RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Helio Gracie, one of the most respected names in Jiu-Jitsu, died on Thursday in the city of Itaipava, Rio de Janeiro.

    The master of martial arts is best known for having invented the modern style of fighting, known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Graciewas 95 years-old.

    The legend is also the father of two big-named fighters, Royce and Rick Gracie. Royce Gracie won the Ultimate Fighter Championship (UFC) three times between 1993 and 1994. Helio's grandson, Ryan, has also made a name for himself in the sport, but has ran into problems with the law.

    The many fighting schools that bear the Gracie name throughout the world, including the United States, Israel, Europe and Latin America, will be closed during Thursday to mourn Helio's death.

    In his last years of life, Graice displayed certain dissatisfaction with the sport. He claimed that the sport became too commercial. The commercialization of Jiu-Jitsu led to rules and timed rounds.

    According to Gracie, "this favors the stronger, heavier and better trained fighter. The Jiu-Jitsu that I created was designed to give the smaller and weaker fighters a good chance at defeating their bigger and stronger opponents".