The Gracie Family History

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.” -Cicero

Most fight fans are aware of the accomplishments of one member of the Gracie family from his successes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). If the title of this blog has led you here, then you already know about Royce Gracie, son of Helio Gracie. If you don't, he is the 180 pound man who successfully beat three-to-four martial artist/fighters in a single night during no holds barred matches in the early 1990's... on three different occasions. He is the most well-known Gracie for these achievements, but he is not the most significant.

In the early 20th century, a Japanese martial artist named Mitsuyo Maeda came to Brazil and changed the world of martial arts forever. Maeda or Conde Koma, as he became known for knocking out or putting to sleep opponents around the world in challenge matches, met a man named Gastao Gracie. Gracie had five sons, the oldest of which was a troubled youth. His name was Carlos. Gastao introduced Carlos to Maeda in hopes of helping his son get his life on track and keep him out of trouble. Carlos Gracie became the first Brazilian, and the first Gracie to learn jiu jitsu from the Japanese Maeda.

His four brothers also learned from their big brother. Gastao Jr, Osvaldo, George and Helio (in order, oldest to youngest) became adept at their craft like Carlos. George, who was known as the Red Cat, was the first Gracie family champion. He did challenge matches that later became known as The Gracie Challenge. Basically, anybody could challenge one of the Gracies to test their art against Gracie Brazilian Jiu jitsu. The Gracies were very successful and the Red Cat was the first. He died young and the torch was passed to his feeble-statured little brother, Helio Gracie... Royce’s dad.

Helio may have left the biggest footprint of all the Gracies. Many in martial arts circles consider him the founder of Brazilian jiu jitsu, but I do not. I consider him more of a forefather... a Jefferson to Carlos's Washington. While Helio didn't found the art, his legacy is undeniable. He faced Masahiko Kimura (the namesake of the shoulder lock which was used to defeat Gracie) in front of a crowd of 20,000-plus at Maracanã Stadium after the tiny Helio was stacking Japanese champions like cord wood. Japan sent their best and Kimura was 80-100 pounds heavier with equal skill and heart. Helio's fighting exploits were undeniable during the middle part of the century but his true legacy may be what he left behind. He and Carlos's offspring have continued the tradition their fathers' had begun.

Carlson Gracie Sr. became the family champion after his uncle Helio aged out of the role. His legacy was adding wrestling and other effective skills to the grappling playbook. This “going out of the Gracie Clan” was frowned upon by his traditionalist uncle and others in the family. But his branch of the tree produced legendary fighters such as Vitor Belfort et al.

Carlos Gracie Jr, also a son of the founder, has led more people to jiu jitsu than any other single person through the world’s largest chain of Brazilian jiu jitsu schools, Gracie Barra (pronounced Baja). There are schools all over Europe, North and South America, and Asia. The author of this blog is a student of one of them and I consider him my master.

Rorion, the oldest son of Helio, trademarked the name Gracie Jiu jitsu and established the Gracie Jiu jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. He was also a cofounder of the UFC where his little brother dominated in the early years.

Rickson, the second son of Helio, is widely considered the greatest Gracie. He competed in many fights and was never defeated. You are hard-pressed to find anybody who claims to have even beaten him during sparring. In fact, to the contrary: many current and former champions who have had the opportunity to train with him have said that they were unable to submit him, even at 50-plus years of age. He had the technique, smarts, warrior spirit, and unwavering commitment to his craft… a true living legend.

Rickson’s older cousin Rolls is the one that some would say was the greatest, besides Rickson. Rolls Gracie died young in a hang-gliding accident but promoted six to black belt before he died. These are very prestigious people in the world of BJJ. One of these is Romero Cavalcanti (more commonly known as Jacare) who is the founder of Alliance BJJ, the second-largest chain of schools behind Gracie Barra, and producers of the likes of Fabio Gurgel and the great Marcelo Garcia. Another is Maurcio Motta Gomes who married Reila Gracie Carlos’s Sr’s (the founder) daughter and produced who I think is the greatest, most skilled champion, Roger Gracie Gomes (more commonly known as Roger Gracie).

Roger has never been submitted in competition. He has beaten every man he has ever faced in a BJJ competition.  The few losses he has were by points to the best out there such as Pe de Pano, Ronaldo Souza and Alexander Ribiero. He has beaten them all multiple times.

As you can see, the Gracie family story doesn’t begin and end with Royce and the UFC, though his contributions were significant. He showed Americans the effectiveness of the greatest martial art and the rest is history.

The Helio branch led by Rorion tries to push Helio as the founder of BJJ, and many buy into the spin. What Helio has done is history and he is a legend and a forefather, but he learned BJJ from his big brother, Carlos Sr. That is an indisputable fact. Helio was the last to die of the five original brothers so he was the Grandmaster for a decade and a half after Carlos died. This enabled Rorion and the Helio branch of the Gracie family tree to push the “founder” narrative. All BJJ students and practitioners should know that Helio was a great champion and promoter, but Carlos Gracie Sr. was the founder of Brazilian Jiu jitsu. Know your history!

                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                -Gracie Lemon