When I was a young boy my parent separated and I had a hard time socializing with people and especially talking about my ideas and my dreams. So I would go to my uncle’s jiu-jitsu school in Brazil to train and to let of steam but I didn’t see any real meaning on what I was learning. 

It seemed that the only goal of every one of my classmates was to beat me, so they could later look at me from above and say (I beat a Gracie). Since a young age, training  was more of a family thing then a personal thing to me and at times I did not even know why I would train but I trained hard and I would fight hard for my family’s name.

Even though back then I didn´t understand the true essence of jiu-jitsu, I felt at times there was a big barrier inside me that blocked me from learning and understand true jiu-jitsu:  This was really frustrating to me and a big struggle I had to overcome.

When I turned 13 years old a new chapter started in my life, I had no place to live and my survival became a big part of my concerns. Life was hard and I started to value different things; the basic needs became very important to me.

These tough situations I had to live taught me the difference between reality and illusion. I was forced to learn to distinguish between real jiu-jitsu, fake jiu-jitsu, real people and fake people. I tripped, I stumbled but I learned to stand up and walk forward, many times without looking back... I always counted on myself for everything. I also found out that many of these falls and tumbles were because of my inner negativity and blaming others for my negativity.

I moved to the USA to go to High School and stay with my father but he shipped me off to train and live with one of my my uncles, were I helped him at his academy and studied. Then I started to train with my other uncle and many years later after working hard I finally received a Black from my uncle Máster Carson Gracie's own hands.  

I left and continued to train and search for answers to my doubts on various techniques, and I found out that almost nobody really new about what they were talking about or could explain the techniques in the proper manner. So I started to observe other Black Belts and Instructors, and ask my father Rocian Gracie Sr and several other uncles for pointers.

I finally started to begin to realize the true way of fighting, base, balance, and I started to test which moves worked for me and my own students. I never really liked to use strength but I discovered that there are moments where strength plus technique is essential to achieve a goal. I eventually found out that balance is the true base and that a bad situation won’t last forever nor does a good situation. Besides the stumbles and falls I found a key to training in Jiu-jitsu and life, never giving up; makes us stronger, aware, awake, fast thinkers and helps us on our evolution in martial arts and in life.

In 1990's I decided to move my location to OC/ Aliso Viejo, that is when I meet Master Spillmann a Hapkido and TaeKwonDo Master. We talked for hours about martial arts and life and came to a mutual understanding that we would share knowledge and techniques. He rented me space at his academy and I would give him private jiu-jitsu classes for part of the rent. We worked together for many years and grew like brothers. So much that till this day we are like brothers and we are family and our families are very closes and we visit each other often.

Each year that goes by I realize newer things. The mat and my students are my teachers. The life lessons I learn everyday keeps me motivated and make me believe more in myself and in my families jiu-jitsu.

These life lessons I bring to the mat and to my teaching. It is also these life lessons that I try to teach to my students and to my beloved children.

I know you will love learning from my brother Master Konrado Spillmann is a great person, wise and a good teacher. He is Black Belt in Rocian Gracie Jiu-jitsu and I know he will teach you the complete methods developed by my family and honed by my struggles and achievements.

Remember never give up and you will master Jiu-Jitsu someday. It is not an easy road but it is well worth every step and finding the true you. See you at the next training camp when I visit California or visit me in Brazil. Maybe my brother will bring you to train with us in Sao Paulo.