Found this for anyone interested.
Eight questions for Roger Gracie
Submitted by: Team TATAME
Posted On 08/19/2005
Text by André Araújo - Team TATAME
Before departing for England where he runs two academies, BJJ black belt world champion Roger Gracie talked to ADCC about the whole controversy in the final against Ronaldo Jacaré at X BJJ Worlds 2005. 'It was not a take down!' states Roger, who now proposes a petition to change the BJJ Confederation's rules. Check out our eight questions where Roger Gracie talks about the BJJ Worlds, his academies in London, about his title at ADCC and Vale-Tudo. 'I guess Arona may surprise Wanderlei. If he uses the right strategy, which is: avoid exchanging on the feet and taking the fight to the ground, he increases his chances to win' Roger Gracie commented about the finals of Pride GP Middleweight.
ADCC - Tell us about the controversial result of X BJJ Worlds open class…
Roger Gracie - Well, once again, I am defeated due to a refereeing mistake. I didn't suffer a takedown. Anyone who knows the rules would never score a takedown. Even Ronaldo Jacaré says an advantage point would work out. This fact proves he agrees with me: It was not a take down! If I stayed on my back or on the side, or he got me down and rode on my back for three seconds, it could be a take down, but that did not happen. If he had scored an advantage point, I would be the champion, because he got a negative point due to him running off the mat 13 times.
ADCC - And what are you going to do about it?
Roger Gracie - Well… to avoid mistakes at the competition, I propose a petition to change the rules of the competition. I think we should have a bigger fight zone, to avoid running away, and three referees instead of just one, like Judo competitions. Mistakes would be avoided. I think that if each athlete had one coach on the mat, it would be easier to avoid all the screaming of the audience…
ADCC - And how does this loss spoil your career? Roger Gracie - It does not spoil me. This year has been great for me. I fought the best fighters and I was the 2 class champion at the ADCC 2005 Submission the States. I fought Jacaré in the final match and submitted him. I also fought other great fighters such as Saulo Ribeiro, Fernando Margarida and many others this year.
ADCC - Saulo Ribeiro retired after being defeated by you. What do you think about that?
Roger Gracie - It was an honor for me. He said he wanted to fight me and after he lost, he retired himself. So that's true because he didn't even fight in his weight division. I felt honored.
ADCC - How do you work on your Jiu-Jitsu far away from Brazil?
Roger Gracie - Well, I reached a high level where I keep a good game even being far away from Brazil and my team. However, I think you can get good in Jiu-Jitsu teaching classes. Train harder is also good because it gives you stamina and strength. But training only harder will not make you better in Jiu-Jitsu.
ADCC - Tell me about your academy in London. Roger Gracie - I have around 100 pupils in two academies in London. I am very concerned about them and when I travel to compete, I always trust fighters in charge of the classes, such as Felipe Souza, Felipe Jerry and Zé Beleza. I also have two other related academies in Kuwait and in South Africa.
ADCC - And about Vale-Tudo? Other BJJ black belts such as Márcio Pé-de-Pano and Ronaldo Jacaré are trying their chances over the ring. And you? Who do you like to watch fighting nowadays? Roger Gracie - I work for Jiu-Jitsu. But I cannot tell you I'll never fight. If I receive an unbelievable proposal, who knows? I like to watch fight Wanderlei Silva, Maurício Shogun, Mirko Cro Cop, Rodrigo Minotauro and Emelianenko Fedor.
ADCC - And about Pride GP? What do you think is going to happen? Roger Gracie - I guess Shogun will not have too much trouble defeating Alistair Overeem and I guess Arona may surprise Wanderlei. If he uses the right strategy, which is: avoid exchanging on the feet and taking the fight to the ground, he increases his chances to win.