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Interview with Mauricao Gomes
The martial arts were revolutionised when Royce Gracie stepped into the Octagon of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship and showed to the world the importance of ground work. He showed how timing, closing the distance, using positioning and leverage can be used to dominate fighters of any size. With events like Pride and other no holds barred events many martial artists recognised that ground fighting must be an intricate part of any system in order for it to be complete. I started in ground work in 1997. Even then I had heard the names Mauricao Gomes and Gracie Barra. He had quite an overwhelming reputation, being a 6th Dan and one of the highest-ranking members of the Gracie Clan. In November 2000 when he came to London I was priviledged to train with him and gain my Blue belt in Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu. Anyone that meets Mauricao will tell you his skills are awesome. His modest and kind nature and ability not to take himself too seriously win him much respect in the martial art world. He is genuinely interested in teaching people good Jiu-Jitsu.
Kevin Chan: When did you start Jiu-Jitsu? Mauricao Gomes: My father used to take me to the academy when I was 4 years old. It feels like I have been in a Do Jo ever since I was born. Kevin Chan: Who was your teacher? Mauricao Gomes: I started with my father’s teacher Joao Alberto. Him and Carlson Gracie were the top fighters of the Gracie academy. Then I started training with Rolls Gracie in 1977 and gained my Black belt from Rolls in 1982. KC: I heard Rolls Gracie was a legend. Even when I mention Rolls to other Brazilian Black belts now there is a total air of respect for him. He was meant to be the greatest Gracie ever and the most famous Gracie in Brazil. Is that correct? MG: They actually call him “Famous Rolls”. Everyone knew about Rolls. Everyone looked up to him. He was special, a friend more than a teacher. It was a great loss when he died. (June 1982, Hang-gliding accident). Some people could never bring themselves to train again after his death. KC: I heard Rolls only gave 5 Black belts out in his lifetime and you were one of them. MG: They say is Famous 5 but it is actually 6. It was Nissin, Conde, Talarico, Jacare, Marcio and me. KC: Did you take part in any of the Gracie Challenges in Brazil, one martial art against another martial art, Jiu-Jitsu against Karate or Jiu-Jitsu against Kung Fu for instance? MG: No. Initially the Gracie started challenging every other martial art to prove the point, once it was a clinch everybody needs to know grappling. That point was proven. Then suddenly no holds barred fight became popular and was even shown on TV. You suddenly had guys who were not from any martial art, who just wanted to fight each other. There was blood all over the place and there was some very ugly sights. Then the Brazilian government because of all this banned these events for years and years. It was forbidden in Brazil. Rolls didn’t think we had to prove anything. The Gracies already proved the point. He was very wise and forward thinking. He wanted it to more accepted as a sport and enter us in competition like Greco Romans wrestling in which we did very well. KC: Your son Roger Gracie is the current world champion and I heard he was the only fighter with the Gracie name in that championship. What are his achievements and his ambitions? MG: Roger last year won all the competitions he entered, like Pan American, World and other Brazilian competitions the year before. He did the same thing this year. He is coming to London in January 2002 and take hold of the Gracie Barra in London. KC: What is Gracie Barra and how is it different from the other Jiu-Jitsu academy? MG: Gracie Barra is an academy and is the main academy in Rio. It very famous around the world with top fighters like Renzo Gracie, Ryan Gracie, Marcio Feitosa, Machado Brothers, Nino, Roleta and Pedepano and many others all comes from that academy. We have so many big names and good Jiu-Jitsu players from that school. KC: How long have you been teaching in the UK? MG: I originally taught in Birmingham. I taught there for little over a year. Unfortunately change in circumstances meant I had to go back to Brazil. Before I went back I had an invitation to teach in London. I accepted, so I came back in November 2000. The Birmingham academy is still running and growing very well. It is well taken care of by Andy Roberts plus we got an academy in Belfast. KC: You are leaving the UK soon to go back to Brazil. What will happen to Gracie Barra UK? MG: I am returning to my country for family matters at least for some time. The classes and school will still go on. My son Roger is coming over in January to teach and do seminars for a few months. I will be coming back every 4 months. More importantly we now have some very good Blue Belts that can uphold the name and teach. Some of these have already trained in Brazil and enter the world championships. I will be running also training camps to Rio for 10 days or 14 days trips which includes training at the academy, private lessons, accommodation, pick up from airport etc. These trips will be running at least twice a year and open to anyone, all level. It will be good training in a relax atmosphere. It is people vacation time. The next trip will be at the end of March 2002. Jiu-Jitsu will continue to grow because there are such close ties amongst Barra in the UK and Rio. It is a family. Everyone will support each other in their growth. KC: What is the most important attribute for a Jiu-Jitsu player to have? Is it for instance, fighting spirit, being relaxed – what? MG: It is will power and then wanting to do things in life. There no age limit. There’s no nothing but will power. KC: What inspires you? MG: Jiu-Jitsu has meant so much in my life. Everything from my father to my son. It has helped me and so many people. It is more than just fighting. What inspires me is just to pass it on to people what has been so good to my life. KC: I think you summed it up there. Thank you for your interview. MG: I like to add here at the end, I like to thank everybody who has supported me so much in this country. I was so well received. I like to thank every body for everything. Sometimes we have to take certain decision in our life. We are not alone, we have families. We sometimes have to sacrifice thing for our families. Thank you.
The "Gracie Clan":
Top Row left to right: Rickson Gracie, Rolls Gracie, Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie, Robson Gracie, Mauricao Gomes Bottom Row left to right: Royler Gracie, Carlinhos Gracie, Rolin Gracie, Rorion Gracie, Rolker Gracie, Royce Gracie
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