Roger Gracie (Gracie Barra/RGA – Roger Gracie Academy)

Roger Gracie is a BJJ black belt and possibly the greatest Jiu Jitsu competitor to have ever stepped on a mat. a 14x World Champion (12 of them as a Black Belt) and climbing up the ranks in the MMA scene, this Gracie family representative from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, moved to London, England in his youth, opening one of the biggest schools there with the help of his father, Mauricio Gomes. Roger Gracie is also the grandson of jiu jitsu founder Carlos Gracie and a inductee to the IBJJF Hall of Fame.

Roger Gracie Jiu Jitsu

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Carlos Gracie Junior > Roger Gracie

Main Achievements (BJJ/Grappling):

• 14x World Champion (2000 – blue, 2001 – purple, 2002 brown – weight & absolute, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 weight & absolute, 2008, 2009 weight & absolute, 2010 weight & absolute);
• 5x Absolute Silver Medallist (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 – all at black belt);
• ADCC (2005 weight and the absolute*);
• 2005 European Open Champion (weight & absolute);
• Pan American Champion;
• Brazilian national Champion.

*Submitting all 8 of his opponents, an achievement never accomplished by anyone before him.

Weight Division (BJJ): Super Heavy Weight

Favorite Technique: Cross Choke from mount position

Affiliation: Gracie-Barra/Roger Gracie Academy

Sponsor: Jiu Jitsu Style Magazine

Roger Gracie Biography

Roger Gracie was born in September 26, 1981. He is the son of Reila Gracie (daughter of Gracie Jiu Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie) and Mauricio Gomes (one of a handful of men who had the honour of receiving their black belts from BJJ legend Rolls Gracie). Roger started training Jiu Jitsu early in life, like most Gracies, though he didn’t actually set his mind into the sport until his late teens. According to Roger Gracie in an interview given to Graciemag a few years ago, he realized how much he wanted to become a professional jiu jitsu competitor after he spent some time in the south of Brazil, training with his uncle Rilion Gracie. The two other men that can be considered just as crucial to Roger Gracie’s development as a fighter have been his uncle Carlos Gracie Junior and cousin Renzo Gracie.

With the Gracie blood running in his veins, he quickly picked up the BJJ game very quickly winning several championships as a blue belt, including the Pan Ams and the Mundial (World Championship) in 2000. It was around this time that Roger was forced to move to London, England, to live with his father after a few personal problems. Being his father himself a BJJ an excellent coach, Roger’s BJJ wasn’t harmed by the move and his competitive jiu jitsu run continued. Roger Gracie also maintained his training with uncle Carlinhos, travelling to Rio de Janeiro on many occasions to train at the Gracie Barra headquarters.

With an ever growing list of achievements in sport BJJ, his uncle “Carlinhos” awarded Roger his black belt in 2004. A year after receiving his black belt Roger competed again in ADCC (he had competed in 2003 also as a brown belt when he got 3rd place), being victorious in both his weight and the absolute (open weight) division, submitting all 8 opponents to get both titles, this was the first time a competitor accomplished such a tremendous feat.

Roger Gracie’s first MMA fight was against the veteran Ron Waterman, whom he submitted by armbar. Ron had never been submitted before throughout his long career. He then went to fight Yuki Kondo a Japanese MMA legend and former Pancrase Champion, Roger submitted Kondo by Mata Leao (Choke). His third fight was in American soil in the prestigeous Strikeforce organization, he fought another legend, Kevin Randleman, and as expected finished the fight early in the second round after showcasing some unexpected boxing skills. Just a few days after the fight Roger went on to win the Mundials (World BJJ Championships) for a record 14th time with just a few weeks to prepare for the gi competition. He submitted everyone apart from Ricardo Abreu “Demente” but still managed to win against the Nova Uniao standout with a conclusive 13×2. Roger Gracie’s career moved on to MMA after his 3rd world absolute victory, where he set the record for open weight wins in the black belt division.

Roger Gracie Academy Address:
237 Kensal Road, Ladbroke Grove
London
W10 5DB

Roger Gracie Grappling Record

An accurate account of Roger Gracie’s jiu jitsu/grappling competition record, from 2002.

* Draw, submission only competition.

Roger Gracie vs Ronaldo Souza Part 1

Roger Gracie vs Ronaldo Souza Part 2
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Roger Gracie vs Rodrigo Comprido (2006)

Roger Gracie vs Fernando Terere

Roger Gracie vs Andre Galvao