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

  Confirmed

  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

  (1951-1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Probable

  Wikipedia lists Georges Mehdi among Rolls Gracie's teachers.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia lists Georges Mehdi among Rolls Gracie's teachers.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Teachers Helio Gracie, Georges Mehdi, Bob Anderson"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rolls Gracie - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• Bo
  Bob Anderson

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 2

  Probable

  Wikipedia lists Bob Anderson among Rolls Gracie's teachers.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Wikipedia lists Bob Anderson among Rolls Gracie's teachers.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Teachers Helio Gracie, Georges Mehdi, Bob Anderson"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Rolls Gracie - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• 
  Osvaldo Alves

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longBlack belt 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  BJJ Ranking System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)

• 
  Romero Cavalcanti

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  (1974-1982)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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
• 
  Renzo Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  PT Wikipedia states Renzo began jiu-jitsu under Rolls Gracie at the Copacabana academy; corroborated by BJJ Heroes

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  PT Wikipedia states Renzo began jiu-jitsu under Rolls Gracie at the Copacabana academy; corroborated by BJJ Heroes

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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
• 
  Carlos Machado

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  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

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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

  Confirmed

  Wikipedia lists Rolls Gracie among Carlos Gracie Jr.'s teachers, and Rolls Gracie's article lists Carlos Gracie Jr. among his students

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Style Brazilian jiu-jitsu Teachers Carlos Gracie and Rolls Gracie"

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Carlos Gracie Jr. - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Sources