By Jiu Jitsu on June 07th, 2010

Roger Gracie (Gracie Barra)

Roger Gracie

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 with an unbeaten record. This Gracie family representative who teaches in London, England is also the son of another Jiu Jitsu personality, Mauricio Gomes and the grandson of Jiu Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie.

Roger Gracie in Detail

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 – Absolute Black Belt Silver Medallist (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008);
ADCC (2005 weight and the absolute*);
2005 European Champion (Weight & Absolute);
Pan American Champion;
Brazilian national Champion.

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

Weight Category (BJJ): Super Heavy Weight.

Favorite Technique: Cross Choke from mount position

Affiliation: Gracie-Barra Roger Gracie Academy.

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 the very selected few who were awarded a Black Belt by 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, getting his formal tuition by one of the best coaches in the World, his uncle Carlos Gracie Junior from Gracie Barra.

With the Gracie blood running in his veins, he quickly picked up the BJJ game very quickly winning several championships by 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 England, London to live with his father after a few personal problems. Being his father himself a BJJ stud and an excellent coach, his BJJ wasn’t harmed by the move and his BJJ campaign continued prospering. He also continued training with his uncle Carlinhos on occasion.

With an ever growing list of achievements in sport Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, his black belt was awarded in 2004 by the hands of the man that introduced him to BJJ, Carlinhos Gracie. A year after receiving his Black Belt he competed in ADCC (he had competed in 2003 also as a brown belt achieving the 3rd place), being victorious in both his weight and the Absolute (open weight) division. He submitted all 8 opponents to get there, and achievement never accomplished before.

His career has never stopped growing and recently joined the MMA circuit. His first fight was against MMA veteran Ron Waterman, whom he submitted by armbar. Ron had never been submitted before throughout his career. He then went to fight Yuki Kondo a Japanese MMA legend and Pancrase Champion. Roger submitted him by Mata Leao (Choke). His third fight was in American soil in the prestigeous Strikeforce organization, he fought a decaying MMA 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 World Jiu Jitsu Championship Record

Year	Weight	Belt	Oponent	Result
2010	Absolute	Black	Romulo Barral	Win (injury)
2010	Super Heavy	Black	Ricardo Abreu	Win (Points: 13-2)
2009	Absolute	Black	Romulo Barral	Win (Submission: cross choke)
2009	Super Heavy	Black	Ricardo Abreu	Win (Submission: cross choke)
2008	Absolute	Black	Xande Ribeiro	Loss (Points: 2-4)
2008	Super Heavy	Black	Leonardo Leite	Win (Submission: cross choke)
2007	Absolute	Black	Romulo Barral	Win (Submission: cross choke)
2007	Super Heavy	Belt	Robert Drysdale	Win (Submission: Modified Mata Leao)
2006	Absolute	Belt	Xande Ribeiro	Loss (Points: advantage)
2006	Super Heavy	Belt	Robert Drysdale	Win
2005	Absolute	Black	Ronaldo Souza	Loss (Points: 2-0)
2005	Super Heavy	Black	Xande Ribeiro	Win (Points: 12-2)
2004	Absolute	Black	Ronaldo Souza	Loss (Points)
2004	Super Heavy	Black	Rodrigo Medeiros	Win (Submission: mata leao)
2002	Absolute	Brown	Ronaldo Souza	Win (Points: 2-0)
2002	Heavy	Brown	Rodrigo Asmus	Win
2001	Medium Heavy	Purple	Etienne Herbert	Win
2000	Medium Heavy	Blue	Rafael Mota	Win