Gracie family
historyThe Gracie family () is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events. As a family, they uphold the Gracie challenge, which promotes their style of BJJ. Gracie family in Brazil was founded by George Gracie, a Scotsman from Dumfriesshire who immigrated in 1826 when he was 25 years old.»Redescobertas as origens da famÃlia Gracie»Origins of the Gracie Family Rediscovered
Jiu-jitsu
Businessman and politician Gastão Gracie, the patriarch of the family, befriended Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese Judoka and prize fighter, as Gracie assisted Japanese immigrants in their move to Brazil. Maeda offered to teach Gracie's son Carlos the Japanese martial art Judo, a derivative of Japanese Jujutsu. By 1917, Carlos became one of the first Brazilians to learn Kodokan Judo, and in turn taught his brothers Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., George, and Hélio. Carlos went on to become a great exponent of the art and ultimately, with his younger brother Hélio Gracie became the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.This marked the founding of what is now called "Gracie Jiu-jitsu".
In 1921, Gastão Gracie and his family moved to Rio de Janeiro. Carlos, then 17 years old, passed Maeda's teachings on to his brothers Osvaldo, Gastão and Jorge. Hélio was too young and sick at that time to learn the art, and due to medical imposition was prohibited to take part in the training sessions. Despite that, Hélio learned from watching his brothers. He eventually overcame his health problems and is now considered by many as the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (though others, such as Carlson Gracie, have pointed to Carlos as the founder of the art).
Rolls Gracie is sometimes considered in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community and within the Gracie family as the true creator of the modern form of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He did so by training and competing in Judo, Sambo, and Wrestling. He was the lead instructor of the most promising Gracies in the famliy, namely, Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Rillion Gracie, Carlson Gracie, and Carlos Gracie Jr.
The most recent family champion is Roger Gracie, who holds the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu World Super Heavyweight and Pan-American Open Weight titles and the ADCC heavyweight and openweight championships. The most famous member of the Gracie family may be Royce Gracie, winner of three UFC tournaments.
- Carley Gracie
- Carlos Gracie (d.1994)
- Carlos Gracie Jr.
- Carlson Gracie (d. 2006)
- Carlson Gracie Jr.
- Carlion Gracie
- Cesar Gracie
- Charles Gracie
- Crolin Gracie
- Crosley Gracie
- Gregor Gracie
- Hélio Gracie (d. 2009)
- Igor Gracie
- Kron Gracie
- Kyra Gracie Guimarães
- Ralek Gracie
- Ralph Gracie
- Relson Gracie
- Rener Gracie
- Renzo Gracie
- Reylan Gracie
- Reylson Gracie
- Reyson Gracie
- Rhalan Gracie
- Rickson Gracie
- Rillion Gracie
- Robin Gracie
- Robson Gracie
- Rocian Gracie
- Rockson Gracie (d. 2001)
- Rodrigo Gracie
- Roger Gracie
- Rolker Gracie
- Rolles Gracie Jr.
- Rolls Gracie (d. 1982)
- Rorion Gracie
- Ronis Gracie
- Rosley Gracie
- Royce Gracie
- Royler Gracie
- Ryan Gracie (d. 2007)
- Ryron Gracie
- Gracie USA. [http://www.gracie.com/family/tree.html#1generation The Real Gracie Family Tree]. www.gracie.com. URL last accessed on April 8, 2006.
- International Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Federation. »Family Tree. www.550media.com. URL last accessed on April 8, 2006.