UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie helps train first responders at Downstream Casino

Self-defense lessons from a bona-fide expert.

Retired Brazilian mixed martial artist and UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie is at Downstream Casino through Thursday of this week teaching members of the Guardian group proper techniques.

Gracie appeared on the KZRG Morning Newswatch to discuss what he’s doing to help first responders.

Participating in the interview were Royce Gracie, Barry Linduff of the Quapaw Tribe/Downstream Casino and Morning Newswatch co-host, Ted Bojorquez.

Ted:  You are one of UFC’s inaugural Hall of Famers. That’s crazy. I mean, talk about a weight on your shoulders! What’s that like?

Royce Gracie: I fought on the first four or five UFCs. So yeah, long time ago. Actually, this year was 30 years anniversary. Oh my goodness. Back then there was no gloves, no time limit, no weight division. So three fights in one night. The second UFC was four fights in one night. Oh my gosh. Well considering you fought in an era with no gloves, I have to say your face is still looking pretty good, man. I don’t like to get hit. This whole thing of, oh you got to get used to get hit. No, no, no, no. You get used to getting hit.

Ted:  I’m sure that you’re not here just endure these frigid temperatures that you don’t have in Brazil. Why are you here?

Royce Gracie:  I’m here to support the guardians over Downstream Casio. It’s a convention for the first responders.

Barry Linduff:  Yeah, he’ll be here teaching self-defense for our first responders. He’s an advocate of working with our first responders. We’ve got, you know, the weather’s bad outside, but that doesn’t stop our first responders from doing that. So they’re showing up in force today at downstream for the next couple of days. Check out the , Guardians Conference on Facebook.

Ted:  I’m curious: You obviously of course you have that extreme and wonderful and story to history in the UFC and you have molded that skill set to help our first responders. That’s really really cool. Walk me through that experience of that transition.

Royce Gracie:  What I’m teaching people is how to defend themselves. I don’t walk into a fight thinking I’m gonna beat up my opponent.

I’m walking into a fight thinking how am I am I not gonna lose my opponent. I don’t firstly I don’t want to lose the fight so and that’s what I teach the the first responders – confidence.

Ted: Have you always been a supporter of first responders in this way? Was this sort of a natural step for you after your UFC career to help out our officers?

Royce Gracie:  I’m a big fan of the first responders. They’re the ones protecting my family when I’m traveling. First responders, the military, yes, they’re the ones protecting me.

Ted; Now, can we expect in the Four States area now that you’re here training our first responders?  Will we see officers start taking bad guys down like John Wick where he flips them over and does super awesome jiu-jitsu. Is that what we can start seeing?

Royce Gracie:  The idea is not to hurt the suspect. It’s to control and subdue them without having to injure them.

Ted:  Now, Royce Gracie, UFC Hall of Famer, I know radio is an audio medium, but for those that are listening right now that are civilians, what are some basic tips that you might be able to, and wisdom that you might be able to impart on them to help keep themselves and their family safe?

Royce Gracie:  It’s to be alert of your surrounding. So that’s the main thing. It doesn’t matter how much martial art you know. If you let the suspect get all over you.

Yes, you can still defend yourself but the surprise attacks sometimes throws people off. So you gotta know how to stop that, how to be away from people, how to kind of control the awareness of the surrounding.

Ted: Now, would you say as someone that is kind of an expert in self-defense, a lot of people, women or smaller kids or something that might need to protect themselves. It’s more than just strength, right?

Royce Gracie:  It’s self-defense. So you got to know what you’re doing. Once you know what you’re doing, it’s easy. You don’t have to be big. You don’t have to be strong. Like the first UFCs, that was the idea. So

I was the smallest opponent, 178, 180 pounds, fighting guys. I fought a guy one time that was 490 pounds, 6’8″. So it shows the technique. And I beat him. I subdue him.and under three minutes. So that shows the technique overcome power.

Ted:  It’s UFC Hall of Famer Hoist Gracie here on NewsTalk KZRG, here in town to teach our first responders .with the Guardians at the event through Thursday.

Thank you very much for joining us today i really appreciate your time and thanks again for braving these cold elements.  We’ll talk to you again soon, hopefully. It’s Newstalk, KZRG.