Robson Gracie

Carlos Robson Gracie
Born 1935 (age 82–83)
China
Residence Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nationality Brazilian
Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Teacher(s) Helio Gracie
Rank 9th Degree Red Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Children Renzo, Ralph, Ryan,Flavia,Kenya,Hannah,Carlos Robson Filho,Clara, Keila, Charles
Notable students Renzo Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Ryan Gracie
[1][2]

Carlos Robson Gracie (Portuguese: [ˈʁɔbsõ ˈɡɾejsi]; born 1935) is the 2nd son of Carlos Gracie, the founder of the first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school, which was later turned into "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu" by his younger brother Helio Gracie. He is a second generation member of the Gracie family.[2] Gracie is a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, affording him the title of Grandmaster.[1] He is the father of several children including, Renzo Gracie, Keila Gracie, Charles Gracie, Ralph Gracie, Robson Gracie Jr. and the late Ryan Gracie.[3] He is also the grandfather of Georgia Gracie and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts Kyra Gracie and Neiman Gracie. He is the great grandfather of Nickolai Gracie, a baby black belt. [4]

Background

Robson Gracie learned martial arts from his father, Carlos Gracie, and his uncle Helio Gracie.[3] In the 1950s, Robson competed in Vale Tudo competitions. His début mixed martial arts fight was against Artur Emidio in April 1957. During the fight Gracie submitted his opponent, but refused to release him until the referee pulled them apart. Despite his small stature, incidents like this were to characterise Gracie's professional life as a tenacious fighter. In the 1960s, Gracie served as a bodyguard to Leonel Brizola, the brother-in-law of the then President of Brazil, João Goulart.[5] His political affiliations placed him under the scrutiny of the military regime, following the 1964 Brazilian coup d'état. His assistance to the marxist guerrilla organisation Ação Libertadora Nacional led to his arrest, and the arrest of several members of his family, by the Brazilian Secret Service. Gracie's wife, Vera Lucia, made representations to the Brazilian military government to release her husband which resulted in her own arrest; however, she was quickly released. Robson Gracie was imprisoned, tortured and interrogated for 60 days before being released. One of his captors knew him as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teacher, and for this reason successfully protested his execution, saving his life. All of his fellow prisoners were executed. [5]

Gracie currently lives and teaches in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where he is the president of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Rio de Janeiro.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Faixa Vermelha - 9º Grau/Grande Mestre". Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 "The Gracie Family Tree". Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Robson Gracie". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Gracie Family Tree Archived 2009-09-17 at the Wayback Machine. URL accessed on June 5, 2009
  5. 1 2 BJJ Heroes. "Robson Gracie". BJJ Heroes: the jiu jitsu encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 December 2014.

Further reading

  • Carlos Gracie: O Criador De Uma Dinastia, Relia Gracie, 2009, ISBN 8501080756 (in Portuguese)
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