Carlson Gracie Jr. - 6th-Degree Black Belt

Carlson Gracie Jr. a legendary figure of Gracie’s family made remarkable achievements in the world of martial arts. Carlson Gracie Jr. decided to devote his life to the advancement and establishment of Jiu-Jitsu techniques.

Carlson Gracie Jr. “The Prince of Jiu-Jitsu” was born on 27th July 1969, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Carlson Gracie Jr. was privileged of having an ancestral lineage connected to the inception of Jiu-Jitsu. So, he grew up in an environment that imbued him with a sacred passion and love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He started Jiu-Jitsu training at the age of 3 under the legendary mentorship of his father Carlson Gracie Sr.

Carlson Gracie Jr.'s professional career started in the early 1980s under the tutelage of Carlson Gracie Sr.

The invaluable guidance of exemplary coaches can propel athletes to the zenith of their sport, and Carlson Gracie Jr. is no exception. His affiliation with the Carlson Gracie team from the start of his career in the 1980s to the 1990s was instrumental in elevating his grappling career to unprecedented heights.

The expert technical skills and extraordinary coaching of Carlson Gracie Sr. served to augment his grappling prowess to excellence.

In 1987, during his training, Carlson Jr. joined Rio de Janeiro University and enrolled in a Physical Education Degree, completed in 1993.

Carlson Gracie's coaching career started as a part-time instructor at his father's academy named “The Den of Champions”. While at the Carlson Sr. Academy, he had the opportunity to improve his grappling skills, which boosted his confidence in mastering various grappling techniques.

The combination of technical expertise and mentorship of grappling icons honed the skills of Carlson Gracie Jr. to a remarkable degree. His dedication and commitment to excellence earned him the Black Belt at the younger age of 22 in 1991. This achievement of Carlson Gracie became a testament to his unwavering dedication to maintaining the legacy of the Gracie family.

Just a few months after graduating, he achieved victory in the “Buda Cap” as a Black Belt champion and in the “South American Championship”, further solidifying his name as a skilled and accomplished practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In 1995, Carlson Gracie Jr. made his debut against John Lewis in a highly anticipated MMA bout. Despite their impressive skills, the match resulted in a draw. This was due to the rules at the time, which required either a submission, knockout, or judges' decision for a decisive victory. Fighters of this caliber, such as Carlson Gracie Jr. and John Lewis, often resulted in more draws. Nonetheless, their fight remains a memorable and entertaining event for fans of the grappling sport of BJJ.

In 1996, after a successful career as a BJJ practitioner and instructor, Carlson Gracie Jr. moved to Chicago, US. His primary purpose behind relocation is to enhance his English skills. However, his passion for sharing his grappling skills and knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu soon began to dominate his entire being. So, he dedicated quality time and full attention to coaching and spreading the art of BJJ to the grappling world.

In addition to coaching and training aspiring grapplers, Carlson Gracie Jr. never left his dedicated Jiu-Jitsu training, and his efforts resulted in him winning 10 BJJ championships during the 1980s and 90s. During this time, he established a team of champions “Carlson Gracie Arrebentacao Competition” that dominated the grappling world. Carlson’s team is committed to the growth of all martial arts and has established its affiliation at North Lakeland, South Lakeland, and Winter Haven.

In 2006 after the demise of Carlson Gracie Sr. Carlson Gracie Junior worked hard to maintain the legacy of his father’s Academy. He successfully represented Carlson Gracie Team. The proficient coaching and guidance of Carlson Gracie Jr. have been helping to flourish and produce numerous world-class champions and expand its reach beyond Brazil. The relentless approach of Carlson Gracie Jr. to teaching grappling art and sharing his knowledge with young grapplers played a dominant role in the IBJJF ranking. Now, Carlson Gracie Academy is ranked among the top 10 BJJ academies with 313 points.

In 2012, Carlson Gracie Jr. established his own Jiu-Jitsu school in the Windy city where he devoted most of his time to growing elite grapplers within his academy. His exceptional grappling techniques and the elite technical approach to BJJ succeeded him in producing many black belts from the Chicago and neighboring areas.

Some of the notable champions of Carlson Gracie Academy are mentioned below:

Carlson Gracie Jr. was also honored with 6 titles in wrestling that showcased his mastery of technical skills. In recognition of his efforts in martial arts, he ranked and secured an elite spot in the Greco-Roman Wrestling team.

Carlson Gracie is not only a great leader of the Carlson Gracie Association but also a top ranked athlete in MMA tournaments. Apart from this, his remarkable performance in the grappling ground included the World and Pan American Championships. 

However, his contributions and efforts to the advancement and evolution of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu especially in Chicago are remarkable.

Gracie’s family Jiu-Jitsu style is an embodiment of their sublime efforts and uniqueness in the history of the grappling world. However, Carlson Gracie Jr. maintained the legacy of his family and stapled his name as an aggressive submission grappler across the world of martial arts.

His style is not just about his proficiency in grappling techniques but also a reflection of his dedicated passion for gripping art.

After 18 years of break from the competing ground, Carlson Grcaie Jr. came back on the mat and won the Bronze Medal in the prestigious IBJJF world championship. This was a worth-watching match between Master Carlson Jr. and Joseph Monahan finished by choke submission.

Throughout his impressive grappling career, Master Carlson Gracie Jr. achieved countless accolades that solidified his name as one of the legendary pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Starting from his professional career as a white belt, Carlson Gracie Jr. demonstrated outstanding technical skills and unwavering dedication helped him in winning multiple tournaments.

As he progressed to the coveted belt ranks, he continued to grow, culminating in his incredible grappling record. An elite head instructor of the Carlson Gracie team. His fierce determination and an unparalleled approach to gripping art made him a remarkable BJJ and MMA figure.

Photo Credit: @CarlsonGracie