THE HERO AND THE ARTIST
Today, it seems to be very important that a technique—be it Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Boxing, etc.—works in a street fight. I’ve experienced heavy disputes and intense discussions about this subject in many different dojos.
When I started Karate in 1984, nobody thought of that. We didn’t discuss such matters. Asking questions wasn’t a good idea anyway. I once dared to ask my sensei if we could do some sparring. He was very surprised but agreed. Then he hit me so hard in the face that I started bleeding badly. I never asked him again. I had to realize, this isn’t Sesame Street!
When Royce Gracie visited Team Berlin, the seminar reminded me of the old days. It was an atmosphere of concentrated learning, the vibe of a hundred people focused on the same thing. And at the center of the attention was Royce. His authority is beyond question, because he has proven in many fights that his technique works.
And he is a Gracie! He’s a member of a family that developed and founded a martial arts style. Franco Vacirca once told us that in Brazil different Jiu Jitsu styles exist that are branded with family names. But—as far as I know—only Gracie Jiu Jitsu has conquered the world. This really amazes me because things like that don’t happen often. There are fighters and sports icons known all over the world—like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Michael Schumacher, Steffi Graf—but they are remembered as stars within a certain sport. The sport itself exists beyond them and is not necessarily connected to their individual name.
Even though Gracie Jiu Jitsu surely is no religion, Christianity and Buddhism cross my mind, because these religions are named after individual persons. Religion is always a certain aesthetic practice. Gracie Jiu Jitsu as a martial art is an aesthetic approach to reality, too. So religion, art, and martial art do have something in common, and I like the idea that Royce Gracie is not only a hero but an artist too.
Franco Vacirca and Thomas Mehnert have managed to bring Royce Gracie to Team Berlin twice already. That’s proof of their quality leadership. Thank’s a lot!
Jens Lorenzen/Team Berlin
