Is Royler Gracie the greatest competitor in history? The four-generation argument, by Marcelo Alonso
A journalist who covered two decades of tournaments separates “the greatest of all time” from “the greatest competitor” and tells VF Comunica why he picks Hélio Gracie’s son
The debate over the greatest name in Jiu-Jitsu usually ends with Roger Gracie, a ten-time black belt world champion. Journalist and photographer Marcelo Alonso agrees with that answer, but thinks the question hides another one. In an interview with Vitor Freitas for VF Comunica, he separated the two and gave a different name for the second.
“With all respect to Roger, who for me is the greatest of all time in Jiu-Jitsu, the greatest competitor in the history of Jiu-Jitsu is Royler Gracie,” he said.
A black belt champion since 1986
Alonso’s argument is time. He covered tournaments from 1992 to the early 2010s and saw almost every big name come up from blue belt. Royler was the exception, because he was already at the top when the journalist arrived. “In ’86 Royler was already a black belt champion,” he recalled, pointing to the results of a tournament in Rio that year.
From then on, Hélio Gracie’s son never left the circuit. “That guy went through four generations,” Alonso said.
The four generations
The journalist lists the opponents by era. First, the 1980s group, with names like Peixotinho. Then the generation of Ricardo De La Riva. After that, the generation of Márcio Feitosa and Vitor Shaolin. Finally, that of Léo Santos, who came a little later.
“Royler fought everybody, all the greatest of that generation,” he said. The record includes losses, and for Alonso that is what gives the career weight: he never picked his opponents. Royler was a four-time world champion at featherweight in the first editions of the tournament and a three-time ADCC champion.
Under 150 pounds in the open class
What impresses the journalist most is Royler’s willingness to enter the open class. “He still took the risk at 66, 67 kilos in the open class,” he said. That is about 146 pounds.
At one of the first Worlds, Royler reached the open class final and took silver, losing to Amaury Bitetti. On the way, he beat Arthur Ignarra, a heavyweight Alonso describes as “a monster” of around 285 pounds.
What Carlson used to say
Alonso also uses Royler to take apart an old provocation, the idea that the Jiu-Jitsu from Hélio’s side of the family was inferior to that of Carlson Gracie’s academy. According to him, Carlson himself respected his cousin. “Royler fought every generation, lost to some, beat others. They were always wars,” the journalist said.
Greatest of all time or greatest competitor?
Alonso’s distinction opens a good debate. Roger has the numbers. Royler has the longevity, the range of opponents and the courage to fight much heavier people. Those are two different criteria for the same word.
Full video on YouTube
The full interview with Marcelo Alonso is on the VF Comunica YouTube channel (in Portuguese).
Who is the greatest competitor in the history of Jiu-Jitsu? Leave your opinion in the comments.
