Rolls Gracie
Rolls Gracie
Rolls Gracie was the father of modern day Jiu Jitsu, he influenced most of his and all following generations of BJJ practitioners such as “Carlinhos” Gracie (founder of Gracie-Barra), Rickson Gracie (BJJ legend), Royce Gracie (UFC Hall of Fame), Romero Cavalcante(Founder of Alliance BJJ team).
Rolls Gracie in Detail
Born: 28 of March, 1951
Deceased: 6 of June, 1983 (age 31)
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie
Weight Division: walked around at 65Kg.
Team/Association: Academia Gracie
Rolls Gracie Biography
Son of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu founder Carlos Gracie although raised by his uncle, Helio Gracie, Rolls started his BJJ career at a very early age, earning every single major trophy there was to earn in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at his time.
He was the first of the gracies to actively seek competitions in Freestyle, Greco Roman and Sambo wrestling as well as Judo. First cross training by the hands of Judoka Osvaldo Alves in Brazil, later seeking 5 time US Wrestling champ Bob Anderson to improve his stand up (with who he developed a strong friendship throughout the years). He also trained Olympic Gymnastics in order to improve his athleticism.
In 1979 he competed at a Pan American Competition of Sambo in which he won two Gold Medals at his weight and in the absolute division. In the same year he also fought at the Free Style Pan American’s in San Diego were he also achieved Gold. After his achievements abroad he was invited to stay in America and teach the LAPD his grappling magic. Unfortunately, for the LA Police Department he refused what was an excellent wage at the time, mainly due to Helio Gracie’s disapproved of his move to the US.
He also tried to make a Brazilian Wrestling team in order to compete at the Moscow Olympics but was unsuccessful mainly due to the lack of organization and bureaucracy difficulties. He ended up getting a Gracie Team together for the Pan Ams in the following year 1980 where he got a Bronze Medal.
In his global vision of BJJ he clashed several times with the more traditionalist vision of Helio Gracie the man who raised him, but who he felt sometimes neglected by, favouring his own blood sons. He ended up leaving Helio’s gym to join his older brother Carlson Gracie. Together they made a strong bond.
After a few years with Carlson Gracie he felt the need to expand, and with his brother’s consent he left Carlson’s academy at Copacabana and founded his own in Rua Figueiredo Magalhães, were he was assisted by his younger brother Carlinhos Gracie. His tragic death came due to a paragliding accident at the tender age of 31 he left two children behind and a loving wife.
His cousin, Royce Gracie, once said: “existe uma era antes e outra depois de Rolls” – There is an era before and another one after Rolls.
This is a small clip of Rolls (age 13) fighting against a Karate Black Belt at an exhibition tournament. He is the first one to enter in the sequence.
The Best BJJ products in a great shop
[...] Rolls Gracie BJJ Legend | BJJ Heroes This is all the information I gathered on him (at least the most relevant) any thing else that you might want to know PM me __________________ http://www.bjjheroes.com – BJJ Fighter Database, BJJ Tips and MMA related Grappling Fights [...]
[WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The comment’s server IP (72.172.76.3) doesn’t match the comment’s URL host IP (72.172.76.39) and so is spam.
[...] gym, and moved to Fortaleza, Brazil to take care of businesses, he left his sons Carlson Gracie, Rolls and Carlos Junior (Carlinhos) to be taught by [...]
[...] Finfou’s Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Alexandre Paiva > Fernando Augusto Tereré > Rubens Charles > Michael [...]
[...] Garcia’s Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Fabio Gurgel > Marcelo [...]
[...] Maria’s Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Ricardo Vieira > Ana Maria [...]
Regarding the video which show a supposed 13 years old Rolls fighting an karate black-belt, in fact it is a young Carlsinho Guimaraes ( a Gracie family member from a distant side, not to be confuded with 'Carlsinho' Carlson Jr.).
Rolls by that time was already in his mid-twenty's (circa 1970), you can verify this statement easily, since the fighter from de second fight shown in the trailler is Relson Gracie, Rolls' younger brother/cousin.
I think Rolls had 4 or 5 kids, not 3 as mentioned in your profile. From what I understand: Rolles Jr., Igor, Gregor and daughters? Please correct me if I am wrong. Another good post like always =)
Hi Anonymous,
I am pretty sure about this one, I mention 2 children not 3. They are Rolles and Igor. That is what is on every legitimate document about Rolls, don't take Wikipidia's word for granted
Check here for more details: http://gracieseminars.com/GracieFamilyTree.htm
I stand corrected. It appears internet chatter has Gregor Gracie as Rolles and Igor's half brother from their Mom's side. Not of Gracie blood or Rolls biological son. But its very apparent Gregor is as pure gracie as any of them and fights like a lion like the rest of them! Thank you. I stand corrected. Sources:
http://www.nhbgear.com/forum/index.php?topic=9216…
Additional source which is fairly definitive (coming directly from a prominent Gracie):
http://www.riliongracie.com/index.php?option=com_…
Cool Anonymous, thanks for the links.
[...] “Rolls Gracie | BJJ Heroes.” BJJ Heroes: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. http://www.bjjheroes.com/bjj-fighters/rolls-gracie-profile [...]