(Youth1) – For over 35 years, Master Carlos "Caique" Elias was trained by the most renowned Jiu-Jitsu Masters, including Helio, Relson and Rickson Gracie, and today the Brazilian native is recognized as one of the best martial artists in the world. Passionate about Jiu-Jitsu and how it changed his life, Master Caique decided to open an academy in Lomita, California after he moved to the United States. Now, the Caique Jiu-Jitsu Self Defense Academy has 15 affiliates around the country and trains hundreds of children and adults each year. 

Youth1 sat down with Master Caique to discuss everything from his unique experiences to his views on kids and teens learning Jiu-Jitsu. Find out the instructor’s insightful perspectives on martial arts, fitness and more in the exclusive Q&A below. 

Y1: Master Caique, would you take us through your time in Brazil and when you came to America? 
I practiced Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil at the Helio Gracie academy called “Academia Gracie de Jiu Jitsu” and eventually became really good at it. Even though I was going to school, and later on to college, I never quit. I was a business owner in Brazil when I got invited by Helio Gracie to come to the United States and teach for a couple weeks, and I wound up liking the U.S. and decided to stay. 

I taught for him for almost five years in Torrance, California, and then I decided to go on my own venture. Since I was used to business challenges from my teenage years and have a talent to build successful projects, I started my own academy with the support of those who practice with us. Today we have built a successful organization with affiliates all over the U.S. and Canada.

Y1: What was it like to train with Helio Gracie?
Helio Gracie was a unique person, and as you can see, Jiu Jitsu is so popular today, which is a reward for Helio’s tenacity, determination and love for the martial art of Jiu Jitsu.
The experience to train with him and be so close to him was a unique experience and not too many people have that. Even his direct relatives, mostly those of the younger generation, did not spend as much time as I did practicing with him. That is why I am in jIu-Jitsu—to preserve his legacy as my Jiu Jitsu Master, to carry on the tradition of the martial art and to use my knowledge to help others by building their self confidence. I want to keep the best martial arts style alive. 

Y1: You were so deeply involved in jiu jitsu in Brazil and you practiced with some of the best martial artists in the world. What was that like?
It gave me a lot of experience. By practicing often with my Jiu Jitsu Masters Helio Gracie and Rickson Gracie, I was always ahead of the game. 

When I was young I was smashed by the more experienced martial artists, including Helio and Rickson, but that gave strength and developed my technique so I could survive. One of the reasons why I’m so good in Jiu Jitsu today is because I always listened to my instructors and practiced the techniques the way they wanted me to. 

We also had a lot of great Jiu-Jitsu practitioners from other academies that we sometimes practiced with. 

Y1: Could you tell Youth1 readers a few stories that stick out in your memory about training with the Gracie family?
I got introduced to Jiu Jitsu by my friend Relson Gracie. As we were surfing together one day, I saw him take care of a few disagreements on the beach in a very fast way with his martial arts moves. His skills caught my attention and I thought to myself, “Wow, I have to learn this.”

One of the best times I’ve ever had was at the Gracie house in the city of Teresopolis. It was a great place to train in Jiu Jitsu, eat healthy foods and relax—it was like a temple and I could practice with a bunch of Gracies, some older and some younger than me but all with a lot of Jiu Jitsu experience. Teresopolis was also a place where I saw Carlos Gracie more often and had a chance to get to know him better. 

But there was another place that can be called a temple—Helio Gracie’s country house in the next city named Petropolis. At Helio’s house I have the best memories—learning from him, enjoying his passion for Jiu Jitsu, sitting at the table and eating with him and listening to old stories. These are very nice memories that have made a mark on my life forever. 

Y1: Who did you receive your black belt from?
Grand Master Hello Gracie and Master Rickson Gracie

Y1: Do you have a specific teaching philosophy?
My philosophy is to help people be better human beings by building their confidence, strength and honor and helping them understand that Jiu Jitsu is an effective style of martial arts. 

8) How does that philosophy work with kids you instruct? 
We want to make a difference in kids’ lives, and we are very proud and fortunate to have the opportunity and the best martial arts style to do that.

It’s important to note that all students observe instructors’ personalities, some more than others, but since children are the ones that look up to us the most, we must give them strong examples of honesty, morals, honor and bravery. We are a part of their education and that’s huge.  

Y1: Talk more specifically about the benefits for kids learning BJJ at your academy?
It’s very beneficial. First, because it’s a very effective self defense martial art and will give children the confidence they need in their lives. And second, because it helps kids build character. The kids program is run by my son Pedro Elias, and it focuses on developing personalities, as well as confidence, in young people. 

Y1: Can you elaborate on how Jiu-Jitsu can be transformative mentally and physically?
Jiu jitsu is a unique way to work out. You can be the best marathon runner, swimmer or football player out there, but I can assure you that you will get tired very quickly when you start Jiu Jitsu for the first time. The close contact and the variety of movements are very different from anything else, and you won’t succeed until you adapt and understand that is not about strength. 
But the best workout comes once you master the techniques and can train for longer periods of time. Jiu jitsu is very physical and works all of the muscles and joints in the body, which is no doubt another one of the many benefits of the amazing martial art style. 

Y1: Talk about your tournaments that you promote?
We have three tournaments of our own per year. One will be in Indianapolis on June 10, 2011—around 400 competitors entered the event last year. Another tournament, named the South Bay Open 2011, will be held in California at Cal State Dominguez University in July—over 800 children and adults competed in 2010.  

Y1: What is your ultimate goal in the future for Caique Jiu Jitsu?
My goal is to have a successful business and to deliver the services and ideologies people will appreciate. Our goal at Caique Jiu Jitsu is to always develop strength and honor in our students.
 I have big plans for the future. One of my dreams is to have an academic school on our facility, like a charter school with a high level of education. This would help kids go to college and it would allow them to practice Jiu Jitsu after school, combing two great ways to educate children in one.

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