Carlos Gracie

Quick Facts

Date of Birth9/14/1902

Date of Death10/7/1994

Country of OriginBrazil

Biography

Carlos Gracie was a Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher, the eldest of the Gracie brothers and a co-founder of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, author of the so-called Gracie diet. He was born on 14 September 1902 in Belém in the state of Pará and died on 7 October 1994 in Petrópolis aged 92.

He was the eldest son of Gastão Gracie, who owned a circus and later a casino. According to the family version, as a child he came into contact with the Japanese judoka Mitsuyo Maeda, who had lived in Belém since 1915. The researcher Sonny Brown, however, states that Carlos took some lessons from Maeda's student Jacyntho Ferro and that a meeting with Maeda is not documented. In 1921 the family moved to Rio de Janeiro after bankruptcy.

In 1925, by the family date, he opened his first academy in Rio and brought in his brothers George and Hélio, while Wikipedia gives the academy on Rua Marquês de Abrantes only from September 1930. He promoted the academy with matches against capoeiristas, boxers and wrestlers. Hélio then took over teaching and Carlos ran the business side. In 1931 he lost to the wrestler Manoel Rufino dos Santos and withdrew from competition.

He developed a diet that forbids certain food combinations and requires four hours between meals. He had 21 children, and according to BJJ Heroes he promoted 11 of them to black belt, among them Carlson and Rolls Gracie.

Early life

Carlos Gracie was born on 14 September 1902 in Belém in the state of Pará as the eldest son of Gastão Gracie, who owned a circus and later a casino. According to BJJ Heroes, the family was of Scottish origin in the third generation. His siblings included Oswaldo, Gastão Jr., George and Hélio.

According to BJJ Heroes, as a hyperactive child he was brought to Mitsuyo Maeda to channel his energy. The family went bankrupt and in 1921 moved from Belém to Rio de Janeiro. We have not found the name of his mother in the sources.

Training and teachers

According to Robert Drysdale, Mitsuyo Maeda lived in Belém from October 1915, and his right hand was Jacyntho Ferro, who taught most of the students of the club and died in 1929. According to Drysdale, it is impossible to say how long Carlos trained with him. Carlos was not among the five students whom Maeda, according to the newspaper Estado do Pará, promoted on 19 June 1920. The same newspaper announced on 26 June 1921 a demonstration by the students of Ferro, Donato Pires dos Reis and Oscar Gracie, and the author of the website Simon BJJ sees Carlos in Oscar.

According to Wikipedia, after the move to Rio he trained under the police instructor Donato Pires dos Reis and in January 1930 fought in exhibitions with the judoka Geo Omori. BJJ Heroes states that he tried out techniques with police units in Rio.

Contribution and innovations

In 1925, according to BJJ Heroes, he opened his first academy in Rio at Rua Marquês de Abrantes 106 and brought in his brothers George and Hélio. Wikipedia calls 1925 the official family date and dates the academy at this address to September 1930. For promotion he announced matches against capoeiristas, boxers and wrestlers. In 1931 he lost to the wrestler Manoel Rufino dos Santos, according to Wikipedia in his only professional match. He handed teaching over to Hélio, himself ran business matters and opened academies in Fortaleza.

He developed the Gracie diet, which according to Graciemag maintains a neutral pH of meals, forbids certain food combinations and requires four hours between meals. He introduced it after he was troubled by migraines, and he tested it on his children and nephews. According to Wikipedia, in 1948 he published the book Introdução ao Jiu-jitsu, mainly about nutrition and philosophy.

Philosophy and principles

The magazine Graciemag attributes to him the advice to spend the most time on improving oneself and none on criticising others, and the principle of not fighting against the person but against his movements. He placed great emphasis on diet. Graciemag cites his saying that bad food is the worst poison.

Legends and documented facts

The family version claims that Carlos was taught by Mitsuyo Maeda and that Carlos was his best student. Sonny Brown states that there is no evidence for a meeting between Carlos and Maeda and that Carlos learned judo, not a special jiu-jitsu, from Jacyntho Ferro.

Wikipedia states that at the age of fifteen Carlos saw Maeda in the circus of his father and briefly trained with him and with Ferro. We have not resolved the dispute, and what is documented is teaching in the circle of Maeda in Belém.

Legacy

He had 21 children, and according to BJJ Heroes he promoted 11 of them to black belt, while Wikipedia gives 13, among them Carlson, Rolls and Carlos Jr. He was nicknamed Pai Branco, the white father, after his white clothing and his role as head of the family. His sons and nephews spread Brazilian jiu-jitsu around the world.

He died on 7 October 1994 in Petrópolis at the age of 92. According to Wikipedia, his daughter Reila Gracie published a biography of him in 2009.

Teachers, students and family

Associated Martial Arts

Quotes