why didnt the gracies ever challange bruce lee

[bjjp]

this is a / that has been weighing on my sifu's mind and mine,why didnt during the time of the greats as in helio gracie and bruce lee was there ever a challange,bruce was world known and the gracie family was also pretty well known.....i would like to hear some opions.thank you.

[jonbey]

As I understand it the Gracies used to have an open invitation to any challengers. Maybe Bruce was just too busy looking good and making films

[bjjp]

could be but bruce lee never challanged any body unless they did or said some thing,i think.and also the gracies preached how bjj was the best.

[aseepish]

Why don't you ask Rorion?

[Penance]

Maybe they just had mutual respect for one another. I know the Gracies aren't exactly ones to be humble or quiet about what they think the ultimate art is, but Bruce studied grappling (and even included some techniques like arm bars in his movies)

Maybe they just didn't really care that much. Also, I think both parties would have had too much to lose. If Bruce lost, that could have destroyed his career because he would have lost some of his mystique. If the Gracies lost, then it would have been very high profile due to Bruce's fame.

[bjjp]

i know bruce in corparated grappling in jeet kune do,and ur right about the gracies they are never quite as to say whats the best,and u cant say who would win in a ring fight cause bruce didnt do those jeet kune doo was for street fighting.

[Britt]

Why don't you ask Rorion?

I seem to have misplaced his phone number.

[aseepish]

http://www.gracieacademy.com/contact.html

You could always camp out across the street and wait for him in person.

[bjjp]

na i think we all know that the gracies will not say any thang,but i think bruce would win,againt helio or Rorion jeet kune doo wasnt meant so much for the ring but for strett fighting,with the in side and out side traps,shin kick,eye pokes.....etc.and the graices challanges were any thang goes matches.

[PittBull]

I think Bruce would win if it stayed standing.. But on the ground definite BJJ advantage. However, I wonder how much different BJJ was back then compared to now?

[aseepish]

No no no no no no no
This thread isn't happening. This thread is not happening.
Somewheeeeeeeere oooover the raaainbow...

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Rolls Gracie would have pounded out Bruce Lee

[tkd_wrestler]

I think Bruce would have won hands down. Of his athleticism and the fact that he was just such a well rounded fighter. He'd studied jujitsu, submission fighting, wing chun, boxing and various other martial arts. Not to mention that he'd treat it like a street fighter and try to end it quickly and we all know how fast Bruce was. All the Gracie's really have going for them is badass grappling. I have nothing against them. I love what their achievements in the world of grappling and martial arts in general but Bruce just wouldn't make it easy for him.

On the subject of why they never fought each other. I don't think the Gracie's really had any reason to fight with Bruce the same as he never had a reason to fight with them. Bruce wasn't prone to a real fight unless it was necessary or he lost his temper and I think the Gracie's had and still have a great deal of respect for him.

[fenwick99]

re

I think that Bruce Lee had about as much interest in fighting Helio Gracie or Carlos Gracie as Jack Dempsey had in fighting Farmer Burns or Strangler Lewis, none at all! Bruce would have gotten his ass handed to him by any of the Gracies, and even more so by Kimura.

[timtek]

Bruce at 165 lb. soaking wet would have had a long day against Royce or Rickson IMO.