Rickson / Photo: publicity
Given the dire conditions the people of Rio de Janeiro state’s mountain region are suffering, the martial arts community is taking action in a show strength and solidarity.
Next Wednesday, January 19, at 8:30 pm in the Physical Education School (Escola de Educação Física), in the Urca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, three martial arts icons will join forces to hold a unique seminar. Jiu-Jitsu icon Rickson Gracie and his brother and four-time world champion Royler Gracie will meet up with Olympic judo medalist Flávio Canto for a seminar to provide aid to those left without shelter in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro.
“The idea is much bigger than it being a technique seminar. Out objective is to mobilize martial arts practitioners, get together, have the opportunity to see old friends, and above all to help the thousands of people who are suffering with this tragedy that has devastated the cities of Teresópolis, Petrópolis, and Nova Friburgo,” said Royler.
“Entry to the seminar will cost at least 5 kg of non-perishable foods per participant, and our challenge and expectations are to collect over a ton of foods,” added judoka Flávio Canto.
“It is of extreme importance that all practitioners – regardless of the style they represent or academy they frequent – show up and make sport fighting a tool of practical support for society,” said Rickson in finishing.
The organizers’ idea is to pack the gymnasium of the Army Physical Education school (Escola de Educação Física do Exército), which has been the stage for countless Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the past. “It is very important to highlight the immediate backing from the Brazilian Army, represented by Brigadier General Fernando Azevedo e Silva, the Commander of the Physical Capacitation Center, and Lieutenant Coronel Ricardo Calixto, the Chief Instructor at EsEFEx, who opened the doors to their installations so that the event may be held. Nor can we forget the key backing from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation, which provided us the same competition areas used at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship,” said Rodrigo Antunes, one of the event’s organizers.
The Army School of Physical Education is located on Avenida João Luiz Alves, in Urca.
For further details, visit the website http://monksports.wordpress.com/.