I have read conflicting story's about who was looked at as the champion of the family. I know Rolls died before his time so Rickson won by default. I would love to hear some more intelligent opinions on it. Old world Gracie family shit is fascinating to me. 
I don't know the answer, but from what I've read and stories told, Rolls was the top guy.
In for answers and learning.
I've read Rolls but it's hard to imagine one of them schooling Rickson. I'm not saying it's bullshit. I am saying the dude must have been off the fucking charts. 
Rolls then Rickson.
I think the story goes that Rickson was starting to come into his own before Rolls died but had not surpassed him yet. After Rolls died then Rickson took on the pressure of being the Family champion and rose to the occasion. I don't think Rickson had reached his Prime yet.
For now it's Rickson ... Will be Kron imo.
Rolls, then Rickson. Rolls was a big part of Rickson's success.
Rolls was GOAT then Rickson came into his own and started submitting him.
that's none of our business
AdamVMMA - Rickson by ArmbarWere getting old
VU - I love the old grace stuff too. Let's say pre-1990.
Well Rickson was born in 1957 and Rolls died in what, 1982 I think?
Rickson would have PROBABLY been the best by then, but I see above that someone said Rickson was submitting Rolls before his death...
Any details on that?>
From what I remember Royce telling us years ago, when asked, Rolls would tool Rickson early on and before he died they would go toe to toe with Rickson sometimes dominating, and I THINK, submitting Rolls and was surpassing Rolls when he died.
dermotfix - that's none of our businessHaha
Rolls was the original rickson and the original badass along with Carlson. Rickson even says rolls was his idol and he could never beat him he was always number 2. Seems like when he died rickson kinda replaced him and did all the stuff he would have done. He was the biggie and rickson was jay z lol and I'm sure helio was happier to have rickson as the number one guy cuz rickson was his real son.
The only difference was rolls was an extraordinary coach that was obsessed with advancing jiujitsu with studying other combat sports to find things to add to his game in wrestling, judo and sambo where rickson perfected a basic jiujitsu and although open to other grappling arts it didn't seem like he had the passion rolls had. And also didn't seem to have the same passion in coaching that rolls did. Rolls was obsessed where rickson would have his students teach a lot of his classes and disappear and travel. I think gracie barra and gracie humaita both came from rolls school which he shared with Carlson and they alternated floors and mats for different days. Some people wanted to learn from rolls and some from Carlson and those two created lineages that are legendary today.
Rolls only had six black belts before he passed but they were some of the best in the game like Jacare calvacanti who is responsible for guys like Marcelo Garcia and cobrinah and many others under the alliance banner.
So yeah, rolls was pretty bad ass. But so was Carlson. And then there was rickson, and then renzo,
Rolls incorporated other styles like wrestling,judo & sambo into his arsenal & was the top dog in the family.
Rickson said on JRE that before Rolls passed he was getting the edge on Rolls.
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HotSteppa - From what I remember Royce telling us years ago, when asked, Rolls would tool Rickson early on and before he died they would go toe to toe with Rickson sometimes dominating, and I THINK, submitting Rolls and was surpassing Rolls when he died.That's how I remember the interview, except for the part about him dominating rolls.
Rolls was the first guy to bring sambo and judo back into BJJ, avoiding pulling guard and trying to control from top control.
He modernised BJJ and is the GOAT.
TakinAllFades - Rolls was the original rickson and the original badass along with Carlson. Rickson even says rolls was his idol and he could never beat him he was always number 2. Seems like when he died rickson kinda replaced him and did all the stuff he would have done. He was the biggie and rickson was jay z lol and I'm sure helio was happier to have rickson as the number one guy cuz rickson was his real son.Cool info vu
The only difference was rolls was an extraordinary coach that was obsessed with advancing jiujitsu with studying other combat sports to find things to add to his game in wrestling, judo and sambo where rickson perfected a basic jiujitsu and although open to other grappling arts it didn't seem like he had the passion rolls had. And also didn't seem to have the same passion in coaching that rolls did. Rolls was obsessed where rickson would have his students teach a lot of his classes and disappear and travel. I think gracie barra and gracie humaita both came from rolls school which he shared with Carlson and they alternated floors and mats for different days. Some people wanted to learn from rolls and some from Carlson and those two created lineages that are legendary today.
Rolls only had six black belts before he passed but they were some of the best in the game like Jacare calvacanti who is responsible for guys like Marcelo Garcia and cobrinah and many others under the alliance banner.
So yeah, rolls was pretty bad ass. But so was Carlson. And then there was rickson, and then renzo,
How would you say the Gracie family linear championship goes from Rolls to now?