Jiu-jitsu legend Relson Gracie, son of founder Helio Gracie, has sparked controversy with his blunt assessment of modern competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In a funny interview, the veteran martial artist criticized contemporary competitors for abandoning the traditional techniques he was taught, giving them an unflattering nickname:
“the hemorrhoid crew.”
Gracie’s criticism centers on a common practice in today’s sport jiu-jitsu where competitors immediately sit down and scoot across the mat on their backsides rather than engaging in standup grappling or takedowns.
“You know what I call them? The hemorrhoid crew,”
Gracie stated matter-of-factly.
“They all come in scraping their butts on the ground. The guys sit down and come out, that’s the hemorrhoid crew.”
The disconnect between modern sport jiu-jitsu and the original self-defense art taught by his father clearly frustrates the master instructor. When asked how far competitive jiu-jitsu has strayed from Helio Gracie’s teachings, Relson didn’t mince words. He observes that current competitions lack the technical precision and strategic clarity that defined the art’s origins.
“You’re going to watch the match, you don’t have the slightest sense of certainty about who’s going to win,”
he explained, suggesting that modern matches have become unpredictable scrambles rather than displays of masterful technique.
Gracie attributes this evolution to rule changes that accommodate techniques he considers gimmicky and ineffective for real life. He dismisses modern innovations like the berimbolo, questioning whether practitioners of these flashy moves actually achieve championship success. His assessment is harsh:
“It’s a punch-fest. It’s luck, man.”
With 147 alleged altercations under his belt and a lifetime of teaching experience across 36 academies, Relson maintains unwavering confidence in the traditional Gracie self-defense system. He emphasizes practical techniques like clinching, distance management, and timing—skills he credits with keeping him unscathed through countless real confrontations.
“I’ve never been slapped in the face, never been hit,”
he boasted, contrasting his experience with what he sees as the impractical sport techniques of today.
While Relson acknowledges that competitive jiu-jitsu has changed and that renewal is inevitable, he clearly believes the evolution has gone in the wrong direction. His colorful criticism serves as a reminder that Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s founders envisioned something quite different from the butt-scooting competitions dominating today’s tournament scene.
