Carlos Gracie · Lineage tree

Teachers (2)

• 
  Jacinto Ferro

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Independent sources state it.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1916)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Independent sources state it.

  “According to the evidence available, his real teacher was a famed sportsman of the Brazilian Amazon called Jacyntho Ferro.”

  — Drysdale, Robert. (2023). The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: From Vale-Tudo, to Carlson Gracie, to its Democratization info

  “'Oscar' muito provavelmente se trata do nome de Carlos grafado equivocadamente [...] Na notícia, 'Oscar Gracie' e Donato são apresentados como alunos do famoso esportista paraense Jacyntho Ferro, este sim, discípulo directo de Maeda”

  — SILVA, Elton; CORRÊA, Eduardo. Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundo. 2020.info
• person
  Maeda Mitsuyo

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probablebalance

  Probable – conflicting evidence recorded

  Carlos's own quoted account of training under Maeda; Silva et al. attribute Donato's contrary statement to spite, later reversed. Drysdale names Jacyntho Ferro as his real teacher.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onPaysandu Sport Club badge (1916)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  6 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Carlos's own quoted account of training under Maeda; Silva et al. attribute Donato's contrary statement to spite, later reversed. Drysdale names Jacyntho Ferro as his real teacher.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “chefiada pelo competentissimo prof. Conde Koma. Aqui, depois de algumas demosntrações, organisou um gymnasio e eu [Carlos] fui um dos primeiros alunos [...] há registos que Maeda deu aulas, em 1916, no Paysandu Sport Club, em Belém, cidade onde Carlos residia com a sua família”

  — SILVA, Elton; CORRÊA, Eduardo. Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundo. 2020.info

  “Fui aluno do célebre Conde Koma, no Pará [...] e nessa época Carlos Gracia também estava aprendendo”

  — SILVA, Elton; CORRÊA, Eduardo. Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundo. 2020.info

  blockdisputes

  “Esclarecer a verdade, isto é, dizer que o Sr. Gracie nunca foi diplomado por Conde Koma (que nem ao menos conhece)”

  — SILVA, Elton; CORRÊA, Eduardo. Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundo. 2020.info

  alt_routeIndirect

  “Pela Escola Koma, accentuou, de onde sahiram os Gracies, pretendo difundir em São Paulo o systema de defesa pessoal, obedecendo a um critério especial para cada classe social”

  — Elton Silva; Eduardo Corrêa. (2020). Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundoinfo

  “De alguma forma havia os irmãos Gracie. O pai deles era dono de circo e o Conde Koma era próximo dele. E acontecei que os filhos se tornaram discípulos do Conde Koma e aprenderam Judô”

  — Elton Silva; Eduardo Corrêa. (2020). Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundoinfo

  blockdisputes alt_routeIndirect

  “Carlos wasn’t Kano and neither was he a Kodokan graduate. In fact, he didn’t hold a black-belt or even any certification under any other style. According to the evidence available, his real teacher was a famed sportsman of the Brazilian Amazon called Jacyntho Ferro.”

  — Drysdale, Robert. (2023). The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: From Vale-Tudo, to Carlson Gracie, to its Democratization info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōJacinto Ferro ← Maeda Mitsuyo ← Yokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 4 generations

Ranks (1)

• sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longRed belt, degree 10 Probable

  Probable

  Well-documented IBJJF 10th dan rank, though date uncertain

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  BJJ Ranking System

  granted by International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented IBJJF 10th dan rank, though date uncertain

  “The 10th (Tenth) Degree (Red Belt) was given only to the pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Carlos, Oswaldo, George, Gastão e Helio”

  — (2026-06-11). IBJJF Graduation Systemlink history info

Students (5)

• 
  Reyson Gracie

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Probable

  Probable

  BJJ Heroes lineage lists Carlos Gracie Sr. as Reyson's teacher, and Wikidata lists Carlos Gracie Sr. as his father and student relation

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes lineage lists Carlos Gracie Sr. as Reyson's teacher, and Wikidata lists Carlos Gracie Sr. as his father and student relation

  “Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie sr > Reyson Gracie”

  — BJJ Heroes. Reyson Gracie - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes link history info
• 
  Hélio Gracie

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Well-documented brother relationship and teaching

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1925)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented brother relationship and teaching

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “meu Jiu Jitsu era muito diferente do dele. O meu fôra aprendido há muitos anos com o meu irmão Carlos”

  — SILVA, Elton; CORRÊA, Eduardo. Muito antes do MMA: O legado dos precursores do Vale Tudo no Brasil e no mundo. 2020.info

  “Observador, Hélio passou a acompanhar, dos seus treze aos dezesseis anos, as aulas ministradas por Carlos.”

  — Wikipedia: Hélio Gracielink history
• 
  George Gracie

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Several sources mention Carlos Gracie Sr. teaching his brothers, and George specifically

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Several sources mention Carlos Gracie Sr. teaching his brothers, and George specifically

  “O que sabemos de fato é que, Maeda ensinou Judô a Carlos Gracie em virtude da afinidade com seu pai, Gastão Gracie. Carlos por sua vez ensinou a seus demais irmãos, em especial a Hélio Gracie. Neste ponto surgem duas teorias. A primeira alega que Maeda ensinou somente o judô de Jigoro Kano a Carlos, e esse o repassou a Hélio, que era o mais franzino dos Gracie, adaptando-o com grande enfoque no Ne-waza - técnicas de solo do judô, ponto central do Gracie jiu-jitsu ou brasilian jiu-jitsu. Para compensar seu biotipo, a partir dos ensinamentos de Carlos, Hélio aprimorou a parte de solo pelo uso do dispositivo de alavanca, dando-lhe a força extra que o mesmo não dispunha. A segunda teoria, apoiada pelos Gracies, fala que Maeda era, também, exímio praticante de Ju-jutsu tradicional e foi essa a arte que ensinou aos brasileiros. Porém, em uma recente entrevista, Hélio Gracie afirma que 'Carlos lutava judô', veja a entrevista http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG309oqVLb4”

  — Tópico Bubishi (Judo Tradicional Goshinjutsukan) link
• 
  Carlson Gracie

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Probable

  Probable

  His own words, as a student reports them; the Wikipedia infobox lists it, unsourced.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1940)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  His own words, as a student reports them; the Wikipedia infobox lists it, unsourced.

  “Teachers: Carlos Gracie, Helio Gracie”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Carlson Gracie. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “We’d be talking and I’d say, “… your dad? What about Helio?” And Carlson would go “Tio Helio é o caralho! quem me ensinou foi meu pai” (Uncle Helio no way! My father was the one who taught me).”

  — Drysdale, Robert. (2023). The Rise and Evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: From Vale-Tudo, to Carlson Gracie, to its Democratization info
• 
  Carlos Gracie Jr.

  sports_martial_artsBrazilian jiu-jitsu Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia and BJJ lineage records document Carlos Gracie Jr. as a son and student of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of BJJ

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia and BJJ lineage records document Carlos Gracie Jr. as a son and student of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of BJJ

  “A member of the Gracie family, he is the son of Carlos Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Carlos Gracie Jr. - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers