The Gracie Family

The Gracie Family is one of the most influential and respected families in Brazil. Their origins trace back to Paisley, Scotland and to Para, Brazil. The Gracies are famous for creating the most effective Martial Art the world has ever seen, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu sometimes referred to as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

For over 100 years the Gracie Family has been dominant in Combat Sports and Martial Arts. Currently there are over 3,000,000 people around the world that practice Gracie Jiu-Jitsu / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Most people consider the Gracie Family to be Martial Art “Royalty”. Various members of the Gracie Family are Ambassadors of the Art of Gracie-Jiu Jitsu around the world. 

RELSON GRACIE

9TH DEGREE RED BELT

Relson Gracie is a Grand Master of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a 9th Degree Red Belt and the second oldest son of the late Helio Gracie. He started his Martial Art training at age 2. Relson entered his first competition at age 10 and was the Brazilian National Champion for 22 straight years. Relson was undefeated his entire reign in both his weight class as well as the open weight class. He was so ferocious and successful in both the ring and on the mean streets of Rio De Janeiro that he earned the nickname “Campeao”, which means “Champion” in Portuguese. Relson’s style of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is submission based and is very technical and self defense focused as his Father intended it to be. Relson adheres to the original philosophy and principles created by his Father. He follows the authentic promotion guidelines originally created by Helio Gracie.

RICKSON GRACIE

9TH DEGREE RED BELT

Rickson Gracie, the 3rd eldest son of the late Grand Master Helio Gracie is a 9th Degree Red Belt. Rickson was competing in Martial Arts by age six and began teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at age 15 and Helio Gracie awarded Rickson his Black Belt at age 18 years old. Rickson Gracie has massively helped spread Gracie Jiu-Jitsu across the world by being undefeated in combat competition as well as in the Media. Rickson was the star of the Documentary “Choke” in 1995 and distributed to 23 countries. He also had a small part in the Marvel Movie “Incredible Hulk” as Bruce Banner’s Martial Arts instructor. Rickson’s “Breathe” book was published in 2021 and distributed all over the world.

RENZO GRACIE

7TH DEGREE CORAL BELT

Renzo Gracie, is the Grandson of the late Grand Master Carlos Gracie, the Founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. He is the nephew of the late Grand Master Helio Gracie and the son of 9th degree Red Belt  Robson Gracie. Renzo Gracie, just like his predecessors, is a legendary Martial Artist, Instructor and Coach. Renzo is a world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as being massively successful in professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). He has fought in:

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
  • Pride Fighting Championships 
  • Bellator 
  • K-1 
  • RINGS 
  • International Fight League 

Renzo has beaten 5 different UFC Champions and as a Coach has trained and developed some of the most dominant and famous Fighters in the world like: 

  • Frankie Edgar 
  • George St. Pierre 
  • Chris Weidman 
  • Ricardo Almeida 
  • Matt Serra
  • Gordan Ryan 
  • Rodrigo Gracie 

ROYCE GRACIE

7TH DEGREE CORAL BELT

Royce Gracie is the son of Grand Master Helio Gracie, who trained him since he was a young child. He entered his first competition at age 8 and began teaching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at age 14 and earned the coveted Gracie Black Belt at age 17 years old. But what has solidified Royce Gracie as one of the most influential Martial Artists in the world, of all time is his part in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Royce won UFC 1, UFC 2 &  UFC 4. Royce, a small, skinny, non threatening looking man literally dismantled everyone and every style of Martial Arts put in front of him to earn the title of “Ultimate Fighting Champion”. Royce has fought all over the world and is in the UFC Hall of Fame. Royce Gracie is one of the most famous members of the Gracie Family and was the catalyst of the “Gracie Frenzy”. Until the early 1990’s no one had ever seen anything like what Royce was able to do, demolish an opponent without striking them, by taking them to the ground, grappling them and then submitting them.

DANIEL GRACIE

6TH DEGREE BLACK BELT

Daniel Gracie, born Daniel Simoes, is the Cousin of Renzo Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Ryan Gracie and Charles Gracie. Daniel’s Mother is the Sister of Renzo’s Mother. Gracie blood runs thick through Daniel’s veins. Daniel was born and raised in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Daniel trained at Gracie Barra under Carlos Gracie Jr. and earned his Black Belt in 1996. Daniel Gracie is currently a 6th Degree Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. In addition to being a Multiple World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Daniel is also an accomplished Professional Mixed Martial Artist. Daniel has fought in Pride Fighting Championships as well as in Bellator MMA. Daniel Gracie personifies “Martial Artist”, he has dedicated his entire life to the Art of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and spreading his Family’s style of Martial Arts all over the world. Daniel is becoming legendary in the Coaching world. He currently trains Professional Fighters in:

  • UFC 
  • Bellator 
  • Professional Fight League (PFL) 
  • ONE Championship 

ROLLS GRACIE

9TH DEGREE RED BELT

Rolls Gracie, the son of Carlos Gracie, the Founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the Nephew of the late Grand Master Helio Gracie. Rolls was Rickson Gracie, Royler Gracie, Carlos Gracie Jr. and Rigan Machodo’s Instructor. Rolls was the Father of Rolles Gracie and Igor Gracie. Rolls was considered the most dominant and best fighter of the Gracie Family ever, but tragically died in a hang gliding accident in 1982. Rolls Gracie was called the “The Father of Modern Jiu-Jitsu”. He was a World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as a Gold Medalist in Sambo and Freestyle Wrestling. He was a 9th Degree Red Belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Gracie Family Tree

Frequently Asked Questions

The Gracie Brothers, Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie, Gastao Gracie, George Gracie and Oswald Gracie created Gracie Jiu-Jitsu almost 100 years ago.

The Gracie Family created “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”, after learning Japanese Ju-Jutsu by modifying it and making it more effective for smaller and weaker practitioners. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was and always will be primary a “Self-Defense” Martial Art. But with the massive global popularity of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu it evolved into a “Sport”, competition with rules, points and associations (Like the IBJJF). Competitors started calling it “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”. Additionally, practitioners that were not of the Gracie Family like rivals and competitors didn’t want to refer to their art by name of their rivals so they didn’t call it “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu”, instead they chose “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”.

There is a big difference between “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu” and “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”, Simply put: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a Self-Defense, Combat Fighting Art whereas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a Sport. Similar but completely different.

The pureset and undeniable proof that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the most dominant and effective Martial Art ever created was solidified by what was called “The Gracie Challenge”. The Gracie Challenge was a “Call Out” to any and all other Martial Arts and Martial Artists, Fighters of any and all styles to come and fight in a “No Holds Barred”, anything goes “Vale Tudo” fight. The Gracies dominated all that came at them. The Gracie Challenge is what inspired the original “Ultimate Fighting Championship”. The original UFC was created for the sole purpose of finding the most effective and dominant combat fighting style ever created… that turned out to be Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

This is a great question because so many of them are famous and World Champions on the Mats and in the Cage but this is also an easy question. By far the most famous Gracie is “Royce Gracie”. Royce is the one that put the Gracie Family and the Gracie name on a global level by his incredible accomplishments in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Royce was the Ultimate Fighting Champion of UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4. His victories solidified him and the Gracie Family as one of the most influential Martial Artist and Martial Arts the world has ever seen.

White

Blue

Purple

Brown 

Black

Coral (Black/Red) (White/Red)

Red 

Originally there were only 3 belt colors:

      1. White for students
      1. Light Blue for Instructors 
      1. Dark Blue for Masters 

Yes, in fact 5 individuals have been honored with the prestigious 10th Degree “Red belt” and they are:

      1. Carlos Gracie
      1. Helio Gracie 
      1. George Gracie
      1. Gastao Gracie
      1. Oswald Gracie

It can take anywhere (on average) from ten to fourteen years to earn your Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. It takes approximately 1-2 years to earn your Blue Belt, 3-4 years to earn your Purple Belt, 3-4 years to earn your Brown Belt and 3-4 years to earn your Black Belt for a total of 10-14 years.

This does not mean that you can not earn it faster. It truly depends on how much effort you put into it, how much you dedicate your time into mastering your craft of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Like anything else in life, what you put into it is what you will get out of it.

Yes, Rorian Gracie was inspired by his family’s “Gracie Challenge” that was created by Gracie Jiu-Jitsu co-founders, Carlos and Helio Gracie. Rorian Gracie teamed up with famed promoter and business man, “Art Davie” to co-create the Ultimate Fighting Championship also known as the “UFC” in 1993.

Rorian Gracie is considered the wealthiest of the living Gracie Family members with an estimated “Net Worth” of over $60,000,000. Rorian Gracie, the eldest son of the late Grand Master, Helio Gracie is a 9th Degree Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Red Belt. He is also a:

      1. Lawyer
      1. Writer
      1. Producer
      1. Publisher
      1. Professional Speaker
      1. Professor (Jiu-Jitsu) 
      1. Co-Creator of the “Ultimate Fighting Championship”, the “UFC”