Re: Royce Gracie zaduszony... w 1998
Znalazłem jeszcze wywiad z Wallidim
Wallid Ismail opens fire!"The Gracie Exterminator" Speaks About Royce, Ralph, Renzo and Rickson
The moment of truth: Wallid Ismail (right) tightens the clock choke on Royce Gracie at the Rio Oscars of Brazil.By now you must have heard about the match that rocked the martial arts world: Wallid Ismail choked Royce Gracie into la-la land after a little more than four minutes of action that has been described as an undisputed demonstration of dominance over the Brazilian-jujutsu legend. In the following exclusive interview, the 31-year-old Amazonian responsible for the stunning upset talks candidly about that match, the upcoming rematch, his victories over other members of the Gracie family and more.
Black Belt: Could you tell our readers about your background?
Wallid Ismail: I was born and raised in the Amazon town of Manaus Brazil The first time I trained in jujutsu, it became my passion, After practicing there for four years, I went to Rio de Janeiro to stay for three months because in my hometown jujutsu was small. Some people there had gone to Rio previously and learned a few techniques. and those people were teaching in Manaus. I was between 14 and 15 years old at the time.
BB: What was the atmosphere in Rio like?
Ismail: When I arrived. I was so fascinated with the new jujutsu techniques that were being developed there that I decided to stay. But I always felt belittled for not being born with the Gracie name. Some of the Gracies never trained at all, but they got all this attention. Other people trained just as hard, but no one paid them the least bit of attention.
BB: It has been claimed that all the jujutsu practiced in Brazil comes from the Gracie family. It that true?
Ismail: Jujutsu came from India. After India, the martial art popped up in Japan. In Japan they have the best technique, but the Japanese don't want to show it to the world. They like to keep the art for themselves because they are typically small in physical stature and they think that if they teach it, everybody will know jujutsu and be able to beat them.
BB: How did jujutsu get from Japan to Brazil? Ismail: A Japanese ambassador visited Brazil and spread his jujutsu knowledge to the Brazilians. The first Brazilian to learn jujutsu was Carlos Gracie. He was the older brother of Helio Gracie, Royce's father. Carlos was the father of Carlson Gracie, who is my coach. Carlos trained hard. People said Carlos was too small to be an effective martial artist, but he was very smart. You need to be smart because jujutsu is similar to chess. After Carlos learned and trained a lot, he perfected his technique. Then he taught jujutsu to Helio. After that, the Gracies moved to Rio de Janeiro.
BB: Is Brazilian jujutsu superior to Japanese jujutsu?
Ismail: I would never say that Brazilian jujutsu is the best. In America and Japan, people train hard. In Brazil, for sure the techniques are more advanced, but everybody is going to learn them eventually-and that is the most important thing. People need time to develop advanced techniques. The Americans and Japanese will grow. As a result, Brazil will grow. Everybody will reach a higher level.
BB: After you left the Amazon, who did you train with?
Ismail: I trained with Carlson Gracie in Rio. After three months, I was a yellow belt. I entered a tournament and won. After that, I said to my father, "I'm not going to come back. I'm going to stay in Rio." My father said, "OK, but I'm not going to give you any more money." So I slept inside the Carlson Gracie I found out that a long time ago Carlson had had problems with another side of his family, and I told him, "Don't worry, I'm going to teach all those guys [a lesson) I" Carlson looked at me and said: "You're young. Look at the way you talk about things." I told him to watch me.
BB: What are some of the events you won in prior to your victory over Royce Gracie?
Ismail: I'm an eight-time national champion in Brazilian-jujutsu. I have had about 300 to 400 fights. Since 'Morning a black belt, I have lost one time.
BB: When did you win your first Brazilian-jujutsu national championship?
Ismail: A long time ago they didn't hold a national champion - but they had an equivalent tournament that claimed to go to the national championship. Winning it was hard; my first title was in 1984.
BB: You've also fought in no-holds-barred events and lost twice.
Ismail: I have a total of 20 no-rules fights. I have a record of 18-2. In the first one, I realized I was out of shape. I was not in condition to fight.
BB: Was that match a part of the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Ismail: Yes. It was bad because after a while, a person gets to think he is unbeatable. You think nobody will beat you because of your expertise in jujutsu. But I wasn't in good shape, either. My opponent held onto the fence. The official should have intervened, but he didn't. I used up a lot of power and energy trying to get him off the fence. I didn't lose because of an absence of good technique; I lost because of a lack of stamina.
BB: And your second no-holds-barred loss?
Ismail: I lost the second one in Japan. I was feeling well, but I had traveled from the United States to Japan two days before the fight. The time difference was about 16 hours, and that hurt my performance because I lost an entire night of sleep.
BB: Do you feel more comfortable fighting in sport-jujutsu matches or no-holds-barred bouts?
Ismail: I like real vale tudo, where you can use head butts and elbow strikes. In the International Vale Tudo Championship, I'm the champ. Why? Because there are no rules in the IVC, and the opponent can't hold the fence. If a guy holds the fence, he doesn't want to fight.
BB: Who do you train with now to perfect your jujutsu skills?
Ismail: I train with a lot of guys-all the Carlson Gracie team.
BB: It has been said that Carlson Gracie trains the best fighters in the world. Do you agree?
Ismail: That is for sure. He has a lot of the best fighters. However, there are good fighters on other teams, too.
BB: Why is that?
Ismail: The Carlson Gracie team is out there looking for the toughest fights. Unlike some Gracies, who go for the easiest fights-fights they know they can win. Except Renzo and Royce-I have respect for them because of what they have accomplished.
Wallid Ismail (top) assumes a side-control position on Franco De Camargo (1). Ismail spins his body counter-clockwise while maintaining the pin and controlling the opponent's right arm (2). Ismail then wraps his right arm around the opponent's arm and places his left hand on his wrist (3). To complete the arm lock, the Brazilian-jujutsu expert twists his body so he can bend the trapped arm backward (4). BB: What have you gained from training with Mario Sperry?
Ismail: I have made progress with everyone I've trained with equally, not just Mario specifically. To me, Mario is just another member of the Carlson Gracie team. We used to be workout partners. I have gained just as much from Mario as from everyone else. Mario also lives in another state in the south of Brazil. He's not really that close to me. Before the Royce fight, I didn't train with Mario even one day.
BB: It's been said that Sperry developed most of the new techniques the Carlson Gracie team is using to win. Is that true?
Ismail: That is not true. The Carlson Gracie team is a team. We develop new techniques with each other. We are all training together.
BB: Is it true that jujutsu competitors in Brazil are using new techniques of which the Gracies are not aware?
Ismail: They are aware of the new developments. They know.
BB: How long did you prepare for the Royce fight?
Ismail: I trained specifically for two months. But I have trained hard all my life.
Wallid Ismail freaks after choking out Royce Gracie on December 17, 1998. BB: Will there be a rematch with Royce?
Ismail: I'm not sure what is going on. After the fight, Rorion Gracie called me asking for a rematch. He wanted me to give him some dates, and I said, "OK, let's make the rematch in June or July." Two weeks ago, I called Rorion to ask what day he wanted for the rematch, and he said he would talk to Royce and then call me. But he has not called yet.
BB: You also defeated Ralph Gracie and Renzo Gracie. Is there anything you'd like to say about those matches?
Ismail: I represent Carlson Gracie. After I won all the championships in Brazil, some Gracie family members didn't like it because I was getting too much attention. So they [decided to] prepare Ralph Gracie to fight me. For three years, they prepared him, but I won. After that, they prepared Renzo for two years. But I won again.
BB: Is there anyone else you'd like to fight?
Ismail: I have an agreement now to focus on the Royce fight only. He is the best in the Gracie family. This is not just my opinion, but the general public's opinion as well. I have shown the world that I can beat the best, and I can do it again. Some people assume [Royce] may be afraid of fighting me again, but I don't believe that. I believe that Royce will fight me again. I think he wants a rematch. I'm going to be flexible and do whatever I can for it to happen.
Wallid Ismail controls the arms and hips of Franco De Camargo (1). Ismail then lowers his left foot (2) and circles it around the opponent's right thigh (3). Ismail forces the other man to the ground by trapping his right foot under his left arm and pushing against his left thigh (4). Once the opponent falls, Ismail executes an Achilles lock (5). Close-up: The technique inflicts pain by hyper-extending the ankle (6). BB: Do you have any desire to fight Rickson Gracie?
Ismail: In my opinion, I have fought the three best Gracies that are active in sport jujutsu. Rickson is not active in sport jujutsu. I am waiting to fight Royce right now. I don't feel like Rickson wants to fight me in particular. But if he wants to, I am willing and I believe I can win.
BB: What makes you so confident?
Ismail: I train all day. Carlson teaches me everything. I believe in myself. Rickson just fights Japanese guys-the same Japanese guys. In four years, Rickson has fought only two times. Also, one of his Japanese opponents has fought fake fights. Unlike many, I'm not afraid of the Gracie name. I would train just like I did for the Royce fight, just like I have for my entire life. I study jujutsu very thoroughly so I can show the world "real jujutsu." Many jujutsu fighters are scared of showing real techniques, but I feel jujutsu belongs to the world.
BB: What do you mean?
Ismail: In the United States, I am making instructional videotapes with Panther Productions. When I left Brazil, many people said, "Don't show the real stuff." But I don't care. I like to show real jujutsu, and I'm doing it in these videotapes. And as I give seminars throughout the United States and the world, I am also going to show real jujutsu.
Wallid Ismail (bottom) holds Franco De Camargo in the closed guard and controls his arms (1). When the opponent tries to escape, Ismail places his feet on his hips (2). Ismail then pulls the opponent's arms and lifts with his legs (3). Once the opponent is airborne, Ismail removes his left foot and lets him drop (4). When the opponent lands, Ismail executes an armbar (5). BB: Are some jujutsu instructors not teaching everything they know?
Ismail: Yes. A lot of people in Brazil didn't want me to teach everything. People said jujutsu should stay there [in Brazil]. But I said I was going to show it to everybody. In America some people are teaching real jujutsu, but many are not.
BB: What constitutes real jujutsu?
Ismail: Excellent question. Because I have given seminars in the United States, some people are talking about how I teach detailed techniques. Everybody knows the choke, arm lock and foot lock, but they may not know the important details. I show the details that other people don't show. And they make a difference. They need to be known. Because I am a professional fighter, I dissect techniques day after day. I teach seminars only on weekends. During the week, I do laboratory research and learn more and more.
BB: Do you consider the techniques you have perfected in this manner to be "Wallid Ismail's jujutsu"?
Ismail: Nobody owns jujutsu. I don't say that these techniques are "my jujutsu." That would not be a good practice. I just want to teach you everything I know about jujutsu.
BB: Because several sport-jujutsu practitioners have lost in no-holds-barred events, many martial artists are saying sport jujutsu is not good for no-rules fighting or self-defense. Do you agree?
Ismail: Jujutsu can be divided into three parts: sport jujutsu, self-defense and no- holds- barred. When you train for sport jujutsu in a gi (uniform), you've got a lot of techniques available. I train all day in my gi. When I get out of my gi, nobody is going to hold me. With the gi, you need a lot of techniques and a lot more detail because you are exposed to more dangers. Sport jujutsu is growing around the world because people like to learn a lot of techniques and positions and to hold the gi. Training for no-holds-barred fighting without a gi is harder. You have to train much more for strength.
BB: Are you the best sport-jujutsu fighter in the world?
Ismail: The best is God. I just want to train and be thought of as a person who loves jujutsu. It's stupid to say you are the best because one day you will lose. Even so, you look for the hard fights. That's the only way to get good.