Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gi figure review

To celebrate today's 60th blog post, we'll be drawing from the figure
archive to cover another special Puroresu collectible from Japan: the
Rickson Gracie (Gi ver.) Character Product figure.

Following the 2000 release of Character Product's first figure of Rick
-son Gracie (the Colosseum 2000 and Bushido Spirit variants), Chara
-cter Product followed up with a second figure of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
legend in 2002.

                                   

Drawing from Rickson's previous figure, the updated 2002 version
features Rickson's in his Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Gi and red belt.


                           


The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu logo patch (with Rickson's name) are printed on
the front of Rickson's Gi.


                                 


The left sleeve of the Rickson figure contains a decal which reads
"FIRST INSTRUCTOR" (a reference to Rickson Gracie being a
noted trainer of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu).
                            

This Gracie figure also features an updated head sculpt with Rick
-son's more recognizable buzzcut hairstyle.

The back of Rickson's Gi once again contains a patch of the Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu logo along with Rickson's name and text that reads "INTER
-NATIONAL JIU-JITSU ASSOCIATION".

In typical Character Product fashion, the back of the Rickson figure
contains the text "(C) RICKSON" as this figure was officially licens
-ed by the man himself.

Rickson Gracie Character Product Figure review

Our next figure for sale from the Japanese Character Product line

is of mixed martial arts legend and 9th degree Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

black belt: Rickson Gracie!

                       

Released in 2000, the first version of the Japanese Rickson Gracie
figure's packaging contains the "コロシアム 2000" (COLOSS
-EUM 2000) logo.

Colosseum 2000 was a martial arts event held at the Tokyo,
Dome on May 26th, 2000 which saw Rickson Gracie take on
PANCRASE legend Masakatsu Funaki.


                                 

The back of the Colosseum version's packaging contains Rickson's
stats and a brief bio leading up to his match against Funaki.

Rickson's stats reads:

"From: BRAZIL
D.O.B.: 1959.11.21. (November 21st,1959)
Height: 178cm (5ft. 9in.)
Weight: 84kg (185 lbs)"As an early Character Product figure, the packaging of the
Rickson Gracie figure features Character Product's original
logo.

                         

A limited-edition, two-figure set was also released to commemorate
the Colosseum 2000 match-up. What makes this set extra special
is the exclusive Masakatsu Funaki figure with silver trunks.


                            

In an attempt not to seem outdated after the conclusion of
Colosseum 2000, Character Product decided to repackage
their Rickson Gracie figure.

This time around, the packaging contains the words "Bushido
Spirit" in English and simply "武士道" (Bushido) in Japanese.

The Bushido reference goes back to Rickson's infamous dojo
fight against UWFI star Yoji Anjo (who boasted that he was
"200% sure" he could defeat Rickson).

            

After a quick (and brutal) beat-down, Rickson emerged the
victor while Anjo laid in a bloody mess; leading the latter
to present Rickson with a Samurai helmet as a gift for the
fight.

As news broke out of Anjo's defeat in Japan, Rickson's
next major challenge came in the form of Masakatsu Funaki
who (seeking to avenge Anjo's loss) wore a Samurai kimono
and carried a Katana to the ring for their Colosseum 2000 fight.

                                          

The back of the re-released Bushido Spirits version is a massive
improvement with two images, a black backdrop and Character
Product's modern logo.


                                

Character Product would also release an alternate variant of
the Rickson Gracie Bushido Spirit figure that features exclusive
white kneepads.

Let's take a closer look at a loose example:

                                  

Rickson comes dressed in white trunks, kneepads, and foot &
wrist tape with black MMA gloves.

A decal of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu logo is printed on the right side
of  Rickson's trunks.


                               

Rickson would be the only member of the Gracie family to
receive his own Japanese figure to date. The Colosseum 2000
Character Product figure would also be the very first figure made
of the legend in any country.

When it comes to rarity, the variants packaged with the "Colosseum
2000" logo are considered the most collectible since Character
Product discontinued (and repackaged) them after Rickson's
Colosseum fight against Funaki.