Master Wilson Mattos, also known as Mestre “Shihan”, is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 9th degree red belt who trained with Oswaldo Fadda, Master Wilson formed his own academy in the 1970′s, Equipe Mestre Wilson, a team with affiliates all over the world, in countries like Brazil, the USA and Japan.
One of the first Brazilian men to learn Jiu Jitsu in Brazil, Luiz França became one of Mitsuyo Maeda’s top students, and much like the Gracies, he continued the work of his Japanese instructor in the state of Rio de Janeiro where he started his own, non Gracie, BJJ lineage. This lineage can be seen in some of the biggest teams in the world today.
Carley Gracie, often referred to as: “The Lion of the Gracie Family”, is the 11th child of Gracie jiu jitsu founder Carlos Gracie, and the first person to bring Brazilian jiu jitsu to the United States (in 1972). Carley Gracie is also the father of two jiu jitsu practitioners, Ralston and Clark Gracie, being the later, one of the main BJJ competitors in the world.
Master Francisco Sá is a jiu jitsu red belt and one of the main instigators for jiu jitsu in the region of Ceará, Brazil. Francisco Sá, who was graded as an instructor by Takeo Iano, established his academy in Fortaleza in the 1960’s, an academy that flourished with the combined effort of himself and his son Carlos Pinto Sá (also known as “Sazinho”) becoming a beacon of excellence in that Northern Brazilian state.
Mestre Alvaro Barreto is a jiu jitsu red belt (faixa vermelha) and one of the most important figures in BJJ, being also the brother of João Alberto Barreto and Sergio Barreto, two illustrious figures of the sport. Alvaro Barreto became a certified instructor at the famous Gracie Academy by the age of 17, years before he opened his academy where he instructed and graduated great figures of the sport.
A great figure in Brazilian jiu jitsu, Master Francisco Mansor has had tremendous influence in bringing jiu jitsu to the world. The founder of the Kioto BJJ academy, Master Francisco Mansor was also part of the exclusive group of 6 men to have earned their black belts from the late Great Master Helio Gracie.
Reyson Gracie is a 9th degree red belt in jiu jitsu. Being the third son of Gracie jiu jitsu founder, Carlos Gracie, Reyson helped to spred the jiu jitsu gospel around Brazil, namely in Manaus (state of Amazon) and Bahia where he became the president of the local jiu jitsu federation.
Pedro Hemeterio was one of Carlos and Helio Gracie’s best students through the 1940s and 1950s decades. Hemeterio was also the first student of the gracie academy to achieve the 9th degree in jiu jitsu – red belt. Originaly from the state of Ceará in Brazil, Hemeterio also spent time in Sao Paulo where he helped develop the sport there.
Relson Gracie is the second oldest son of the late Grand Master Helio Gracie, he is also a jiu jitsu coral belt (8th degree) who pioneered the sport, being its messenger in the archipelago of Hawaii (where he was the first to establish a Gracie Jiu Jitsu academy). Relson was also the first Gracie representative to truly embrace surfing, a trend that was followed by many of his family members and BJJ practitioners throughout the world.
Grand Master Joao Alberto Barreto (9th degree red belt in BJJ) is a legendary figure for Jiu Jitsu world wide. Graduated by Helio Gracie himself, Joao Alberto became one of the top competitors of the Gracie Academy in the 1950′s being unbeaten in Vale Tudo matches (the early MMA). Barreto was also part of the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a referee in the early stages of the famous organization.
Father to two of BJJ’s biggest stars in the 1980′s, Flavio Behring was also of great contribute to the growth of the sport in Sao Paulo. A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Red Belt in Jiu Jitsu, Flavio Behring has trained Jiu Jitsu since 1947 and became one of the Gracie Academy’s top students in the 1960′s.
Gastão Gracie Filho was a red belt in BJJ and the brother of Carlos, Oswaldo, George and Helio Gracie, all of which form the founding members of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu style. He moved to Sao Paulo where he helped further develop the sport there in the 1930′s.
Oswaldo Gracie was one of the founding members of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, whom together with brothers Carlos, Gastao, George and Helio, transformed the landscape of martial arts forever in Brazil. Oswaldo is often seen as the better fighter of the original 5 brothers, he went on to promote Gracie Jiu Jitsu in the state of Minas Gerais.
A living encyclopedia of Jiu Jitsu, Paqueta is famous for being Carlson Gracie’s best friend and for having the greatest catalogue of Jiu Jitsu and MMA tapes in Brazil. A fantastic character from the BJJ World that everyone should know.
George Gracie was the most important Gracie fighter in the 1930′s. The true family champion he held the Gracie Jiu Jitsu flag high for many years, competing throughout 3 decades.
Oswaldo Fadda (15th of January 1921 until 1st of April 2005) was one of the greatest figures in Jiu Jitsu History. Not comming from a Gracie lineage, Fadda reached the “nono grau” (9th Dan) – Red Belt in BJJ, the greatest honour a non Gracie can ever achieve, he was also the first instructor to take Jiu Jitsu to the poor(er) comunities living in the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro were only the rich practiced the sport.
Here is a chance to meet one of the most legendary figures in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Red Belt from Reyson Gracie is a top instructor in the sport today and was one of the biggest figures of the 1960s as a competitor.
Armando Wridt is one of the 7 people to have received a red belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from the hands of the late Helio Gracie.
Helio Gracie is arguably the most important figure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. One of the first Gracie Jiu Jitsu representative in the 1930′s and 1940′s he is also the father and master of many fighters who carried the name of BJJ to Martial Arts main stream in the early 1990′s, such as Royler, Rickson and Royce Gracie. His lineage and legacy is one of the strongest in Jiu Jitsu and he is seen as one of the fathers of the Brazilian grappling art.
Carlos Gracie was the founder of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, the ruling figure of the Gracie family as well as a successful entrepreneur. He reached the “Decimo Grau” 10th Dan in Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (AKA BJJ/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) a degree only given to the founders of the gentle art.
