Considered the greatest representative for jiu-jitsu practitioners
in the 1980s and 1990s, Rickson
Gracie revealed in 2023 that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease. And it was the battle against the disease that motivated
him to launch his second book, “Comfort in the Dark: The Power of
Invisible Jiu-Jitsu” in July 2024.
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In an interview on the “Mundo da Luta” podcast on Monday, Gracie
spoke about the launch of his new book. In the interview conducted
by journalist Ana Hissa, the jiu-jitsu legend revealed how his
learning in the world of martial arts strengthened him in the
battle against the recently discovered Parkinson’s disease, which
inspired the new work.
“The idea was that, with the story of my life, after this biography
(in the previous book called “Respira”), it was missing that I was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s and I am going through a, let’s say,
evolutionary phase of my life,” he said.”And I would like to pass
on to people the way I try to solve my problems. We all have
problems, we all have opponents —whether physical, spiritual or
mental. And to preserve my mental health, my physicality at the
best possible level, and my spiritual field, I had to use the tools
of the spiritual warrior that I explain in the book.”
Gracie makes it clear that he faces the disease with the same
respect and the same desire to win as he did against his opponents
in the ring.
“It’s a daily battle and my overview of the problem can be
resolved. If it is not resolved on the outside, it will be resolved
on the inside It is already resolved within my heart,” Gracie said.
“The regular doctor gave me some medicine and told me to exercise
and wait. But through seeking out various healers and different
ways of interpreting this illness, I began to change my life. I
stopped eating meat, drinking beer and wine. I started fasting,
taking all kinds of supplements. I changed the water in my house to
ozonated water. A series of things that no one told me to do, but I
researched and changed, and now I feel that I am in the best
possible condition to fight Parkinson’s. I do physical therapy five
times a week. I’m dealing with Parkinson’s with the respect of a
great opponent, but with the hope of being able to win.
In mid-2024, Gracie moved with his wife from Los Angeles to
Florida.
“I continue to follow my happy and optimistic life. I go to the
beach every day. I moved from California to Florida, and it’s been
great because the sea here is much more pleasant,” he said.
Marco
Ruas, who was considered to be Gracie’s biggest rival,
expressed his support in an interview with the YouTube channel MMA
Debate last Friday.
“I don’t wish that disease, not even on my worst enemy,” Ruas said.
“First of all, he was not my enemy, only my rival. I´m sad for all
Rickson is passing through. I even prayed for him. He has the same
profession as I. He is a fighter, a warrior. He was the best
representative of the Gracie family of our generation, the one who
made himself available to defend his family name for so long. I
really hope that he recovers and gets healthy. I have nothing
against him. Our rival times were 40 years ago. This history is
over. Rickson is a warrior, and I’m sure he will overcome
that.”
The rivalry between Ruas and Gracie started in 1984, when Ruas got
a draw against Fernando
Pinduka, the best student of Carlson Gracie, in an event called “Night of Martial Arts.” It was a vale tudo challenge between
jiu-jitsu and muay thai promoted by Robson Gracie in Maracanazinho
Gymnasium. The final result was a draw. Besides Ruas and Pinduka,
Eugenio
Tadeu, from the Muay Thai team, scored a TKO over Renan
Pitanguy (from Gracie Academy) and Marcelo
Behring (Rickson’s best student) defeated Flavio
Molina (master of the Muay Thai team). Since Rickson was
considered the No. 1 representative of Gracie Family, a natural
rivalry started between him and Rickson. But once Rickson moved to
LA and started to compete in Japan and Ruas went to the UFC, the
dream fight for Brazilian fans of that generation never happened.
However, the rivalry between Ruas and Rickson has never been
forgotten. That moving statement from Ruas last week was the first
time the white flag was raised.