr: The Modern Gracie Family Rivals and their Federations 

Rickson is an absolute legend, but the JJGF needs to be careful with it's validation criteria for clubs. A local club here in Cape Town managed to get itself as part of the federation, this was run by an instructor with no BJJ qualifications who taught his own style of jits. Then he gave a first dan black belt to his son, and a black belt to another student (who was 19 years old I think). They proudly announced that their belts were ratified by Ricksons association. Luckily, the local black belts got on the case and they were eventually removed from the JJGF but this sort of thing cannot happen if Rickson is to maintain his status as one of the bastions of quality technique and integrity.

As a cofounder of the JJGF, I can say that this is an excellent video to watch.

Just got my first Barra white belt stripe this morning (UK). Really fascinating breakdown of the JJ systems. Thank you

Awesome! Thanks for answering my question brother! Really appreciate it.

Another terrific video. Thank you sir. Rickson Gracie is a living legend.

Very informative video which clears things out!

The answer to the question seemed so obvious after you answered it, and I would not have thought to start by comparing web sites. Great job!

I train at a Gracie Academy/University CTC and I appreciate the leadership in Jiu-Jitsu of Rener and Ryron. I feel like it’s important to them to honor Helio Gracie’s Jiu-Jitsu much like Rickson does.

If youre drawing a parallel with Judo, the difference would be like Kodokan and IJF. They may intertwine but are separate. The kodokan, for example, does not recognise IJF ranking. They dont use multi-coloured belts in Japan. IJF although aware of the complete syllabus, tend to focus training on the high % techniques for competition (before i get flamed, last time an IJF club member here go through goshin jutsu or kime no kata self defence sets? Or learned one leg lock like the most basic tate-shiho-hiza-hishigi?...) The Kodokans aim is to preserve and grow the aims and principles of Kano. This is inclusive of judo being: budo, self defence and competitive sport. IJF concentrates on the sporting side in reverse order. Theres room for both approaches.

Another great video thank you!

The I BBJF unfortunately it is a necessary evil. As you know I am a combative’s and self defense proponent but also avid competitor in my timeAnd I believe that for you to run a successful academy you have to have a balance of the two therefore you have to establish some sort of relationship as an instructor with the I BBJF while maintaining the integrity of not only the art but your Academy. That is a lesson I learned with my relationship with the instructors in Hawaii as well as in Ohio. I’m a proponent of submission only competition.

The Machados are five brothers, the Gracies are Helio Gracie had seven sons and two daughters. Carlos Gracie, Helio's brother, had 21 children!!!

Another excellent video Ryan. I think that millions of jiujitsu practioners around the world would love to support the JJGF and the mission in which it pushes. I myself prefer the self defense 1st approach which is what Helio and Carlos intended the art to be about. Although I just wish there were more events spread over the various nations other than the 1 Rickson Gracie cup to compete.

Good points with the mention of Olympic influence. I fee that competitive judo is greatly influenced by what the IOC feels is appealing to mass audiences. I have participated in several judo clubs and I find the clubs with younger competitive members focus on what they need to know to win compa where the clubs with older adult members focus on a wide variety of Kōdōkan teachings and creates well rounded judo practitioners

This right up my alley. I. Belong to the barra tree but i honestly have learned so much from ricksons videos

Very good video, I really like the idea of the JJGF

The school I train at just joined the JJGF. My instructor really believes in what Rickson is trying to do with Jiu Jitsu.

all of us under Royce and Rickson, Royler ect. are on a quest to bring it back together, thats why the push for self defense. Most instructors do not know the curriculum, and think self defense is just a marketing ploy.

I love you channel! very informational and respectful about everything you talk about. great respect! Thank you very much!

Well done with the music on your videos!

Cool rundown.

Thank you 🙏🏻

JJGF all the way . I'm a Gracie academy member and I' gladly signed up as a individual member of jjgf to support their mission .

Rickson Gracie by armbar. 😊

Can you do a video about big chain schools like barra

Best fighter in the family is sometimes not the best business man.

Can you make a similar video with a focus on the Renzo Gracie Academy..if it focus' on sport or self defense

I have always been a proponent of the self-defense aspect. I’ve been training through Gracie University for 10 years now, and also trained at a local Bjj school for a year and a half (getting a blue belt there). I have experienced the difference between a competition school and a self defense focused curriculum. The confusion lies in the fact that many competition oriented schools THINK that their “sport” jiu-jitsu IS self-defense. And on one level, to be sure, tying someone up in a street fight CAN neutralize aggression. We have seen many vids where bjj guys get into fights and just be tying their opponent up, neutralized the aggression. But then there are videos where bjj black belts have no clue how to engage a person who is punching them, and the stories I have personally heard of high ranking bjj (purples and browns) guys getting beat down in a street fight. And that black belt of Gracie Barra who got punched by Ralph Gracie at a recent tournament for whatever reason. Sucker punch or not, justified or not, who knows but that Gracie Barra black belt should not have gotten beaten up. I mean, he’s a black belt for crying out loud. The one time he needed to defend himself, he got the shit beat out of him. If someone is escalating an altercation, self defense principles in GJJ dictate that you stand and face them, hands up, ready to engage. You don’t just sit there ignoring someone who is obviously acting aggressive toward you. Sure, maybe it was a sucker punch people would argue. But if Ralph is pissed at me and he’s talking to me in an agressive manner bet your ass I’m gonna be facing him, not sitting there ignoring his postering (I would never want to fight Ralph btw, dude’s a beast). My point here is that what gets lost is the self defense mindset. Competition is a good thing since competition always drives up quality. But when a black belt (or purple or brown belt) gets beat up at at time when s/he really needed the jiu-jitsu, what was the point of the training? What’s the point of all the competition titles if you get the shit beat out of you in the street? What gets lost many times in competition schools is the mindset and the necessary training for real street fights. I remember Xande Ribeiero saying in a video that he was a “white belt” when it comes to MMA. And he’s probably right if he has never trained for punches. But many BJJ guys have done well in MMA too. So, it’s not an all or nothing argument. But comeptiton schools assume that everyone wants to be a competitor. The average person doesn’t. Women don’t necessarily want to be competitors either. So, what happens is that competition schools use those of us who don’t want to compete as punching bags. I didn’t pay my tuition to be a punching bag. And the environment becomes too hostile for the average person. Seemed like every class was a tournament (and no one wants to help you, only tap you). I didn’t like it. Guys, this is just my experience and perspective. I don’t have all the answers. I think competition is just masculine energy. You a get a bunch of guys together, they always have to determine who the big dog in the room is. lol It’s healthy, as long as it doesn’t come at the expense of the self defense mindset, the very reason for doing jiu-jitsu in the first place. Great video, Ryan.

Hey bro awesome videos, I love ur history lessons on gjj. I have a request maybe it's kinda stupid but I would like to hear about Rilion Gracie. I trained under him for a few months in Miami but unfortunate circumstances made that impossible, so I never got the chance to get to know him. He's an amazing teacher and has a badass guard that I haven't seen anyone pass even in his old age. I would like to hear more about the man that made me fall in love with this amazing discipline that changed my life for the better.✌️✌️

I wish there was a GJJ School closer to my house. Unfortunately the only Jiu-Jitsu school conveniently distanced enough to attend is a competition School. I still love it and have my two kids in the class, but it would be nice to have a little more focus on self-defense.

I feel that that Renzo setting up a federation would be even more ideal: he has both competition and mma experience with his students and a massive influence in adcc. He seems to have a balance between self defense and sport.

I support both bjj my master got he’s black belt from master rickson I am just a Gracie fan & support & greatful what they did :)

Hello sir! Thank you for the video. IBJJF helped and still helping our Jiu Jitsu to grow, and Global Federation still a baby (I hope to see GF bigger). If you are able to make money with Jiu Jitsu today, this is because IBJJF (They helped a lot). We cannot speared BJJ or GJJ (This is bad for our community), Jiu Jitsu is one. We need to be complete on Self Defense or Jiu Jitsu Sport. This separation make some schools just practicing JJ Sport or just Self Defense. The Jiu Jitsu Brasileiro lose with this separation. OSS

FYI, when you go to the JJGF website it only shows your Irvine location. You might have them add your Texas location as well as no schools in the DFW area are on there.

Would love to see a luta livre vs bjj history video from you.

I remember looking for Gracie Jiu Jitsu after UFC 1,2, and 3 only to find sport jiu jitsu schools where nobody actually fought, strikes were never thrown, and all everyone cared about was winning timed sport BJJ competitions, often on points. Super weird 🤣

Whats your thoughts on Gracie University and how are they different from JJGF??

97. +1 with me. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

Gracie University rocks!

So how would the rules/points be different?

As a amateur skateboarder in my younger days, It's hard to believe that that's an Olympic sport now, but no BJJ/GJJ...

Buno is really coming up against Jiujitsu fighting. Rizanito Holandez invaded the Gracie Barra in Riverside, Ca. & lost but fought valiantly. He’s teaching Buno @ Patterson Park in Riverside, California. He’s a 7th Degree in Buno.

Hey professor how are you? Recently iv been training in Europe at Aranha. The club is very competitive good mentality but the average blue belt has 5/6 years training they are sandbagging hard. Some of those guys felt like purple /brown belt to me. I got told it’s pretty commun here. Don’t you think it corrupts the meaning of the belt system a little?

Rickson needs to win this battle. I hope he does! Because I don't want the self defense aspects of Jiu-jitsu to be lost in history like Judo's was!

I wish there was a JJGF affiliate in the Philippines! Kama Jiu Jitsu, pls put up a school here.

Good content. Music is slightly distracting. Keep up the good work

I really enjoy your videos, being new to Brazilian Jiujitsu (3yrs.) I find them very informative especially when it comes learning anything of historical value. And because I am so new, the comment I'm making is not so much on BJJ but from my life of training in predominantly Korean martial arts starting in 1974 while in the Marines. Yes, that makes me old by anyone's standards and yes I was in Cali when Bruce Lee was a thing, as was Joe Lewis, Dan Inosanto, Ed Parker, and so on. The thing I hope very much, that the BJJ community is recognizing is how much this is beginning to look like what happened to Tae Kwan Do. And, mentioning the Olympic Committee is only scratching the surface of that fiasco. You have to dig to find out about General Choi's ITF even though it's the 3rd largest TKD organization in the world, you just don't hear about it much. What you do hear about is the two largest TKD organizations: The WTF (so affected by the Olympic Committee for the sake of spectator sports that it just barely resembles the art I learned) and the ATA (the cash cow of TKD. A monstrous marketing machine constructed by it's founders based on their biases against westerners. I'll explain: You enroll expecting to be taught curriculum A-Z. But, because you are a inferior "non-Korean" and can't be trusted to learn A-Z you only are taught A-N. You pay for A-Z but it is not what you get. And because they are such a closed society you will never know what happened. My original Hapkido instructor, a 20yr. 6th Dan TKD master and student of the founder was told at the point of his 7th Dan test, "Stop teaching Hapkido. That is OURS, it's not for you westerners, or you're out and you wont be allowed to test for 7th Dan). I hope I'm not sounding over the top here, but I started training as an occupational necessity based on what I was doing at the time in the Marines and the Self Defense bend of BJJ is near and dear to my heart. There are just some stark resemblances in the situations. Namely the addictive draw of sport, the need for a large enough share of the market to pay the bills, the reality of what it takes to train with a "street mentality", and overall philosophical differences between the ones who trained at the source. Disagreements over "what is the right direction" and such. The next thing you know a precious thing is gone and no one even knows where to go to get it back. Let's hope not Jiujitsu is a beautiful thing!

Great videos. I'm 3 years late, but my interest in JJ is new and intense. I have a question.. Given that some years have passed and I don't know what the current state of the JJGF is... is it true that all the academies under the umbrella of JJGF are still part of the mission? I ask because I'm about to join the Renzo academy in New York (I found it by searching the JJGF website). It seems like a fantastic school, but I know they are into competitions and I haven't found out if they are competition-based or self-defense-based yet. I'm likely going to join anyway and I plan on asking someone there about this, but I'm open to more perspectives

Thank you for putting this up. The IBJJF sounds more like a business first and interested in the future of BJJ second and the JJGF seems the inverse of this. I could be wrong.

It cant be just GJJ. Becausr if that happens we are denying the Luis Franca liineage side of jiujitsu. Moving foward, it should just be jiujitsu with different rule sets for competition and have a self defense syllabus.

Before I read any comments, MMA has divided it

Very Good video. Makes us think about the way Bjj is taking and how is it changing along this way. Just think about how many Bjj's black belts nowadays have knowledge over the core of the "gentle art"... in other words, Self Defense and how many of them focus on IBJJF rules and competitions. In the other hand, most of the people who look for a martial art to practice, the BEGINNERS, who never heard about Bjj or never saw a fight of it, would like to learn how to defend themselves "only". They are, most of the times, more empowered by the self defense curriculum then the berimbolos and flying armbars... that are too funny and hard to do. People come to the gym to learn how to fight/protect themselves and desapear for good for not being tuff enough to surpass the "Blue Belt" (when they get... IF they get there).

One thing that confuses me is the only black belt certification is ibjjf? All the teachers have to be ibjjf credited apart from 10p? Even though there are over 20 different bjj global competitions if you want to learn or teach bjj the only iffical recognised cert is ibbjf? Ivevtrained 10thp and checkmat but my checkmat tutors and were ibbjf

I don't care which Gracie from I learned. If you want to self defense go to Rickson, Rener, Ryron and Relson, you wanna sport go to Graice Barra and Renzo Gracie Academy

What do you think of leg locks rising to popularity in bjj competitions? How do they translate to self defense?

Rolls is the only one i ever hear abt that could go with Rickson . Kron will be on that level in his later years also imo

Hello, awesome video! It helped me a lot to understand the huge mess that BJJ became here in Brazil. At least in my experience the self defense aspect of jiu-jitsu is completely absent in most academies. Being a huge enthusiast jiu-jitsu as a self defense art, i would like to ask for advices on what to do since there's no JJGF academies near my home. The closest I can get from the so called "GJJ" is through a Gracie Barra Academy, what do you guys think i should do? Would you think that they be offended if I started to complement those classes with Gracie University ou Rickson's online program? Cheers from São Paulo, Brazil!

i say lets get all the masters together and let them roll against each other to see who federation should call the shots.

I think these 2 federations are good for bjj, it can bring new ideas. With an unique federation, people in their office think they can rule the world with their monopoly and sometimes do anything (some examples with soccer). With 2 federations they have to be better to survive.

Rickson Gracie is the best ever and the most developed in all aspects of mastery.

any opinions/comments on klay pittmans school in Lubbock tx. ?

Good to see the JJGF working on ways to help academies on he business side of things. As odd as it is to say, simple things like "how to be a professional" would go a long way. Reminding academy owners that being on time, having mats set up and ready to go so that their students can train, etc. are things that matter beyond the teaching of the art.

Just did a Royler seminar and 70% of it was self defence

Jean Jacques, Rickson, Royler, its all in the family. Jean Jacques Machado has lots of brothers like to Gracies. The Machados are cousins to the Gracies.

Ok. For Judo folks here I'll give you a rough breakdown IBJJF = USJI JJGF = USJA Rickson Gracie = Phil Porter It's all been done before.

I train under Ben hall head of carlson gracie Jr Australia.

Can we hope a live discussion between Rickson and Carlos one day ?

can you talk about the Carlson gracie school please?

When it comes to influence of BJJ you can't discount Eddie Bravo and his 10th Planet Chain. They have over 100 Schools Worldwide and are growing fast

Team "RICKSON GRACIE", and JJGF, for ever!!! For Rickson Gracie remains the GURU/MAT GOD of BJJ.

It is all back together it’s one jiu jitsu lol just not all schools teach self defense

So where do Gracie Torrence fit in? Very informative but I'm confused on that part. Thx

Where my other three girls at?! 😹🙋🏻‍♀️⚡️🇧🇷 great vid on the BJJ orgs. I was at the RGC in Albany. Great event. It really showcased what his vision is. 👍🏽

Where do the other Gracie brothers (e.g. Relson and Royce) fit in to this? I think GJJ needs a federation like the Kodokan, but for it to work it is going to need all of the brothers to come together.

I am in New Mexico and i would like to join the JJGF because i tried the Gracie Barra Institute and i did feel the sense of trying to push me more towards competition (im a white belt) but i really would like to focus on self defense and the art, what are my options in New Mexico.

I'm curious of your thoughts about the Fada Jūjutsu faction in Brazil?

So the IBJJF is basically a Sport Federation and headed by Carlos Gracie, Jr. The JJGF is more of a Martial Art Federation established by Rickson to teach a balanced blend of both sport competition and the actual martial art/self defense system of the original Gracie Brazilian Jiu - Jitsu. Or am I wrong? Does the IBJJF have any kind of actual martial art/self defense training?

Rickson is the modern samurai

L&R FROM GJJ IN ICELAND

If you ask me,as a guy who grew up watching the UFC and now an avid bjj fanatic, Rickson Gracie is Jiu-jitsu.

"Hopefully someone will come along and bring the two back together (BJJ and GJJ)" Roger Gracie??? I could see that. very competitive with a sharp focus and the basics that serve in self defense that GJJ harps on??? what thinks thou!?!?

Hey ryan can you address the idea if someone is a felon but has changed their life and now practicing jiu jitsu can they earn a black belt if they never wanna run a school or teach professionally

What do you think about Carlson Gracie jiu jitsu southbay in Torrance CA? Should I go train there I am new to jiu jitsu I wanna know if that is a good gym or do you recommend another local gym in my area

Is there an update to how this federation is doing?

Eddie Fyvie is my instructor, lol.

Why isn't Royce Gracie a member of the JJGF?

i'm 36 years old, with many years of experience in wing tsun, kick boxing, tai chi and karate. I'm too old for start BJJ, doesn't matter which lineage? i'm insterested about BJJ, but, have i the age?

Rizanito Holandez vs Carlos Gracie Jr.

The politics of Bjj is going to go on for perpetuity.. As long as there is competitive Bjj tournaments going on and federations having big money being paid into them, this will go on. I certainly feel where Rickson is coming from but at the end of the day...this is going to come down to choice for the practitioner. To have all of this merge into one classical style is over.

I was just getting into jj I wanna do the self defense stuff only, I'm not interested in the competition side too much. Where I live there is a Gracie Barra in very close proximity and from what I'm piecing together they teach the self defense side but are more into the "sport" aspect of bjj, am I incorrect in my assumption? Thanks for your time.

What advice do you have for someone who is already established with an IBJJF affiliated gym but still wishes to learn the more self-defense oriented techniques of the Rickson side?

I personally don’t want to learn a sport. I want to learn a self defense system that works. If I wanted to learn a sport I’d be playing tennis. A lot of this sport vs self defense comes down to money. Sport = money. I’m just not into that.

The IBJJF is a tournament promoter masquerading as a governing body. Unfortunately too many people have bought into the illusion of them being a governing body setting rules and requirements for the art as a whole as opposed to only having jurisdiction over their tournaments.

I was thinking starting to practice it thats why Im watching vids and try to learn what is what and now Im totally confused as Im not native Eng speaker... I thought JJGF is the martial art side and IBJJF is when you only want to do for tournaments. I mean one is for any case self defense the other is only for competing in some kind of point system. Or what Im saying also true? (I dont want to compete, I just want selfdefense, healthier body and lifestly I want to change my life, I have to)

They way I understand it, there is not really a "comparison" between the IBJJF and the JJGF. The IBJJF is a governing sports body (with sanctions) while the JJGF is an association or a collective that also does competitions. To use football as an example, it'd be like comparing the NFL (a sports organization) to the NFLPA (an organization for NFL players). A better (or a closer) comparison would almost be Gracie Barra and the JJGF, as both are a collective of individual schools that also set up competitions within the collective. The main difference would be the JJGF is closer to an organization comprised of multiple affiliates, while Gracie Barra is single affiliate comprised of multiple franchised schools. Either way, all are being run and or operated by the best in the art. So much knowledge and I would love to train with them all... If I'm wrong, please correct me.

8:15 *POLITICS*

Buno fighters vs Jiujitsu fighters

meanwhile the most succesfull school is renzo gracies school or am i wrong?

So this type of martial art is divided by 2 or 3 parts ? And they have their own system but can’t recognize black belt degrees?? Should be like that. It should be like teakwondo. Don’t matter what academy you went you can enter any academy with your belt

Not really comparable or a rivalry per se. One defines the sport, the other is trying to get a hearing.