History
History

The Gracie family refers to the lineage of Brazilian businessman and politician Gastão Gracie. They are the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and for their success in mixed martial arts, vale tudo, and submission wrestling competitions. As a family, they uphold the Gracie challenge. The Gracie family heritage came from Scottish ancestors.
Gastão Gracie founded the family as it is now known in the early 1900s while living in Brazil. He befriended Mitsuyo Maeda, a Japanese prize fighter while assisting Japanese immigrants in their move to the country. In exchange for his friendship and hospitality, Maeda offered to teach Gracie's son Carlos the Japanese martial art Jiu-jitsu. Carlos along with his oldest son Carlson and younger brother Helio Gracie founded "Gracie Jiu-jitsu".
Carlos Gracie, the first Brazilian to learn jiu-jitsu, in turn taught his brother Helio Gracie. This marked the founding of what is now called "Gracie Jiu-jitsu." He founded a martial arts academy to pass on this knowledge, and taught the fighting style to his family.The most recent family champions have been Renzo, Royce, Rolls, Rickson Roger and Carlson Gracie.