Description

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grandmaster and member of the Gracie family. Son of Hélio Gracie, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest BJJ practitioners of all time. Undefeated in MMA (11-0, all by submission), he won the Vale Tudo Japan tournament in 1994 and 1995, and defeated Nobuhiko Takada at Pride 1 and Pride 4. He is president of the Jiu-Jitsu Global Federation (JJGF) and features in the documentary Choke (1999).

Teachers (1)

• 
  Hélio Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  Rickson is the son of Hélio Gracie and trained under him from childhood; awarded black belt at 18

  (1965)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Rickson is the son of Hélio Gracie and trained under him from childhood; awarded black belt at 18

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Treinador: Hélio Gracie (BJJ)"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rickson Gracie - Wikipedia (Portuguese). Wikipedia (Portuguese)linkinfo

  "Helio Gracie's third son Rickson was born into Gracie Jiu Jitsu... was awarded his black belt by his father at eighteen"

  — (2022). Rickson Gracie: Aboutlinkinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longRed belt, degree 9 2

  Probable

  Portuguese Wikipedia and BJJ Heroes confirm 9th degree red belt; Rorion Gracie named as promoter

  BJJ Ranking System

  granted by Rorion Gracie

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Portuguese Wikipedia and BJJ Heroes confirm 9th degree red belt; Rorion Gracie named as promoter

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "9º grau Faixa vermelha de BJJ, pelo seu irmão Rorion Gracie"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rickson Gracie - Wikipedia (Portuguese). Wikipedia (Portuguese)linkinfo

Students (1)

• 
  Romero Cavalcanti

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  BJJ Heroes and BJJ Fanatics both record that after Rolls Gracie's death Cavalcanti trained at Rickson Gracie's academy in Humaita for about three years before opening his own academy in 1985

  (1982-1985)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  BJJ Heroes and BJJ Fanatics both record that after Rolls Gracie's death Cavalcanti trained at Rickson Gracie's academy in Humaita for about three years before opening his own academy in 1985

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "As Romero witnessed the terminus of his academy, he chose to start training with Rickson Gracie at his academy in the Humaita area of Rio de Janeiro."

  — BJJ Heroes. Romero Jacare Cavalcanti (BJJ Heroes). BJJ Heroeslinkinfo

  "então Romero viu a sua academia se desmembrar e decidiu mudar-se para academia de Rickson Gracie, por onde passou cerca 3 anos, antes de abrir a sua própria academia em 1985."

  — Romero Jacare Celebra 67 Anos - BJJ Fanatics BR link

Sources