The Gracie Family Tree: A Complete Guide

The Gracie family is one of the most famous families in martial arts, especially in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). They are known for creating and developing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a style of BJJ that focuses on self-defense. This article will cover the members of the Gracie family across four generations, helping you understand how the family grew and passed down their martial arts knowledge.

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1st Generation: The Founders

The Gracie family’s connection to martial arts began with Gastão Gracie, a businessman from Brazil. He became friends with a Japanese martial artist named Mitsuyo Maeda, who taught Gastão’s oldest son, Carlos Gracie, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu. Carlos then modified what he had learned and started teaching his brothers.

Key Members:

• Carlos Gracie Sr. (1902–1994): He is the one who first learned Jiu-Jitsu and shared it with his brothers. Carlos opened the first Gracie academy in 1925, starting the family’s journey in martial arts.
• Helio Gracie (1913–2009): As a child, Helio, Carlos’s younger brother, was small and weak. Because of this, he focused on adjusting the techniques to fit his body, making BJJ more about leverage and technique than strength. Helio is considered one of the founders of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

There are three more sons of Gastão: Oswaldo Gracie (1904–1978), Gastão Gracie Jr. (1906–1989), and George Gracie (1911–1991), along with three daughters: Mary Gracie, Ilka Gracie, and Helena Gracie. However, they did not play an important role in the creation and popularization of BJJ.

2nd Generation: The Early Pioneers

The second generation of the Gracie family took what Carlos and Helio started and made it famous worldwide. Many of them became teachers and fighters, spreading the art of BJJ.

Key Members:

• Carlson Gracie (1932–2006): Carlson was the oldest son of Carlos Gracie and a famous fighter. He helped popularize BJJ by competing and teaching many students who became champions.
• Rickson Gracie (born 1959): Helio’s son, Rickson, is often considered the best fighter in the Gracie family. He had an undefeated record in fights and played a big role in spreading BJJ to other countries.
• Rorion Gracie (born 1952): Another of Helio’s sons, Rorion moved to the United States and helped create the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993, which made BJJ famous worldwide.
• Rolls Gracie (1951–1982): Rolls was another son of Carlos Gracie and was known for being one of the most innovative members of the family. He mixed BJJ with other martial arts like Judo and Wrestling before tragically passing away in a hang-gliding accident.
• Royce Gracie (born 1966): Rorion’s brother, Royce, became famous for winning the first few UFC tournaments. He was much smaller than his opponents, but he used BJJ to defeat them, proving the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
• Royler Gracie (born 1966): Helio’s son, Royler, was a great competitor in both BJJ and submission grappling. He won many world championships and helped raise the level of competition in the sport.

Some other members of the 2nd generation of Gracie family are Robson Gracie (1935 – 2023), Reyson Gracie (born 1942), Reylson Gracie (born 1943), Carley Gracie (born 1947), Carlos Gracie Jr. (born 1956 ), Crolin Gracie (born 1957), Rilion Gracie (born 1963), Relson Gracie (born 1953 ), Rolker Gracie (born 1965 ), Royler Gracie (born 1965), Robin Gracie (born 1971).

3rd Generation: The Modern Innovators

The third generation of Gracies helped bring BJJ into modern times. Many of them became successful competitors, instructors, and business owners, opening schools around the world.

Key Members:

• Renzo Gracie (born 1967): A well-known fighter and teacher, Renzo is the son of Robson Gracie and has a successful Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City. He helped make BJJ popular in the United States and trained many top fighters.
• Roger Gracie (born 1981): Roger is the son of Reila Gracie, the daughter of Carlos Gracie Sr., and Maurício Gomes, a BJJ black belt. He is a key figure in the Gracie family tree and one of the most successful BJJ competitors of all time.
• Rener Gracie (born 1983) is the son of Rorion Gracie, the eldest son of Hélio Gracie, one of the co-founders of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. As a key member of the Gracie family tree, Rener is known for his work in promoting Gracie Jiu-Jitsu worldwide, including co-founding Gracie University, an online learning platform for BJJ.
• Kron Gracie (born 1988): The son of Rickson Gracie, Kron is a successful BJJ competitor and MMA fighter. He won major tournaments like the ADCC before transitioning to MMA.

Some other Gracie family members are from the 3rd generation: Carlson Gracie Jr. (27 July 1969), Igor Gracie (4 Feb 1980), Gregor Gracie (1985 – Present), Ryan Gracie (1974 – 2007), Ralph Gracie (1971 – Present), Rolles Gracie Jr (1978 – Present), Ralek Gracie (1985-Present), Clark Gracie (1984-Present), Cesar Gracie (1966-Present), Rodrigo Gracie (1974-Present), Ryron Gracie (1981-Present), Crosley Gracie (1979-Present), Rose Gracie (1975-Present), Roggan Gracie (1991-Present)

4th Generation: The New Leaders

The fourth generation of Gracies is continuing the family tradition, competing and teaching BJJ all over the world. Many of them are children of third-generation fighters who are now running schools and fighting in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions.

Key Members:

• Kyra Gracie (born 1985): Kyra is one of the most successful female members of the Gracie family. She is a multiple-time world champion and is actively involved in promoting BJJ for women.
• Deborah Gracie (born 1986) is the daughter of Royler Gracie, a prominent member of the Gracie family and a multiple-time world champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As part of the Gracie lineage, Deborah continues the family’s legacy in martial arts.
• Neiman Gracie (born 1988) is the son of Carla Gracie and Márcio Stambowsky, making him a part of the broader Gracie family. He is a skilled MMA fighter known for his grappling prowess and has made significant contributions to the sport.
• Khonry Gracie (born 1997) is the son of Kron Gracie, a renowned BJJ competitor and MMA fighter. As a member of the Gracie family, Khonry continues the family's legacy in martial arts.

The Gracie Family Legacy

The Gracie family’s influence on martial arts, especially Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. From the 1st generation to the 4th, they have helped spread BJJ around the world, making it one of the most practised martial arts today. Whether through fighting, teaching, or innovating, the Gracies have made their mark on history.

Summary

The Gracie family started with Carlos and Helio Gracie in 1914 and has since grown into one of the most respected martial arts families in the world. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations have continued to improve and spread the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with many family members becoming champions, teachers, and innovators in the sport.