Rorion Gracie is asking for help for his first-ever student, who also played a role in the birth of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
One day after using social media to celebrate the birthday of his father, Hélio Gracie, who if he were alive would have turned 111 years old on Oct. 1, Rorion created a post seeking assistance for American Richard Bresler. Bressler rented a house with Gracie, where the Brazilian started teaching classes in the garage. That marked the beginning of the project that would lead to the promotion of jiu-jitsu in America and the creation of the UFC.
“The story of jiu-jitsu in the U.S. started almost half a century ago when my first student, Richard Bresler, agreed to rent a small house with me in Hermosa Beach, California, where the famous “Garage Days” happened,” Gracie wrote on Instagram. His enthusiasm for jiu-jitsu was such that he could not stop talking about it. At his restaurant in the Hawthorne Mall, and elsewhere, he was a tireless promoter always ready to invite anyone that looked tough to come over and test their skills. It was a way to validate what we both believed would be a life changing experience for anyone who tried it.
“When I decided to open the first Gracie Academy on 1951 W Carson St, Richard’s contribution was instrumental to funding the project. Then when the idea for the UFC needed to move from paper to reality, he was one of the 29 investors that made it possible. If you, like millions of people around the world, have discovered the benefits of this incredible art, you can rest assured that you have a debt of gratitude to Richard Bresler.
“The time has come for us to show appreciation to all he has done. Richard — who doesn’t drink – has cirrhosis of the liver. He needs a special treatment to be done in Texas that is not covered by his insurance.
A GoFundMe account has been created in Bressler’s name.
“It would mean a lot to me if you were to please click the link below and donate any amount to help our brother in arms win this fight!” Gracie added.
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