Rickson Gracie details his fight against Parkinson's and opens up about the disease: 'It has changed a lot'

Rickson Gracie opens up about Parkinson's. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

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Master Rickson Gracie, one of the most important names in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, revealed in a recent interview with the program 'Mundo da Luta', on Combate, updates on the fight against a new challenge: Parkinson's disease. The diagnosis, made about a year before his public revelation, did not stop him from maintaining positivity and applying his knowledge of martial arts to deal with the new reality.

“I was diagnosed maybe a year before my interview with Kyra. I thought it was better to open up to the world because there is no need to hide anything, and I don’t feel bad about this confrontation, I even feel good. I am using all the tools I have learned during my life as a martial artist to deal with this new opponent,” said Rickson.

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Master Gracie highlights that the disease significantly altered his life, limiting his physical capabilities.

“Nowadays I no longer have the athletic ability to interact, to play, to be responsive in the technical part, to try to pass a guard, my coordination is failing”, he revealed.

However, Rickson emphasizes that the illness has not stopped him from continuing to share his knowledge and passion for Jiu-Jitsu.

“But that didn’t take away from my happiness of continuing to follow my purpose, which is to guide people in a way that they become martial artists. So, I continue to teach, in my own way, with my possibilities, to teachers from all over the world who come to class with me, to teach their students this invisible part”, he concluded.

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that affects the central nervous system, causing difficulty in controlling body movements. The exact cause of Parkinson's disease is not fully understood, but it is believed that genetic and environmental factors may contribute to its development.

There is no cure, but treatments such as medications and therapeutic interventions can help control symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.