Open letter to Grand Master Helio Gracie

My dear Grand Master Helio Gracie,

as the moment I saw your book I got excited with the old black & white pictures of self defense.

It was taken on 1955. I was a young boy, seventeen years old, student of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

At that moment I was for seven years student of your art. It was a weekend at your country house (Teresópolis).

You and your wife Margarida invited us (my father, mother, younger brother and me) to spend the weekend among your family.

As you needed a self defense techniques album, to guide your professors at the Academy, my father offered himself to take those pictures. You decided to have me as your partner.

For sure it was an honour for me being part of the Gracie history. But I couldn’t imagine that some day it was going to be at your personal and historical book. 

This year on my 70th birthday, 60th Jiu-Jitsu anniversary and 52nd teaching anniversary, I am very much proud to be in your unique book.

Thank you so much.
With all my respect and admiration, your student
Flavio Behring