Rener Gracie was given a truly unique opportunity just recently when he visited The Reptile Zoo in Fountain Valley, California, as the handlers wrapped him up in a 280lb snake and watched him grapple with the fearsome python. Everything was done completely tongue-in-cheek of course and no animals were hurt at any point or even under any stress, as they were always under the constant care and supervision of the handlers.
Once the snake was gently wrapped around the shoulders and body of Rener Gracie, he jokingly started to grapple with it by applying a shoulder-slip and starting to frame against the snake, keeping his neck safe and preventing it from sinking the choke. Of course, all of this would be completely in vain had the 280lb snake actually wanted to try and squeeze the life out of him. As he said astutely pointed out himself: “If he turned on, I don’t know if thirty years of Jiu-Jitsu would free me from this!”
Recently, Rener Gracie has found himself quickly becoming the face of the mainstream push for national police reform using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu due to a recent appearance on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. It’s not exactly a new area to him of course, as it’s been one of his main projects over the last few years and something that he’s been an incredibly vocal proponent for. This is alongside the good work he already does for charitable causes, including a recent auction of combat sports memorabilia that he put on in order to raise funds for the victims of bullying.
