Description

Brazilian-American Jiu-Jitsu grandmaster and the eldest son of Hélio Gracie. He introduced Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to the United States, opening the first American Gracie Academy, and co-founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) with Art Davie in 1993. He holds a 9th-degree red belt, promoted by his father in 2005, and is the founder of the Gracie Diet and Gracie University.

Teachers (1)

• 
  Hélio Gracie

  linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu 3

  Confirmed

  The official Rorion Gracie biography states he is the eldest son of Hélio Gracie, was introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu before he could walk, and trained under his father's supervision from childhood; the Royce Gracie Lifestyle article corroborates the father-son training relationship

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The official Rorion Gracie biography states he is the eldest son of Hélio Gracie, was introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu before he could walk, and trained under his father's supervision from childhood; the Royce Gracie Lifestyle article corroborates the father-son training relationship

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Rorion Gracie, the eldest son of Grand Master Helio Gracie, was introduced to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu before he could walk. Trained under his father's watchful eye, he was raised to become a master of the art."

  — Rorion Gracie. About Rorion (Rorion Gracie Official)linkinfo

  "Back in Brazil, Rorion spent the 1970s preparing for his return. He enrolled at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and earned a law degree while continuing to teach jiu-jitsu at his father Hélio's academy."

  — Royce Gracie Lifestyle. (2026). Gracie Spotlight: Rorion Gracie — The Man Who Built the UFC (Royce Gracie Lifestyle)linkinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkBrazilian jiu-jitsu

  receipt_longRed belt, degree 9 3

  Confirmed

  The official Rorion Gracie biography states he was promoted to 9th-degree red belt by his father Hélio Gracie in 2005, corroborated by the Royce Gracie Lifestyle article and Wikipedia

  BJJ Ranking System (2005)

  granted by Hélio Gracie

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  The official Rorion Gracie biography states he was promoted to 9th-degree red belt by his father Hélio Gracie in 2005, corroborated by the Royce Gracie Lifestyle article and Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 2005, Rorion was promoted by his father to the 9th-degree red belt, making him the highest-ranked Gracie Jiu-Jitsu expert in the United States."

  — Rorion Gracie. About Rorion (Rorion Gracie Official)linkinfo

  "Rorion Gracie is one of only a handful of people in the world to hold a 9th Degree Red Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—the highest rank attainable through time in grade."

  — Royce Gracie Lifestyle. (2026). Gracie Spotlight: Rorion Gracie — The Man Who Built the UFC (Royce Gracie Lifestyle)linkinfo

  "Rank 9th deg. BJJ red belt"

  — Wikipedia contributors. Rorion Gracie (Wikipedia EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Sources