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Helio Gracie, the co-patriarch of the legendary Gracie clan that popularized Brazilian jiu-jitsu and originated the now-burgeoning sport of mixed martial arts, has died at 95.

Gracie, who died Thursday morning at his ranch in Itaipava, in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, helped revolutionize martial arts along with his older brother Carlos. Helio and Carlos Gracie learned the sport from Japanese teacher Mitsuyo Maeda, who had settled in Belem, Brazil.

Though Carlos was allowed to learn the art, Helio, who often suffered from dizziness and fainting spells as a youth, was not allowed to participate, although he would often attend classes to watch. One day when Carlos was absent from teaching class, Helio filled in as the instructor and began what would become a life spent in the jiu-jitsu world.

Description
Helio Gracie, the co-patriarch of the legendary Gracie clan that popularized Brazilian jiu-jitsu and originated the now-burgeoning sport of mixed martial arts, has died at 95.

Gracie, who died Thursday morning at his ranch in Itaipava, in the mountain region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, helped revolutionize martial arts along with his older brother Carlos. Helio and Carlos Gracie learned the sport from Japanese teacher Mitsuyo Maeda, who had settled in Belem, Brazil.

Though Carlos was allowed to learn the art, Helio, who often suffered from dizziness and fainting spells as a youth, was not allowed to participate, although he would often attend classes to watch. One day when Carlos was absent from teaching class, Helio filled in as the instructor and began what would become a life spent in the jiu-jitsu world.