Helio Gracie Linked to 1930s Brazilian Fascism Movement
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Helio Gracie is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that rapidly spread throughout South America and beyond. His family played a crucial role in popularizing the discipline, steering it into mainstream recognition by the 1990s.
More than a decade after his passing, not much has been said about the grappling icon in the context of current affairs—both in life and within the jiu-jitsu sphere. However, an article by UOL reveals that Helio was a documented member of the Brazilian fascist movement known as Integralism.
The article, based on research by historian Leandro Pereira Gonçalves from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, explores the movement’s historical roots and includes a photograph tying the elder Gracie to the organization.
What Is Integralism?
Integralism first emerged in Brazil in 1932. It promoted the belief that Catholicism should form the foundation of public law and policy. Its founder, Plínio Salgado, spread its ideology widely. Some even drew comparisons between him and Adolf Hitler—an extreme and deeply significant parallel.
Gonçalves’ research unearthed pages from A Offensiva, a pro-Integralist newspaper, dated June 3, 1936. The cover features Helio Gracie wearing a green shirt adorned with the Greek letter Sigma, a key symbol of Integralism.
“Helio Gracie, the renowned patrician jiu-jitsu champion, signed on Saturday, in our writing, the respective contract with Empreza Pugilistica Brasileira for the accomplishment of the expected fight with the valued instructor of the Navy Sports League, Takeo Yano,” reads the 1936 edition of A Offensiva.
Historian Gonçalves explained the significance of Gracie’s attire:
“When a person wears the green shirt, they are incorporating not only a political party but a way of life. You were an Integralista at all times in your life.”
The Gracie Family’s Controversial History
This is not the first time the Gracie family has been linked to fascist ideologies. In 2012, former mixed martial artist Renzo Gracie tweeted a quote from Heinrich Himmler. Heinrich is one of the chief architects of the Holocaust. When confronted about the tweet eight years later, Renzo chose to defend it. Further controversy followed when he lashed out at a French user, stating: “It’s not my fault that your grandparents let [Nazis] march through your country without a fight.”
Beyond Helio and Renzo’s troubling connections to fascist rhetoric—spanning from the 1930s to the present—various other members of the Gracie lineage have been criticized for making homophobic remarks. Time and again, they have been excused, but such outdated mindsets must be challenged and left behind.
As Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to grow on the global stage, its history—both celebrated and controversial—deserves scrutiny. While the Gracie family’s contributions to martial arts are undeniable, their past affiliations and rhetoric raise uncomfortable questions. As the sport evolves, so too must its values, ensuring that inclusivity and respect take precedence over outdated ideologies.
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