10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo has made a bold assertion about the trajectory of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, claiming that gi-based BJJ might never have achieved its current popularity if the Gracie family had selected a different representative for the early UFC events.
During a recent appearance on The Grapplers Perspective Podcast, Bravo reflected on the pivotal role Royce Gracie played in establishing the gi as a dominant force in martial arts.
“The only guy that wore a gi in the UFC was Royce,” Bravo explained. “So if they would have had like Renzo go in there, they could have easily had Renzo. He wouldn’t have worn a gi. And I don’t think the gi would be as big.”
Bravo’s perspective centers on the idea that Royce’s decision to compete in the traditional white gi was instrumental in the garment’s global recognition.
“I think Royce made the gi huge because Royce went in there with the gi and he dominated. He crushed he shocked the world. His performance influenced the whole world,”
he said.
The 10th Planet founder emphasized that without Royce’s specific approach to representing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the entire landscape of grappling might look different today.
“We wouldn’t be here if Royce didn’t go out there and do what he did,”
Bravo stated, acknowledging the debt the entire jujitsu community owes to the Gracie family’s strategic choices.
Bravo also revealed an interesting detail about the family’s selection process, noting that Royce wasn’t considered the most skilled MMA star among the Gracies.
“People forget that Royce wasn’t considered the best one in the family. He even admitted that Rickson was 10 times better than him. And Helio didn’t want to put Rickson in because he was too yoked and he would have beat these guys too easy.”
The strategy proved effective as Royce’s success in the early UFC events sparked a global interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that continues to this day.
Bravo’s comments highlight how pivotal moments and individual decisions can shape entire industries. His perspective as someone who later pioneered no-gi jujitsu through 10th Planet gives weight to his analysis of how the gi’s prominence was established through those early UFC performances.
Considering the rise of Nogi BJJ as of late, it’s especially interesting to consider.
