Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the passing of Helio Gracie.

On the day of his passing in 2009, Toronto BJJ's Head instructor, Jorge Britto (a Royler Gracie Black Belt), Marked the day by wearing a black armband and instead of training - he sat with his students and spoke of some of the lesson's that Helio had passed to him.

Toronto BJJ also issued patches to commemorate the date.

"Helio Gracie participated in well over a dozen no holds barred or vale tudo fights in his life. Confident in his father’s form of ground fighting, Rorion Gracie formed the UFC in 1993 as a platform to showcase jiu-jitsu in North America. The victories of a skinny Royce Gracie in the early UFCs remain the reason most BJJ practitioners participate in jiu-jitsu. Even modern day Brazilian jiu-jitsu dynamos like Gracie Barra’s Otavio Souza claim that they became interested in jiu-jitsu because of seeing what Royce did in the UFC." - The Fightworks Podcast

Like many BJJ Academies we train under a picture of Helio on our wall and bow at the start and end of class to Picture. It happens to be signed also.

Last year Copa Ontario also took part in the customary 'Moment of Silence' which was held by all the major BJJ Tournaments last year.

At the 2009 BJJ Pan-Am's the crowd went silent as Rickson Gracie took to the mat

Rickson Gracie, son of Helio Gracie.

I’d like to welcome you all, and respect our great, great Master. There is nothing to be sorry about. The way he wants to be remembered, he always said to us, was a party and a celebration. I think this is a moment, with all of us here, to celebrate his legacy, to spread the seeds of the jiu-jitsu he created and brought. And I think, what more can we expect from life than to live to be 95 years old and pretty healthy and his sons doing what he loved to do? So thankfully, there is nothing to be sorry about. My dad now is eternal. Let’s live on his legacy and the passion for jiu-jitsu for all of us and for the future generations. Thank you very much.