Description
Brazilian martial artist and member of the Gracie family, considered by some
the family's best ever fighter. He trained under Helio Gracie and graduated
a generation of jiu-jitsu black belts, including Carlos Gracie Jr., Rickson
Gracie, and the "Famous Five". He died in a hang-gliding accident in
1982.
Teachers (4)
-
Hélio Gracie
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
(1951-1970)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
4 sources
fact_check
The family's official biography states Rolls was raised for the most part by
his uncle Helio Gracie and left Helio's gym to join Carlson Gracie's
academy; VICE and BJJ Fanatics corroborate that Helio taught him jiu-jitsu from
before he could walk. Period is approximate: birth (1951) through his departure
for Carlson Gracie's Copacabana academy around 1970
"He was the son of Gracie Jiu Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie, although he was
raised for the most part by his uncle, Helio Gracie, at Carlos'
request"
— Rolls Gracie Family. Rolls Gracie - Biography
(RollsGracie.com)linkinfo
"Hélio começou a ensinar jiu-jitsu a Rolls antes do menino aprender a
andar. Aos 12, o garoto ajudava o tio nas aulas na Academia Gracie."
— Aguinaga, Armando. (2015). Rolls, o Gracie que
morreu antes de virar lendalinkinfo
"Desde muito novo, antes mesmo de começar a andar Hélio ensinava Jiu Jitsu
ao pequeno Rolls, aos 12 anos de idade o garoto já ajudava nas aulas ministradas
por seu tio, na Academia Gracie."
— BJJ Fanatics BR. Há Exatos 39 Anos Rolls Gracie Nos
Deixava - BJJ Fanatics BRlinkinfo
"Filho de Carlos criado por Helio Gracie"
— Graciemag Redação. (2020). As lições de Rolls
Gracie, o faixa-preta que morreu jovem e mudou a história do Jiu-Jitsu
linkinfo
-
Ge
Georges Mehdi
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
2
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia lists Georges Mehdi among Rolls Gracie's teachers.
"Teachers Helio Gracie, Georges Mehdi, Bob Anderson"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rolls Gracie -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
-
Bo
Bob Anderson
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
2
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia lists Bob Anderson among Rolls Gracie's teachers.
"Teachers Helio Gracie, Georges Mehdi, Bob Anderson"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rolls Gracie -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
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Osvaldo Alves
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
3 sources
fact_check
The official Rolls Gracie biography states his first judo cross-training was
with Osvaldo Alves; BJJ Heroes and the OnTheMat interview corroborate that
Osvaldo introduced the Gracies, including Rolls, to judo
"He was the first of the Gracie's to actively seek competitions in
Freestyle, Greco Roman and Sambo wrestling as well as Judo. First cross training
was with Osvaldo Alves, training with the Judoka in Brazil."
— Rolls Gracie Family. Rolls Gracie - Biography
(RollsGracie.com)linkinfo
"The first one to accept to cross train with Alves was Reyson and soon he
was followed by a young Rolls Gracie. Rolls adapted extremely well to the Judo
game."
— BJJ Heroes. Osvaldo Alves - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
"After Reyson, came Rolles Gracie; who surprised everybody. He adapted well
to judo and became University and State of Rio de Janeiro Judo champion."
— On The Mat. (2004). Interview with Oswaldo Alves
linkinfo
Ranks (1)
-
BJJ Ranking System
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
6 sources
fact_check
Black-belt status is well-attested across BJJ Heroes, Graciemag, BJJ Fanatics,
VICE, the official biography, and Wikipedia prose; the specific promotion date
is not documented. The "9th-degree red belt" figure appears only in
the unsourced Wikipedia infobox and is implausible for a practitioner who died
at 31, so it was dropped.
"Rolls graduated 10 black belts in his life time."
— Rolls Gracie Family. Rolls Gracie - Biography
(RollsGracie.com)linkinfo
"only six men hold the high honor of being Rolls Gracie Black Belts"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rolls Gracie -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
"He was a black belt."
— BJJ Heroes. Rolls Gracie - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
"As lições de Rolls Gracie, o faixa-preta que morreu jovem e mudou a
história do Jiu-Jitsu"
— Graciemag Redação. (2020). As lições de Rolls
Gracie, o faixa-preta que morreu jovem e mudou a história do Jiu-Jitsu
linkinfo
"Aos 16 anos já era faixa preta"
— BJJ Fanatics BR. Há Exatos 39 Anos Rolls Gracie Nos
Deixava - BJJ Fanatics BRlinkinfo
"Aos 16 anos, faixa preta e com inglês fluente"
— Aguinaga, Armando. (2015). Rolls, o Gracie que
morreu antes de virar lendalinkinfo
Students (5)
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Romero Cavalcanti
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
(1974-1982)
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
BJJ Heroes states Cavalcanti restarted his BJJ training with Rolls Gracie after
returning to Rio in late 1974 and received his black belt from Rolls in 1982,
the last black belt Rolls ever awarded
"In 1982 Jacare Romero was awarded his Black Belt by the hands of Rolls
Gracie, being the last Black Belt ever awarded by the legendary martial arts
figure, the last of a very strict group of 5."
— BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes).
BJJ Heroeslinkinfo
-
Rigan Machado
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
BJJ Heroes states Rigan started training with Rolls Gracie in his mid-teens and
stayed with him until Rolls' death in 1982; the Wikipedia infobox also lists
Rolls Gracie among his teachers
"He started training with one of his older cousins, who was already a
legend of the sport, Rolls Gracie, and stayed with Rolls until his tragic death
in 1982."
— BJJ Heroes. Rigan Machado (BJJ Heroes). BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
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Renzo Gracie
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
PT Wikipedia states Renzo began jiu-jitsu under Rolls Gracie at the Copacabana
academy; corroborated by BJJ Heroes
"Renzo iniciou o jiu-jitsu com o lendário Rolls Gracie na academia de
Copacabana"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Renzo Gracie -
Wikipedia (PT). Wikipedia (Portuguese)linkinfo
"two of his biggest influences were the legendary Rolls Gracie and Carlos
Gracie Jr (the man who later awarded him his black belt)"
— BJJ Heroes. Renzo Gracie - BJJ Heroes. BJJ Heroes
linkinfo
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Carlos Machado
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources
fact_check
CMJJ Gear states Carlos was taught and mentored directly by Rolls Gracie in
Copacabana, training with him until Rolls' death in 1982, when Carlos was a
blue belt
"After moving to the southern part of Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana, Master
Carlos Machado was taught and mentored directly by the legendary Rolls Gracie.
Master Carlos was very close with Rolls, and trained with him until Rolls'
sudden and untimely death."
— CMJJ Gear. History of CMJJ and Statement of
Doctrine
linkinfo
"Throughout his childhood and early life in Jiu-Jitsu, his main instructor
was his cousin, Carlos Gracie Jr but he has also trained with Helio, Carlson,
Rolls and Rickson Gracie at various points during his development."
— Lindsey, Alex. (2020). Carlos Machado Receives His
Red And White Coral Belt (Jitsmagazine). Jits Magazinelinkinfo
-
Carlos Gracie Jr.
linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu
3
expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified
1 source
fact_check
Wikipedia lists Rolls Gracie among Carlos Gracie Jr.'s teachers, and Rolls
Gracie's article lists Carlos Gracie Jr. among his students
"Style Brazilian jiu-jitsu Teachers Carlos Gracie and Rolls Gracie"
— Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Carlos Gracie Jr. -
Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
Linked data
https://martial.is/entity/01KYZ31HT3D978KY5GPZAGKV5G