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The 1987 Encounter: What I Learned Fighting Rickson Gracie

Martial artists in black belts perform synchronized moves, split image showing past and present. Text reads: DEMO LEGENDS THE HISTORY OF THE MODERN MARTIAL ARTS DEMO.

I'm amused — and, in some ways, delighted — by the comments that still get posted on YouTube regarding the 1987 matchup of Rickson Gracie and me.


Judo enthusiasts say they're proud I was able to upend Gracie a couple of times. Any advantage I received, however, disappeared as soon as we hit the ground and I was caught in an armbar. So judoka say judo won, while Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylists insist their art won. It's a true win-win situation for the martial arts.

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