An Interview with Rolles Gracie
Renzo Gracie NH is excited to have Rolles Gracie in town for a 2 day Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Seminar. Rolles will be training at the Exeter location on February 6 at 6PM and at the Salem location on February 7 at 10AM. Registration is $50 until February 5. If you register the day of the seminar it will be $60.
Rolles Gracie is a 3rd degree black belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and instructor at Renzo Gracie Academy in NYC.
We got the chance to sit down with Rolles to talk about growing up in Jiu-Jitsu’s premier family, where Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is heading and everything in between.
Highlights From Our Interview with Rolles Gracie
RGNH: What was it like growing up in the Gracie family and being trained by your uncles?
Rolles: I feel blessed to have been born into the Gracie family, learning from my Uncles and spending time riding horses with my Uncle Helio.
RGNH: What was the most important thing about BJJ, philosophically or otherwise, that you learned from your family?
Rolles: In one word, RESPECT. Just because you may be stronger doesn’t mean you’re better. You always have something to learn and from whom better than our elders who are much wiser.
RGNH: Is there anything you wish that the Gracie family kept secret or confidential in BJJ?
Rolles: Absolutely nothing. Jui-Jitsu can only evolve by sharing everything. If you hold something back you hold back Jiu-Jitsu.
RGNH: How young is too young to begin training? What age would you start training a child?
Rolles: It’s never too soon and it’s never too late. Kids can begin training as young as 3 years old.
RGNH: What advice do you have for women who want to train but feel intimidated with the grappling, take downs, all the sweat, etc?
Rolles: Jiu-Jitsu can be intimidating to both men and women because of the grappling and close personal space in which Jiu-Jitsu happens. But it is the most effective in self-defense and many women would benefit from learning Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
RGNH: How does BJJ compare to other martial arts, like Karate or Judo or Muay Thai, when it comes to self-defense?
Rolles: The other martial arts most definitely have their place and I have a lot of respect for them. When it comes to self-defense, especially for a women or someone smaller, a strike (a punch) may break a hand and make the attacker even angrier. Jui-Jitsu will teach someone how to protect themselves from wrist grabs, chokes, and on the ground as well.
RGNH: One of the hardest things for students to do when they’re training is to relax. What’s your advice?
Rolles: When you’re holding tension or think you have to beat up your training partner, it holds you back. Relax by removing the pressure from yourself to submit everyone you roll with. You train to improve yourself.
RGNH: Where do you see BJJ in 15 to 20 years?
Rolles: Jiu-Jitsu is constantly evolving and we’re seeing a combination of technique and athleticism that’s taking the sport to a whole new level.
RGNH: What makes a good BJJ instructor and what should a new student be looking for when it comes to choosing to train with an instructor?
Rolles: The most important thing to look for in a Jiu-Jitsu professor is caring. You want to train with an instructor who cares about his students and treats them like extended family.
RGNH: What 3 tips do you have for students of BJJ and Kevin Landry?
Rolles:
- Relax, breathe, and check your ego at the door.
- Train not just for you but for your teammates and training partners as well.
- No pressure. Enjoy your time on the mats and have FUN!
